The doorbell rang today just minutes after we arrived home from therapy and grocery shopping. Brycen ran to the window to look outside as I was opening the door to greet the UPS man. He informed me that he needed a signature for Mr. Brycen Timmer that was 21 years or older. I told him I wasn't even sure what was coming because the most recent things I ordered online shouldn't be here for a couple more days. He specifically told me it was probably alcohol as that is usually why someone has to be 21 to sign for a package like this...but as he was saying this, I noticed the small label on the top of the package and it said "Talk to Me Technologies" and I had instant butterflies in my stomach. I told him that this package was far better than any alcohol could ever be!
I ripped the box open and there was Brycen's beautiful, light blue, brand new communication device!!! I was in absolute shock as it has only been 5 weeks since we completed the trial period and sent the trial device back to the company. The last I had heard from the rep was when they called a couple weeks ago to find out what color we wanted the device to be, but I had no clue that the ordering process with insurance would go this fast! I immediately called our rep in Cedar Falls to make sure I wasn't imagining things and she confirmed that yes, it was approved and she was absolutely delighted that Brycen will have this now. She made reference to the programming we did on the trial device (which they saved and transferred to his new one!), the journaling on the trial period that we kept to show how he was using and progressing on the device, and how she felt we obviously wanted to do what we could for Brycen to give him this opportunity. To hear these compliments from someone that barely knows us made me feel so good!
So after I unpacked the device and showed it to Brycen, he immediately turned it on and "told" me he wanted to go play with trains (in his room). I had tears in my eyes as I realized he had not forgotten how to use the device! As most of you know, Brycen has had difficulty in the past remembering things that are taught to him and he tends to "lose" signs, single sounds/words, or even actions or tasks we teach him if it is not part of his regular routine. The fact that 5 weeks have gone by since he last used the device, and that he immediately used it today with no prompts just reiterated to me that this is what he needed. We contemplated this for so long and wondered what the right choice was for him, but now I know WITHOUT A DOUBT that we have made a very informed choice by choosing the Alt-Chat for him.
I'm so excited to see what the future holds with this and to share it with all of you in the coming weeks, months, and years...because it is ALL HIS!!
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
Helen Keller
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
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Autism and Our Family
"Autism"----It's one word that can change the life of a child and family in so many ways. Autism Spectrum Disorders are being diagnosed at a rate of 1 in 68 children currently. If you do not already know someone that has been diagnosed, the statistics say it won't be long before you do.
Our son developed typically until around the time he turned 2 years old. We heard words...we saw him play with other kids...we watched as he played with his toys appropriately...we made eye contact with him...overall we understood his wants and needs. In a matter of a few months, that was all taken away from him. He began lining up toys, lost all of his words and signs except for one word "ball", ignored other kids, could not sleep through the night, lost eye contact and the ability to follow directions, and he had no way of letting us know what he wanted or how he felt. It was heartbreaking to see something happening to our child that we couldn't stop!
Brycen began receiving home therapy 1-2 times per month for about 6 months before we realized it wasn't just developmental delays. We knew it was Autism...we just didn't want to say it outloud to anyone. He was officially diagnosed with Autism (classic form and regressive), as well as Mental Retardation in August 2009 by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
We continue to learn as we make our way through this journey with Brycen and we will continue to share this journey with you on this blog! The blog has been a great therapy for us to be able to vent our frustrations and struggles with accepting that we have a child with special needs, while sharing how blessed we are to have a child teach us what life truly means. It has also been a great way to inform others of his progress and changes over the last couple of years.
Thank you for your support of Brycen and our family! We hope you are able to learn something through this blog no matter if you are a parent of a child with special needs or a neurotypical child, a teacher or therapist, a family member, or just someone that is interested in the journey that a family goes on as they learn their child is battling a life-long disorder.
Our son developed typically until around the time he turned 2 years old. We heard words...we saw him play with other kids...we watched as he played with his toys appropriately...we made eye contact with him...overall we understood his wants and needs. In a matter of a few months, that was all taken away from him. He began lining up toys, lost all of his words and signs except for one word "ball", ignored other kids, could not sleep through the night, lost eye contact and the ability to follow directions, and he had no way of letting us know what he wanted or how he felt. It was heartbreaking to see something happening to our child that we couldn't stop!
Brycen began receiving home therapy 1-2 times per month for about 6 months before we realized it wasn't just developmental delays. We knew it was Autism...we just didn't want to say it outloud to anyone. He was officially diagnosed with Autism (classic form and regressive), as well as Mental Retardation in August 2009 by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
We continue to learn as we make our way through this journey with Brycen and we will continue to share this journey with you on this blog! The blog has been a great therapy for us to be able to vent our frustrations and struggles with accepting that we have a child with special needs, while sharing how blessed we are to have a child teach us what life truly means. It has also been a great way to inform others of his progress and changes over the last couple of years.
Thank you for your support of Brycen and our family! We hope you are able to learn something through this blog no matter if you are a parent of a child with special needs or a neurotypical child, a teacher or therapist, a family member, or just someone that is interested in the journey that a family goes on as they learn their child is battling a life-long disorder.
I'm so excited for you!!!!
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