Rand is launched! This morning, Jennie and I presented the Speech Generating Device (named Mo) to him and held our collective breaths. (see yesterday's posting for photos) You know Rand, he never exhibits a lot of enthusiasm or excitement - he's a true Minnesota Norwegian, but I could see it in his face and in his eyes. He liked it, he really, really liked it! Jennie and I tried to take him through the pages, step by step, but he took off on his own, leaving us in his dust! I showed him the "Go Back" button on each page and he was off and running. He explored every button on every page, nodded approval at some, looked quizzically at some, laughed at some, seemed relieved at some. All in all, I think it was a success.
Now the work begins. I have been slaving over a hot SGD machine for 48 hours and have barely made a dent. Mo is very frustrating in so many ways, primitive in some ways, out-of-date in others, yet it is the only game in town. I keep reminding myself that I rented the VW version and the Cadillac version is probably much better, faster, up-to-date, less frustrating, etc. The goal is to make it user friendly and essential to Rand. Jennie and I have a lot to learn about this whole device and how to make it meet Rand's needs immediately. A case in point was today. This morning I asked Jennie to plug Mo into the power strip on the floor. She did. After our session was over, Rand and I went to his OT session and then to visit a friend in the hospital. When we got back, Rand had lunch and a nap while I ran errands. When I returned to Rand's Room later this afternoon, Mo was dead. It turns out that the power strip was unplugged from the wall socket, the battery ran out of juice and there you are. Rand tried to use it but it didn't respond and he didn't know why. We didn't have time to train the staff this morning and so an opportunity was lost. Foiled by a stupid error. AAAAAAAUUUGH!
But I am pleased overall with Rand's reaction. This is just the beginning of another long road and steep learning curve for both of us. I just hope that I make the right programing decisions for him, that I don't get too complicated, that I am realistic about his abilities, about the way he thinks now, that I anticipate his wants and needs accurately. This is a work in progress for a long, long time, but if I screw up, it will kill off his enthusiasm, his willingness to use it, his view of it as useful in the short term.
Jennie is going to be a great help in this also. She is going to work with Rand 2-3 times a week on Mo and will design some pages just for him to practice words on his own. She is also going to train Manny, Thuan and the other staff on how to use Mo to communicate.
There is one button on each page that says, "Hi - Come in." I wanted that greeting to be in Rand's voice and I thought it would be easy. Wrong. Rand, Jennie and I practiced it over and over, we shortened it, revised it, tried it again and again to no avail. Finally, he said it clearly enough that we got it recorded, but his voice was very soft. Rand was pleased with the result. Later this afternoon, when I got Mo up and running again, I played his statement for him and he shook his head, "no". I agree. He wants to try it again, louder, more clearly, with expression. YES! Go, Randbo, go!! This will be a part of our daily routine - getting Mo to say what Rand wants him to say.
Next time you come to visit, be prepared to use Mo to communicate with Rand. It is a two-way device - and I'll be happy to show you how it works.
Keep Rand close.
Love,
Connie
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