Communication Devices Make Us Happy!

Do you ever play the Quiet Game with your children? You know, the age-old “let’s see who can go the longest without talking” contest, just for the sake of having a little peace and quiet?

Believe it or not, there are families out there who WISH they had to play the Quiet Game! You see, many of the children we serve have cerebral palsy, a condition that affects muscle control. So, while these kids might be able to understand everything that’s happening around them, they may not be able to speak with friends and family in order to adequately communicate their wants, needs, thoughts and feelings.

That’s where Variety comes in…by providing communication devices and/or applications that enable a child to communicate. This technology is so cool…and can really range in complexity (and price), depending on the child’s need!

For example, many of our kids are using Proloquo2Go, an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) that costs approximately $100 and can be downloaded onto an iPhone or iPad and then, upon using the touch screen, the device will talk!

Then there’s the other side of the spectrum…with devices that can track a child’s eye movement toward symbols or letters in order to communicate. Yes, you read that right…track a child’s eye movement! Freaky, huh??

This winter, just before the holidays, we provided such a device (worth approximately $16,000!) to Variety child Happy and he was kind enough to visit the KTVI studio to show it off. This device has made a world of difference in Happy’s life, as he’s able to easily text with his friends like other teenagers and chat with his mom. Check out the clip here.