Clarity's Story

Clarity's voice

Since we're on the subject of beautiful voices, it feels like the right time to inform those of you who know and love Clarity (and other followers of her blog) about Clarity's other voice. 

 

It is called Proloquo2go. It is an Apple application that can be downloaded onto an iPhone, iTouch or iPad. It's actually one of the most expensive apps out there....a whoppin' $99....But totally worth it.

Over the last 7 years, we have tried upwards of 15 different types of augmentative speech devices, but this app on our iPad seems to fit our family lifestyle the best. It can even be seen and used on our TV because we have installed the Apple TV. 

 

Below is a site I found that shows  how life changing the iPad can be for people with special needs. When Pat and I watched this episode on 60 minutes a few months ago, we just kept nodding....yes, yes....It's so true....It has opened up a whole new world for so many people with unique methods of communication.

http://adaptivelearnin.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/i-pad-for-autism-60-minutes-episode-inspiration-and-reflections/

 

Please scroll down to the segment on the Proloquo2Go and watch the videos.

I'm asking that those of you who don't know sign language, but in the future would like to create a deeper communicative relationship with Clarity, to please familiarize yourselves with Proloquo. Clarity attends speech therapy 2x a week to learn this system and is picking up on it quickly. Of course, I'm not asking anyone to purchase the app, I just think it would be a wonderful gesture to ask Clarity to show you her Proloquo app if given the chance.  She is still a bit embarrassed about using it in public, but if we have the iPad out and someone who doesn't know sign asks her a question, she can find the answer on the iPad and it can speak it for her. That way, she isn't constantly relying on Pat and I to interpret for her. It's awesome for her self esteem and it encourages her independence...Which is the name of the game. Thank you for your support. 

Totally Pumped!

After years of cheering Clarity on while she tries, tries, tries to pump on a swing, it seems that the moon, stars and planets aligned today. I took this video of Bean pumping on her own this afternoon....Actually, we were BOTH shocked and thrilled.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARWDRZgbPF0

 

Just as a side note, if you ever bring Bean to the park, make sure not to strike up a conversation with her while swinging....Could spell disaster....:) Happy Day!

Ok....This really has nothing to do with Clarity or our family, but it's just so stinkin' cool...I had to post it.

http://www.youtube.com/v/xHkq1edcbk4?version=3

Show it to your kids!

Sing Your Hearts Out, Girls!

 

Did I hear someone say something about American Idol? Brace yourselves....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih00JVCmY2E

 

 

Now, if you thought THAT was breathtaking, just watch the little one belt it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Pc_I8TjRQ

 

Yah Baby! High Five!

Does that say 100%? Am I the proudest mama ever?

OK...Yes, it DID take Clarity 2 long weeks of daily practice to get to this point, but the fact is...She got there! 

So Unbelievably Siked!

Most of our close friends and family have tried to learn a few signs here and there to communicate with Clarity. Much of what folks find on the internet etc... is ASL (American Sign Language). Clarity actually uses SEE (Signed Exact English) to communicate. ASL and SEE are actually quite different in many ways. Here's a pretty good description of the differences I found on the web.

Many families, when they begin learning sign language, wonder about the differences between American Sign Language and Signing Exact English or Signed English.  

American Sign Language (ASL) is a language unto itself with its own grammar and syntax. American Sign Language uses word order that differs from English word order, and often an idea is expressed in ASL very differently than simply translating word-for-word what an English speakers would say. One sign in ASL may be used for a number of English words that are synonyms.  

Signing Exact English (SEE) was developed by Gerilee Gustason and Esther Zawolkow in the 1970's to help deaf children learn English, which is a foreign language for those whose first language is ASL. Signing Exact English is not its own language but is a manual expression of English, in the same way written English is English represented by a written code. In SEE, each sign represents only one English word, and the word order is exactly as it is spoken in the English sentence. SEE uses over 80 signs for English prefixes and suffixes so that a sign such as climb can become climbing or climbed by the addition of the affix signs. In the same way, neighbor can become neighborhood, king can become kingdom, and form can become reform, transform,transformation, etc.  Someone who signs SEE fluently signs every word in an English sentence. Most of the signs in the SEE vocabulary are ASL signs or variations of ASL signs, thought many signs are formed differently than in ASL.  

 

So, why am I so excited? Today I discovered the perfect app to go on anyones iPod, iPad or iTouch that will immediately teach you not just a sign, but a SEE sign! It's called Sign 4 Me and it's $9.99. Download it onto your device and learn some new signs to chat with Clarity! She'd LOVE it!

No more lugging those bulky, yellow SEE dictionaries around with us wherever we go to learn new vocabulary on the spot...This will be SO much easier....YES! (fist pump)

Ahhhh...The simple things....

Sign 4 Me - A Signed English Translator

By Vcom3D

iPhone Screenshots

Our Angel

Anyone who has met my niece, Angel, has walked away saying, "Wow, what a neat kid." Angel, has blossomed into a beautiful, kind, loving, intelligent young adult. Is it possible that I love her more and more the older she gets? Angel has lived with my mom since she was four. They have had their ups and downs, of course, but all and all they make smashing roommates. She is incredibly well rounded and did I mention that she has a voice that could knock your socks off?

Hold on and check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9A3S5EBSd4&feature=related

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5aauudJFR4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

So proud...

PS Way to go, Mom!

 

Some more great pics from Christmas (better late than never)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning

I HAD to post this photo. Clarity asks us to scratch her back on and off all day long. The scar from her back surgery seems to still be healing, thus causing her to itch....We've all been there. Luckily Santa was clued in and brought her a back scratcher. It's even made in China! ;)

 

Christmas Day

A perfect day spent at Grandma Barbara's house with the Keller cousins, Diccico cousins, Lisa's family and the Johnsons.

This red shawl was made by my mom's friend when I was Clarity's age. I love it that she loves it.

 

And just some totally great ones....

Clarity's hand at the age of 2

Am I allowed to post this one on the internet?

Quote of the week

A few days ago, Pat, Wyatt, Clarity and I were all in the car on our way home from my dad's place. Clarity was in the backseat chatting away to basically anyone who would watch. Out of nowhere, she signed to me, "I think I'm a beautiful girl. I have a beautiful face. I have a beautiful family." 

Sometimes the late Christmas gifts are the best ones....

New Year's Resolution

I think someone's got their work cut out for them....