I found my VOICE - Oh, HAPPY DAY ! ! !

Have you ever really wanted something but had to wait....and wait....and wait?

Have you ever tried to tell someone something but just couldn't get them to understand what you wanted them to know?

Have you ever heard people say that you couldn't do something but you knew all along in your heart that you could do it....if just given the tools and the chance....it could happen!!!

Have you ever had someone believe in you so much that they never gave up on you?

I have waited

24 years, 4 months and 25 days

to have my very own VOICE!!!

This is the tool that now belongs to ME that will enable me to communicate!

If I could have a few minutes of your time, I would like to share my journey.......what brought me to this point.....this very exciting day.....pull up a chair and sit a while....this is a true MIRACLE and it happened to me TODAY!!!

MY STORY

Wow, where do we begin? For those who do not know me, I will give you a little history of what brought me to this day.

When I was born 24 years ago, my parents began to discover that I was not doing the things that other children my age were doing. My physical development was very delayed as well as my cognitive development. I had many doctors appointments, predictions were made about my abilities and disabilities (some right and some very wrong).

When I was approximately 6 months old, I began receiving therapy through the local Early Intervention Program. I have received Speech Therapy from that point forward.

I started attending school when I was three years old. I am vocal but not verbal. Many teachers, speech therapists, paraprofessionals, speech and language pathologist and my parents all worked very hard to find a tool and or method/technique that would enable me to communicate. Laminated pictures, wooden blocks containing pictures, computer devices, all kinds of tools were explored. A speech and language pathology group at a local University evaluated my abilities twice - once in elementary school and once in the middle school - both times we were told that we needed to find the "right" tool. We tried joy sticks, string activated devices, modified raised button devices....you name it.....we tried it....some people in my life quit trying and others NEVER gave up!!!

In September of 2004, Karen came into my life. Karen is employed by our local school district but she is MUCH MORE than the para-educator assigned to my care during school hours. She believes in me, she sees great potential in me, she inspires me and she never gives up on me. Although many people throughout my life have worked very hard to help me communicate, Karen had a VISION and she set a GOAL. In the fall of 2004, Karen said "Prior to aging out of school (age 26), Lindsey WILL have a communication board and be using it to communicate with those around her". Karen was inspired by a documentary called "Team Hoyt" about the life of Dick & Rick Hoyt. To see more about their story, click on the following link: http://www.teamhoyt.com/history.shtml

Karen saw the potential. With the insight, dedication and devotion of my current speech therapist, Ashley, new tools and techniques were investigated. I started with a wrist band that contained a button with a recorded message, moved to a 4 button unit that looks like a "fanny pack" and then to a 10 button unit. Through a local lending library, a communication tool called the Hip Talk - 10 was borrowed for a few weeks. Pre-recorded messages were placed on the Hip Talk. Ashley and Karen taught me which buttons contained certain messages. No one really knew that I could count but using the Hip Talk requires that I count over a certain number of buttons to get the correct message. Many thought that I accidentally pushed a button that matched the situation but.... time after time my communication was "right on" with the current situation. NO COINCIDENCE!!! I began using the Hip Talk in community settings and at school. By sliding my thumb across the top of the buttons, I "count" over to the message that I want to speak. The amazing thing about this is no one thought I could count!!! p.s. Robin - never underestimate the "circle-time/calendar-time" that you spend with your students on a daily basis. You never know when something will be stored for later use!!!

Since the Hip Talk was borrowed from a lending library, my time ran out and I had to return the tool. A new Hip Talk was ordered for my use. When the new Hip Talk arrived, it was NOT the same. The manufacturer had altered the Hip Talk and the "old" version was no longer available. I could no longer communicate. Ashley and Karen tried to alter the new Hip Talk but I could not use it like I did the old version. What were we going to do?

A few phone calls were made to the lending library. Since the original Hip Talk at the lending library is no longer available in that form, we asked if we could possibly purchase the old one that I had previously borrowed ..... doesn't make sense to continue to lend it out to someone else and have them disappointed when they discover it is not longer available for purchase.

Well, here's the "happy ever after" ending....... Through a Grant, the lending library was able to give me not ONE Hip Talk - 10 but..... TWO Hip Talk 10 units - the same model I originally borrowed. In fact, one still had my pre-recorded greetings. One unit has 10 buttons of pre-recorded messages that I will use at home. The other unit has 2 levels of 10 buttons that I will use at school.

Here are the current messages recorded on my communication device:

• Hi, My name is Lindsey
• How are you today?
• Have a good day!
• It's nice to see you
• I am fine, Thank You!
• Could I have a drink Please?
• Can I get out of my chair?
• I want one!
• Happy Retirement Dad!!!

The recordings can easily be changed.....I am communicating!!!!

My parents always felt that they had this beautiful treasure box which was filled with gems that could not be accessed......the gems could not be purchased....many refused to believe that the gems existed... the key to the box was somewhere but they could not find the key!!!!! Many tried for a while to locate the key and gave up. The key was located but was out of reach for a few months......the key was received today!!!!

We have tears of JOY - waiting 24 years to have a voice - be patient with me because I don't talk on command but when I feel it is right. I need to brush up on my skills since I haven't had my talker for a couple months but if you see me - don't be surprised - you might hear my VOICE!!!!

LIFE LESSONS

(there are many......but here's just a few)

• Never, ever give up!!!!
• Never under-estimate a seed planted, a lesson taught or an inspiration
• Just because someone doesn't speak, doesn't mean they don't have things to say
• MIRACLES do happen
• Even when we feel like we have waited forever for what we want, God's timing is PERFECT!!!