This week I was able to do something really special with Angie. She invited me to come with her to a Dream Team meeting. (Well, actually I asked her if I could come and she said yes.) Angie’s Dream Team is one of several groups of 5 or 6 people who all communicate with an Augmented Speech Communication Devices at the Perlman Center, a division of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The Dream Team Program is part of the Assistive Technology Project to help children with cerebral or other physical disabilities actively engage with each other and society.
We arrived at the Perlman Center right on time and ready to engage! And as soon as we arrived, we were led to a meeting room with a good-sized table and a giant TV screen at one end. Gradually, the members arrived and took their places around three sides of the table in anticipation of watching something on the big screen. As the team assembled, the two therapists helped everyone get their devices set up and ready to go.
The majority of the people used iPads that were modified to work as their voice. The young lady next to me could type her own messages on her iPad and the iPad would “speak” her words for her. She was amazing to watch. The two young men sitting across from me and next to Angie also had iPads, but since they could both talk a little, they tended to use their own voices at the beginning. In addition, the two young ladies seated to my left used other versions of iPads. One of those young ladies could also talk a little. Angie needed the most help since she can’t use her hands nor can she produce any words. Because of the this, her therapist from St. Joseph Home prepared sentences for her beforehand.
The meeting started with introductions so Angie used her prepared sentences to introduce me. Then, since Angela had been absent for a few meetings, she was welcomed back. After that, the other members all introduced themselves to me after which they shared news about their own lives. For example, 2 members announced new babies in their families and shared pictures on the big screen. The young lady seated next to me shared pictures taken at a play at the library in which she had been able to participate. Another young lady had a YouTube music video to share and after we all watched it twice everybody voted on it. They were asked to say what they liked or didn’t like about it. Angie liked the song and the dress the singer was wearing. It was fun to watch the interactions.
Following the video, there was snack time because one young lady brought a cheesecake and another one brought cookies. The therapists were prepared with forks, plates, napkins and baggies for left-overs. While people were eating, one of the therapists set up a Kahoot! based multiple-choice trivia game about the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in recognition of the Reds’ Opening Day. There was an excitement in the group about opening day and the upcoming parade that surprised and delighted me. One of the young ladies was actually going to the parade the next day, so she was especially excited. I watched Angie confidently choose her responses (I’m pretty sure she was just guessing because the questions seemed difficult to me). In the end, Angie came in third, but actually they all seemed to feel like winners.
The hour and a half flew by. It was time to go. I left delighted for the opportunity that my daughter has the good luck to be part of this program. The entire group caught the positive energy that flowed from the two speech pathologists. Just being there was an honor and a privilege. Thank you, St. Joseph Home and Perlman Center!