Monday, February 27, 2012

The iPad and Proloquo2Go: Max uses them at school, gets famous

We're big fans of the Proloquo2Go speech app in our home. So when the developer asked if I'd let him videotape Max at school using it, I immediately called the principal, along with Max's agent and publicist, of course. Here it is, soon to be a major motion picture! OK, maybe not. But it is rated "G" for "Good Stuff."


The speech therapist, Jen, is the one who first got Max to try an iPad. She's all sorts of amazing. Also of note: The part where Max leans over to the other girl's iPad to show her something. Max has been helping other kids at school figure out how to use their iPad and Proloquo2Go. Do you know how absolutely awesome that it is to me? Yes, I'm guessing you do. Max is a kid who needs a fair amount of assistance; that he's enabling other kids puts me on a high.

Word: I do think this app has given Max a voice he hasn't had before, as the title implies. I also think that it's encouraged him to articulate more words—he's getting more and more chatty. It's not always possible to know what he is saying, but it is very good to hear. I know parents wonder if a speech app will discourage their child from speaking; we've found the opposite to be true.

And, in case you are wondering, yes! We do own a brush in our home. Bedhead is very in these days.

24 comments:

  1. Ellen!!!!!!!!!! This is amazing! I just loved how confident he is - especially when he said "yes" when his therapist asked if he could find purple again. And then when he TYPES... Well, swoon - incredible!

    This is four minutes of joy!!!

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  2. What are the purple things that are velcroed onto his hands? Does he wear them all day? What do they do?

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  3. Awesome, Max! I hope Ian can use Proloquo2Go that well some day! He just got an iPad with the program for Christmas. He just said "I want a hotdog" the other day, so he's making great progress!
    Keep up the great work Max!

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  4. Ellen,

    I started following your blog after my son was diagnosed with CP. I love how honestly you express your feelings toward Max's good days and bad days. It truly inspires me. You know what I love about this post and this video? You can SEE Max's confidence when using this app. I hope one day I can see my sweet Hudson display that confidence.

    Jess

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  5. That is so. very. cool. I love how he's able to get his point across. I also love how cute he is. I am thrilled for y'all that Max has such a great outlet to show you how clever he is!

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  6. this is amazing!! I love his confidence in his abilities is amazing!!

    and his therapist is amazing

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  7. This was AWESOME!!!!!!! It gives me hope that someday we'll get our boy to be less resistant towards P2G and all other speech programs... and Max's bed head makes me happy.

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  8. That is beautiful!!!!!!! Wow.

    It looks like Proloquo2Go and the iPad are seamlessly weaved into Max's and other children's day at his school.

    It makes me sad that we haven't had similar success with our son.

    Will Max self-initiate getting the iPad at home to tell you something?

    Thanks so much for sharing this. It looks like he is in a wonderful school program and is thriving!

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  9. That is terrific! Watching Max in that video made me so happy!

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  10. Wow. What a voice. The world now has an open door for Max that will never close. Can you show more of him using his voice?

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  11. Glad the video is a hit! I've watched it approximately a gazillion times.

    Anon #1, the purple splints are made by Benik, they help keep Max's hands open (sometimes they tighten up).

    Louise, lately Max tends to use the iPad more at school then he does at home but yes, he will go to the iPad when he's articulating something and we can't understand him.

    Anon #2, yes, I was thinking I needed to show video of Max talking in the near future. Will do when I can.

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  12. That is wonderful! It is hard for me to type this through my tears...

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  13. Awesome! I totally agree having a communication aid encourages verbal speech!

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  14. Go Max! I very much enjoyed seeing how confident Max is. I can also say that Emma's iPad has actually enhanced her oral speech.

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  15. Thank you for sharing! My 4 year old got his iPad with Proloquo last summer. It hasn't quite taken off yet. Watching this video, I have a renewed hope for my Alex. I can really see now that purple is Max's favorite color. He is such an angel!

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  16. Oh my gosh Ellen! When I saw him type purple I started to cry. What an incredible video of your amazing son!

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  17. All I can say is WOW! I had no idea how far Max has come and to be working on spelling is AMAZING; something rarely done early enough with our kids. Max's confidence and efficiency are a joy to see! Keep up the great work, Max!

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  18. were you there? I thought Max said 'there's mommy'

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  19. I've watched all your videos and am still amazed at Max's progress.
    To anyone reading this, Ellen and Max inspired us to get an I pad and proloquo2 and my son Ashley is making huge progress at school with it.
    Spelling and helping others as two big milestones for the little guy.
    Big well done Max!

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  20. Yay, Ashley!

    Anon Y Mous: I wasn't there....

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  21. He's so frigging handsome...and happy! I like the bedhead look! I can't help but think back to the video you made shortly after you got the iPad--what a difference! He isolates that finger like a champ; no hesitation--he navigates like a pro. What a wonderful thing! What happiness!!!

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  22. Wooohoo Max!! I have to say, the ipad has been amazing for a lot of the kids I work with. One of my kiddos used it to go trick or treating and it was AMAZING. She was thrilled. My favorite was when my sister walked over to say hi to her, and she made the iPad say "see ya later alligator" and walked away. We definitely celebrated that one.

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  23. Ellen,
    My son is also using PLQ2G on his ipad, and so far it's working out well. Please tell me what kind of case and stand Max uses to hold his ipad upright on his desk? Thanks for your help. I have just recently found your blog and really enjoy your outlook on being Max's mom.
    Sincerely,
    Deborah

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Thanks for sharing!