The Difficulties with Augmented Communication

The Difficulties with Augmented Communication

Kim Rankin
AAC

Augmented communication is hard. Nothing about it is easy or normal. 

Take last Saturday morning.

Rich, Joe and Nathaniel were outside working on Josiah's bike. When I walked into the situation, Nathaniel was upset and on the verge of a big melt down tantrum. Rich filled me in that it was regarding a tool that Nathaniel had confiscated as his own, but Josiah needed periodically. I asked where the talker was, hoping to offer everyone another tool to work through the situation. The talker was not outside.

Remembering Our First Weeks with Nathaniel

Remembering Our First Weeks with Nathaniel

Kim Rankin

We were chosen as Nathaniel's adoptive family on June 27, 2013. We spent the month of July learning about his care and preparing to transition him to our home. We teased that we had a one month pregnancy, but in reality it was even shorter because we took a previously scheduled vacation for a week mid July.

We needed EVERYTHING. I remember feeling very overwhelmed when Rich and I walked into Babies R Us early that July. Baby-hood had changed a great deal since we had prepared for our last child fourteen years earlier; even greater changes were noted since we had prepared for our first child twenty-three years earlier. When my other children were little, I had fallen in love with soft baby yellow. I searched for yellow sleepers and yellow receiving blankets. I learned quickly that 21st century baby world is genderized pink and blue.

Augmented Communication - Part 5: MOMMY and 216 Other Words

Augmented Communication - Part 5: MOMMY and 216 Other Words

Kim Rankin
AAC

Ben, Nathaniel and I went to Lowe's this week. Nathaniel had his talker in the cart and when the cashier started talking to him, I reached over and used the talker to say HI on his behalf. It is the easiest way to let someone know he is not going to respond verbally. Most often, hearing the talker catches people off guard and I can quickly sense the individual's familiarity and comfort with special needs children. The cashier came alive when she heard the device. She had questions. By the end of our transaction, she had shared that her own son has Down's Syndrome and was given a Speech Generating Device (SGD). He does not use it because he was teased and told it was for babies. She wanted more information. We wrote down the name of the app, name of my website, and the name of Nathaniel's new Facebook page.

Nathaniel Wrist Bands

Nathaniel Wrist Bands

Kim Rankin

Nathaniel is headed to Cincinnati Children's Hospital in August for an evaluation of his airway. He has a huge team of family, friends, medical professionals, and even strangers who follow his story and are genuinely concerned about his well-being. We do not take that for granted. If you are reading this, you are part of that team. We want you to know how much you mean to us. We need your continued prayer for Nathaniel. We want you to feel a part of Nathaniel's story and how it represents God moving in the world today. On August 10th we will begin shipping our first batch of TEAM NATHANIEL/HOLD MY WORDS bracelets. Pre-orders can be placed below.

Back to Ohio in August and an Offer You Won't Want to Miss

Back to Ohio in August and an Offer You Won't Want to Miss

Kim Rankin

I received a phone call last week confirming dates in August that we will return to Ohio. Nathaniel has been accepted as a patient at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Aerodigestive Center. We will be in Cincinnati for a week, August 17-21 for his initial evaluation appointments.

Why Cincinnati Children's?
Short story: It is the world leader in pediatric airway reconstruction. Skip to the bottom of this post for the offer.
Long Story: read on.

Vacationing in Lakeside 2015 - Part Two

Vacationing in Lakeside 2015 - Part Two

Kim Rankin

I know Nathaniel's private duty nurses and therapists are watching the blog for information how he is doing on the trip. My first Lakeside post was read and shared far more than I expected, but I doubt it gave Nathaniel's people back home the nitty-gritty details they want. Here you go, Team Nathaniel. This one is for you.

Nathaniel's week in four words: He is doing great.

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