Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

The day after being told by Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services that then 3-year old Caleigh would need to wait until starting school for a communication device, her mother Holly purchased an iPad and the Proloquo2Go app.

Caleigh has been communicating ever since. Thankfully she didn’t need to wait until she started school to find her voice.

After having the iPad for a short time, Holly explained, "We’re not having to fight to prove to people that she is a smart little girl anymore, because it’s there once they see her using the iPad.”

Caleigh has been able to communicate things that she never would have been able to without her iPad. She expressed “I like it” while at the beach during summer vacation.  She asked for “more” after riding her first tricycle at the Abilities Expo in Houston.

Late this summer, with the start of Pre-Kindergarten on the horizon, Caleigh shared she was having dreams about not being able to talk at school.

How heartbreaking! I can totally relate to her fear.

Frustratingly, her dream (or nightmare) came true on only Day 2 of school…

First, the speech therapist came in for a session consisting of a clip board with pictures that Caleigh was supposed to point to in response to the therapist questions; not her known and familiar means of communication. Her iPad, her only voice, was not within reach for her to use. 

After commenting to Holly that Caleigh had not paid attention during the lesson, the speech therapist admitted that she had not read Caleigh’s file prior to the first session. Who was being inattentive?

Then, the teacher and various therapists took her iPad to see how Proloquo2Go was set up; no doubt, without asking Caleigh’s permission or explaining how long they would have it.

Don’t take away the kid’s voice!

She was left with only one way to communicate: her cry. By the time Holly picked her up after the three hours (she had been waiting in the parking lot the whole time and would have been right there had someone called), Caleigh’s belly was extended and an area of bright red flesh was coming out of the g-button hole (for her g-tube feeding) like never before because of the amount of crying.

School days have not overly improved from there.

Thursday’s parent-teacher meeting left Holly in shock. The bottom line: the teacher does not believe Caleigh is the one communicating on the iPad because of the way Holly supports her elbows due to Caleigh’s dystonia (involuntary movement). “They do not believe that a 4 year old that is non-verbal, in a wheelchair and has a vision impairment could cognitively know what Caleigh knows.”

Holly also mentioned that the physiotherapist, who is also the Assistive Technology person, started off the little “get to know Caleigh’s iPad’ session by saying "now for those of you who aren’t familiar with the iPad, it was never made to be a communication device. Some parents have taken it upon themselves to make it one."

At this point in reading Holly’s account, I had my hand over my mouth and tears swelling in my eyes in utter disbelief. An iPad is not an communicator?

The iPad was not designed as a dedicated communication device is true. The iPad is a tool that can be used in countless ways; limited by only one’s imagination and the apps available at the time. The iPad can definitely be used as a communication device and is being used by thousands of people for that purpose.

This time last weekend I was in Portland, Oregon, solo. Because of my iPad, I was able to communicate with the hotel front desk that my supposed wheelchair accessible room was not accessible. I was able to order a double cheeseburger and an iced mocha from McDonald’s. I was able to carry on conversations with people I had just met. I was able to answer questions after delivering my PowerPoint presentation. (Yes, PowerPoint can be used for communication too, but that is another post.)

Do not dismiss the value of the iPad as a communication device solely because you are unfamiliar with using an iPad for communication.

Rather than putting Caleigh through the long ordeal of being assessed for another communication device that she may or may not be able to use independently, go with what she is comfortable with and move forward from there.

The process needs to begin with the teacher sincerely apologizing to Caleigh – not to or through Holly – for taking her iPad, her voice, without her permission. Reassure Caleigh that will never happen again and that the teacher respects her iPad as her way to talk.

Once trust and respect has been developed so that Caleigh feels safe to communicate, then – and only then – ask Caleigh a question without Holly in ear shot. Then have Holly support Caleigh as needed so that she may respond. You will then know who is or is not communicating. Gradually transition to other individuals supporting Caleigh in using her voice.

Meanwhile commend the parents Holly and Eric for their amazing work they done with Caleigh to get her to this point. Work with them to find a way Caleigh can use her iPad independently. If that proves not possible, then work with them to find another appropriate solution.

Do not tear down and throw out the successes Caleigh and her parents have experienced simply because you do not understand.

Rather, see her for the bright little girl she is, and encourage and enable her to reach for dreams. Please.

Isn’t that what school is all about?

Today being another glorious summer day, Darrell and I did our favourite road trip in reverse for a change. Taking the Skytrain into downtown Vancouver to Waterfront Station. We enjoyed the easy-to-manoeuvre seawall path around Coal Harbour, a spot I love.

After an accessible pit stop at the Westin Bayshore, we cut across the West End to English Bay. While searching for an accessible route down to the seawall, I spotted a wheelchair parking space in a pay parking lot. Surely a wheelchair accessible route down to the beach would be in close proximity.

Upon further exploration, I discovered a fairly new looking curb cut to a fairly new path leading to…stairs.

Huh?

More searching did not reveal an accessible route. Am I on candid camera? What am I missing? Who is trying to stump the disabled?

No doubt the city’s bylaws require at least one wheelchair parking space in each parking lot.

Admittedly, non-wheelchair users are legally entitled to park in these spaces, provided they have a valid parking permit. These individuals might have heart conditions, arthritis or other impairments limiting mobility.

However, a sign indicating “No wheelchair access to beach” would inform wheelchair users that there is no pointing parking here, unless they are looking to spend their day in the parking lot.

Darrell and I backtracked a couple of blocks and headed down the bicycle path to the seawall. With cyclists whizzing by us, the odd one cursed for being in the cyclist lane. Seriously.

Accessibility 100 is a series of 100 easy-to-implement, free and inexpensive tips for improving accessibility for people with disabilities. This is a community project. Feel free to leave your comments, questions and ideas for future Accessibility 100 posts.

Get the entire series by subscribing to the blog posts via email or by subscribing to the RSS feed.

Sometimes it is the smallest detail that renders an accessible situation usable or not.

A few weeks ago, Darrell and I trekked to a nearby recreation centre to pick up a library book on hold. After scooting along jarring sidewalks for half an hour, I, of course, had to use the washroom.

Wheeling into the women’s washroom, I was immediately impressed by the amount of open space, particularly between the two rows of stalls. I had plenty of room to back my scooter into the wheelchair stall without the door crashing against the stall across the aisle.

However, once in the stall, I had no way to pull close the door. I tried grasping the lock to close the door, but as soon I adjusted my hand position to lock it, I lost my grip and the door swung open. I desperately tried again. And again.

I also tried my trick of holding the bottom of the door with my foot. But the door was too low and I just couldn’t manage the fancy footwork without falling out of my scooter.

After trying for ten minutes to close and lock the door, I aborted my mission. Not a comfortable decision for a middle-aged woman.

The solution?

A $3-$5 door handle, available from any hardware store, installed on the inside of the door would have made the door easier to pull close and to hold onto while locking it. This inexpensive solution would make an otherwise accessible space usable.

Accessibility 100 is a series of 100 easy-to-implement, free and inexpensive tips for improving accessibility for people with disabilities. This is a community project. Feel free to leave your comments, questions and ideas for future Accessibility 100 posts.

Get the entire series by subscribing to the blog posts via email or by subscribing to the RSS feed.

When many people buy their first home, they add their personal touch soon after moving in, making it feel truly their own.

Other than having my Dad replace the thick carpet with parquet flooring when my Amigo scooter went up in flames, literally, Darrell and I did not do anything to our home to make it truly ours. I didn’t even buy tea towels.

Instead, when we bought our home in May, 2001, we chose to put any extra money on the mortgage, which proved to be a wise move because we then were able to decrease our mortgage payments when Darrell’s position was axed thanks to a change in a government policy.

We lived with the builder’s white paint and the dated wallpaper borders, not quite feeling the place was completely ours (with the bank still as a silent partner).

Last summer, a combination of factors – a bit of extra money, a neighbour who enjoys painting and a few days away in Virginia – allowed my office (actually, the dining room) to be painted.

Wanting to bring the outside inside to give me a cheery workspace, even on dark and gloomy winter days, I chose a bold, very much alive green. Some may call it a lime green.

I love it! I smile every time I see it.

However, the builder’s white and the 1980s wallpaper then became even more dated; even more of an eye sore. But what colour goes with lime green? I have my talents, but interior design isn’t one of them.

After much indecision and driving my husband nuts with umpteen paint chips, we chose Pumpkin Butter. Actually Darrell pointed to it first; a giant leap from his preferred choice of conservative white.

Thanks to our line of credit and our neighbour, the rest of the main living space was painted while we were in Hawaii. Coming home to a freshly painted place and having missed the mess was such a treat!

The Pumpkin Butter is warm and rich. And looks amazing with lime green – at least to my eyes! Who would have figured?

Then, while in Mississauga for my two weeks in CubeLand and with my weekend free, I found myself wandering into Crate & Barrel – a store that we do not have here in the Vancouver area, which might be a good thing.

I was enjoying wandering around, and then I spotted it from across the store: a colour combination of green, orange and purple. Pillows, throws and even tea towels in my colour scheme! I wasn’t crazy after all. I felt vindicated.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) I had absolutely no room for anything extra in my bags for my trip home – not even for the 3-month old Himalayan kitty in the pet store that I fell in love with and that broke my heart to leave behind, but that’s another story.

When I came home, I discovered Crate & Barrel had a website – and that they ship, too, for a price. It made shopping way too easy. The first order was a duvet cover and pillow cases that perfectly matched our lilac/lavender bedroom. And being the Marimekko brand, which reminded me of my time in Finland with my penpal, it held extra meaning. (Sorry, no photos; that’s where I draw the bloggy line.)

Arriving last week in a somewhat battered box, the second order contained the next step in the ongoing makeover.

And the large box means I can pass on a fair number of unneeded items to the thrift store, keeping the clutter at bay.

The cuddly teddy bears on the chair beside the bookcase were replaced with a throw blanket with all of my crazy colours.

The floral sheet covering the couch – which makes washing easier when it gets covered with cat hair – was replaced with a gray flannel one that I had on hand. My Chief Feline Officer insisted on offering her assistance, of course.

With fresh paint and coordinating pillows, this place feels new again. After being here for ten years, our home finally has our own touch. It only shows that makeovers need not occur all at once or be expensive to have an impact.

Faith has given the new couch her paw of approval for cat naps.

On Monday I welcomed you into my bright corner office and showed the essentials in my work day.

Today I’d like to continue the tour of my office, which encroaches upon the living room. In this area of my extended office, I package copies of my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself to mail to buyers.

1. Robert, the Ficus: Why Robert? Robert Plant, of course! We’ve been together since moving into university residence on January 1, 1988.
2. Boxes of books: From the print run of 500 copies, there’s only 160 left. Except for a small percentage I have sold face-to-face, the rest have been been mailed to individuals across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, and even as far away as Chile and Japan. I cherish the connection I have with each reader by personally packaging each book.

1. Paper cutter: Handy for slicing off the instructions from the shipping label created in PayPal.
2. Weight scale: Used when calculating the postage for multiple-book orders.
3. Business cards: I tuck a business card with “7 Tips for Communicating with People with Disabilities” into each book.
4. Teddy bear: While at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Darrell and I watched a Dad win a carnival game and then give the prize teddy bear to his daughter. As they were walking away, she turned around and gave her prize to me. I keep the bear here as a reminder of how kind people can be.
5. Mailing supplies: Padded envelopes, glue sticks and packing tape – everything I need for when a book is ordered.
6. A framed photo of Grandma: She loved words and she loved reading. i like to think that she’d be proud her granddaughter had a book in Library and Archives Canada.
7. A stack of books: Ready to go! The cover itself tells the story of my life.

And that’s my office…both parts of it. Thank you for stopping by.