DynaVox DynaVoXPRESSIONS Newsletter November 2005

ISSUE 1 October 2005 · October Index · Archives

Welcome to DynavoXPRESSions!

DynaWrite: A Welcome New Voice at Her Fingertips
A Dynamic Debut: The Yellow School Bus Tour · Closing the Gap: See You There

DynaWrite: A Welcome New Voice at Her Fingertips

For Joan Schulz, life is all about simple pleasures, like
putting the final touches on one of her handmade quilts
or greeting cards, or complimenting her grandsons on
one of their triumphs on the basketball court or
soccer field.

A former elementary school teacher and
secretary, Joan has always had an
endearing way of putting herself
last. Joan will help a stranger
search for out-of-the-way
items at the supermarket as
gladly as she looks forward to
Sunday morning conversations
with longtime friends at church.

Joan's grandchildren are happy that she did.
"They always beam when Joan pulls up her
old voice to say 'I love you' or 'You played
a good game,' " Walt Schulz said.

Finding strength in her new voice,
Joan often treats the DynaWrite
as a tool for reaching out. As
regulars at the annual assistive
technology workshop that the
Muscular Dystrophy Association's
ALS division sponsors each spring in
Iowa City and an ALS support group
closer to home, the Schulzes enjoy telling
-and showing -families the difference that
the DynaWrite has made in their quality of life.

The DynaWrite keyboard- based communication device, along with her excellent typing and writing skills, are a tremendous help on such occasions.

After Joan, 68, learned that she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2002, her positive attitude only grew more inspiring as she adapted to living with the progressive neurological condition also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Many things about her life are the same, of course. She and her husband, Walt, also a retired teacher, continue to spend their winters in Arizona. Spring, summer and fall guarantee a steady flow of visits from family, friends and neighbors at the Storm Lake, Iowa house they've called home for years.

One major change that Joan confronted since her diagnosis was the gradual loss of her natural voice because the form of ALS that she has affects the muscles involved in producing speech and swallowing. She worked around the inevitable communication barriers the situation presented, quickly filling notebooks with handwritten messages to loved ones and others she encountered as she went about her daily activities. Then, when her speech therapist and local DynaVox Technologies representative Matthew Dunning introduced her to the DynaWrite, Joan knew that she had found a faster and easier way to express herself. She especially liked the digitized speech option that the device offered because it allowed her to preserve the sound of her voice before it faded completely. To those who may eventually rely on an augmentative communication device due to similar effects of ALS, Joan advises: "Record your voice while you can."

People are amazed by its capabilities, Joan said. She encourages them to consider adopting a similar device as their own voice.

"I don't know what I'd do without it," she said.

While using her previous system of written communication, Joan sometimes sensed impatience in her communication partners as she jotted down thoughts she could not verbalize. Or she worried that people would write her off as being snobbish because she did not speak to them. The DynaWrite has been instrumental in restoring her self-confidence in such situations. A message that Joan keeps on the device serves as an icebreaker when people assume that she is unable to communicate. It simply says: "I have ALS. I can hear what you say. I just can't talk back."

But Joan indeed brings a unique voice to the conversation. Her contributions vary from short, pre-recorded messages ("Thank you for coming," "How are you today?" or "Come again soon.") to longer messages that she types and stores in the DynaWrite that allow her to offer her opinion, discuss health issues with her doctor or welcome a newcomer to her support group.

And every word reflects the gift of speech that the DynaWrite delivers at her fingertips.

A Dynamic Debut

The Yellow School Bus Tour, starring
Mayer-Johnson with special guest
DynaVox Technologies, is on
a roll, bringing a world of
classroom communication
solutions - along with
the tools and resources
that make them happen
- to a town near you.

Its mid-September debut in the mid-Atlantic states and a trek up the East Coast later in the month drew a combined audience of more than 400 guests including speech-language pathologists, special educators and parents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Silver Spring, Maryland; Reston, Virginia; Newark, Delaware and Baltimore, Maryland; Long Island; New York City; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Hartford, Connecticut and Milford, Massachusetts.

Each stop on the tour includes a full day of educational sessions designed to keep you in the know on Mayer-Johnson and DynaVox Technologies products. Our clinical and education specialists are on hand to demonstrate tangible applications that will benefit your students. Hard to get away during school hours? Then be sure to catch the free after-school open house (with refreshments!) held each day of the tour.

Other exciting tour attractions include the Gallery Walk of classroom ideas and activities, an on-site store with discounted Mayer-Johnson merchandise and automatic discounts on future school trainings for our guests, who will also be eligible to win a Series 4 software package or other valuable door prize.

We look forward to spending a day with you on the tour this school year. The next leg of the tour will bring us to Florida in early November. For a complete tour schedule, summary of educational sessions and registration details, visit www.yellowschoolbustour.com. This is one bus you won't want to miss!

Closing the Gap: See You There

The associates of DynaVox Technologies and Mayer-Johnson look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis at the 23rd annual Closing the Gap conference October 18 - 22. In addition to learning about the newest products from both companies, you can enhance your knowledge of our products and how they can be used to effectively meet the needs of those in your care by attending these exciting presentations presented by the DynaVox Technologies and Mayer-Johnson teams:

Top Ten Tips for Working with
Adults with Acquired Disabilities
Presented by Kristin Whitfield, M.S., CCC-SLP, Clinical
and Product Applications Specialist, DynaVox Technologies
Thursday, October 20. 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Hands-On Boardmaker Plus: The Next Logical
Step to Create Exciting Symbol-Based Activities
Presented by Lisa Petit, M.S., Training Manager,
Mayer-Johnson, Inc.
Thursday, October 20. 8:00 AM - 10:30 PM

So You Think You Know Boardmaker: Tips and Tricks to Enhance your Boardmaker Skills and Creative Applications
Presented by Lisa Petit, M.S., Training Manager, Mayer-Johnson Inc.
Friday, October 21. 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Expanding the Learning Experience
for ALL Children Through Current Events
This team presentation will feature Sally Long, M.S.,
Product Manager, Mayer-Johnson Inc.
Friday, October 21. 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Ten Tips for Using AAC Systems to Support Positive Outcomes in Individuals with Challenging Behaviors
Presented by Linnea McAfoose, M.S., CCC-SLP, Clinical and
Product Applications Specialist, DynaVox Technologies and
Jennifer Brander, B.A., Behavior Specialist,
Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind
Saturday, October 22. 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Dynamic Kids: A Look at Dynamic Screen
Learning in Children Labeled Moderately-
Severely Mentally Handicapped
Presented by Stephanie Williams, M.S., CCC-SLP, Clinical and Product Applications Specialist, DynaVox Technologies and Vicki Clarke, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Dynamic Therapy Associates, Kennesaw, GA
Saturday, October 22. 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Presentation dates and times are subject to change. Participants will receive the official Conference Directory at the conference site.

Be sure to visit the Resource Center at the DynaVox Technologies booth, and the Mayer-Johnson booth, where you'll find plenty of handouts from the presentations and other useful AAC and education tips to go! DynaVox Technologies can be found at booths 290, 291. 292 and 293 in the Great Hall while Mayer-Johnson can be found at booths 115, 116, 117 and 118.

DynaWrite: A Welcome New Voice at Her Fingertips
A Dynamic Debut: The Yellow School Bus Tour
Closing the Gap: See You There

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