Our featured Language Superstar for September 2014 is Sam (age 7). We first met Sam when he was 6 years old and he came to VOICE for an initial evaluation of his candidacy for use of a speech generating device. Sam was not using natural speech when we first met him. We found an excellent core language system match and after a long term trial of that speech generating device, Sam received that SGD through insurance funding. He has used that system since August 2013. Sam is now able to demonstrate his reading and comprehension skills with grade level material. He has become increasingly verbal both in imitation of the device and in spontaneous speech production and his natural speech sound repertoire is growing. At home, Sam is beginning to use his device to make choices. At school, Sam uses his device throughout the day, with various people in all contexts. In addition to using his device for communication regarding academics, Sam participates in “share time” in his classroom and is beginning to use his device to communicate with peers.
Many thanks to Sam and to his family for letting VOICE, LLC feature him as a Language Superstar.