Vantage Training

This is the Vantage Light, the electronic communication device that Eric recieved in March. Others sometimes call it the electronic PECS machine, or the talking machine. This was introduced to him as a trial last fall when school first started, before his in home therapy started. He got pretty good with this machine and it really helped jump start his verbal communication. Since he has started therapy he's really taken off with the talking. While he has made a lot of progress, he still has a lot to learn. This is a tool that can help him communicate when he just hasn't mastered the verbal language skills himself yet. The nice thing about this is it seems once he learns the words on here he begins saying them soon after.

While this is a wonderful machine, it is very complicated. I really have no idea where to begin to utilize even half the potential of it. Because of this and Andy always wanting to play with it I've been keeping it in Eric's school bag. Last month the Assistive Technology Coordinator from his school emailed me an invite to a special training for these machines. It is going to take place tomorrow from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Respite care is arranged for the boys and I will be gone for the day learning about this machine and actually talking to other adults. It will be a long day but I am very much looking forward to this. His senior therapist is also attending this training and the machine will be integrated in his therapy too. My hope is to utilize this tool to further help with Eric's communication skills.