After months of hard work by my nephew Andy, the app I have always wanted for Jason is now available for everyone using iPad! We decided to call it "ChoiceBoard Maker" to highlight the fact that it is more a tool for customizing choice boards than an app with everything ready made. I have only had to tell him what I want, and I let him figure out the technical part. Of course, I had to at least contribute by writing up the app features for the official launch. Initially he was not quite ready for the launch. But the beta version that I had expired and he had to reload to my iPad again. Adding to the fact that I will be leaving Canada, I urged him to speed up the launch so I don't have to worry about another expiry. So with my relentless pressure, he finished some final details of the app last week. It was only 2 days after the launch and we were quite surprised to see more than 1500 downloads already. This is a pleasant surprise to both me and Andy, who often doubt the potential of this app. There are many features that I want to see added of course, but since he is still busy with his school work, (he is 4-year engineering student) I will spare him for until later. There are some darn good review too and I am so happy his hard work does finally get rewarded. Of course, his insistence to make this a free app (in its current version, at least) in order to help other children like Jason also warms my heart.
Jason looooves using his iPad now. Whenever I give him the choice to do something vs iPad, he will say iPad for sure with a big smile. I use ChoiceBoard Maker to let him choose his favorite music, motivate his visual skills by touching at the requested object (e.g. Find the duck) etc... I'd also use a doodle app which allows me to type a word and save it in the iPad image library. Then I present Jason with whatever sight words I happen to need at that moment, and he will choose between those words. This is done either in context (e.g. choosing which activity to do: piano vs computer) or as a stand-alone activity (e.g. word recognition).
Jason enjoys everything done with this app and he now knows what is expected from him - touching and pointing! Who needs a mouse? It's so difficult to control! Who needs dual-switches for step-scanning? It's more complicated than setting a VCR program! Fingers are all we need! Thanks to Apple, Thanks to iPad, and Thanks to Andy. You all together have opened up more possibilities for Jason, that I have never thought of. Even though he is not 100% solid with his pointer skill, just that fact that he thinks it's fun makes it a great learning tool.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Saturday, November 13, 2010
A journey on my own
This morning, my husband dropped me off at the airport en route to Hong Kong. This is the first time since the birth of Jason that I had to leave them on their own for so long. It feels weird. I am just leaving them for 2 weeks, yet when I turned my head around after going through customs and found my husband looking out for me, waving goodbye, I felt like crying. In fact, my eyes got teary enough that I can no longer disguise it with a yawn or a sneeze, which i think everybody does. I had to go to the washroom and grab a kleenex to do the job. I know this is silly...but I already miss my family...after only 6 hours of being away from them.
While waiting for my flight at the airport, I felt like I have entered into this void, where there is no one that I care about, nor is there anyone who cares about my existence. I am here, surrounded by people, going to the same destination, wearing the same skin color, speaking the same language. There are so much in common, yet no connections among us. A sudden thought comes to mind. What is life without relations? What is life without love? What if there is no one in this world to relate to, no one to love? I feel blessed that I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend....that I am living not in a void, but a universe of friends and family where we cherish one another's well being.
If you are wondering what the heck you are doing day in and day out, that you are disgruntled about the sacrifice you thought you've made for your family, now just be thankful that you have one. Be thankful that you have someone you love. It doesn't have a to be a romantic one. Think about your parents, your spouse, your children, your siblings, your best friends, or even your boss. Let's cherish relations. Let's celebrate love. Let's celebrate life.
While waiting for my flight at the airport, I felt like I have entered into this void, where there is no one that I care about, nor is there anyone who cares about my existence. I am here, surrounded by people, going to the same destination, wearing the same skin color, speaking the same language. There are so much in common, yet no connections among us. A sudden thought comes to mind. What is life without relations? What is life without love? What if there is no one in this world to relate to, no one to love? I feel blessed that I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend....that I am living not in a void, but a universe of friends and family where we cherish one another's well being.
If you are wondering what the heck you are doing day in and day out, that you are disgruntled about the sacrifice you thought you've made for your family, now just be thankful that you have one. Be thankful that you have someone you love. It doesn't have a to be a romantic one. Think about your parents, your spouse, your children, your siblings, your best friends, or even your boss. Let's cherish relations. Let's celebrate love. Let's celebrate life.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Thoughts on "Unable", "Disabled"
Unable
For those of you who have children with disabilities, when someone asks you to introduce your child, what are some of the things you have in mind? I have been in one seminar where parents were asked to do just that. Surprisingly (or not?), 9 out of 10 started by saying "my child has _______(the disorder), he/she can't walk or stand by himself, he can't talk in complete sentence, he can't sit still, etc.....but he is a bundle of joy." Why did we start with what they are unable to do? Well, I never ski, I can't skate, I can't swim, I am afraid of height, I can't even ride a bicycle, but do these "represent" me? Not likely. There are way too many things each of us are unable to do and they have no bearings to our inner soul nor our personal achievement. By the same token, we should focus instead on what our children CAN do, and build upon their abilities. So from now on, think "able", not "unable".
Disabled
Every now and then, there was a revision of the terms used to describe people with various forms of disabilities to reflect the evolving social culture and what was considered socially appropriate. For example, back in the old days, the word "morons" was used to mean people with mental disabilities, which was then replaced by "idiots", and later the "mentally retardated". From current social standard, we would all consider the above terms disrespectful that often came with a negative connotation. The more acceptable term in use now is "intellectually disabled" or more vaguely so "developmentally delayed". These terms carry a relatively neutral meaning, which somehow affect how people think about this group of people which are very often misunderstood.
I appreciate whoever thought of using the word "dis-abled". The prefix "dis" could imply that one was "made unable" by the circumstances, which can be the ailment itself, or simply some environmental factors. Say just ten years ago, when there was no such concept of barrier free community, people in wheelchair would have had trouble going out of their house...not to say taking public transportation. But thanks to the collective effort of a lot of unknown heroes, who advocated for the rights and needs of these forgotten minority, many countries have incorporated barrier free community in their urban planning. So now, we are enjoying facilities such as ramp, automatic door, accessible public washroom, low-floor bus. In fact, for many people with physical disabilities alone, a wheelchair-friendly community is all they need to allow them to live and work independently, with a quality of life and contribution to the society no less than the able bodies.
My dream is that one day, the whole world will be built with people of all abilities in mind, so that the people with disabilities will be "able" to do what everyone else can do and the term "disabled" will become obsolete again, why not?
For those of you who have children with disabilities, when someone asks you to introduce your child, what are some of the things you have in mind? I have been in one seminar where parents were asked to do just that. Surprisingly (or not?), 9 out of 10 started by saying "my child has _______(the disorder), he/she can't walk or stand by himself, he can't talk in complete sentence, he can't sit still, etc.....but he is a bundle of joy." Why did we start with what they are unable to do? Well, I never ski, I can't skate, I can't swim, I am afraid of height, I can't even ride a bicycle, but do these "represent" me? Not likely. There are way too many things each of us are unable to do and they have no bearings to our inner soul nor our personal achievement. By the same token, we should focus instead on what our children CAN do, and build upon their abilities. So from now on, think "able", not "unable".
Disabled
Every now and then, there was a revision of the terms used to describe people with various forms of disabilities to reflect the evolving social culture and what was considered socially appropriate. For example, back in the old days, the word "morons" was used to mean people with mental disabilities, which was then replaced by "idiots", and later the "mentally retardated". From current social standard, we would all consider the above terms disrespectful that often came with a negative connotation. The more acceptable term in use now is "intellectually disabled" or more vaguely so "developmentally delayed". These terms carry a relatively neutral meaning, which somehow affect how people think about this group of people which are very often misunderstood.
I appreciate whoever thought of using the word "dis-abled". The prefix "dis" could imply that one was "made unable" by the circumstances, which can be the ailment itself, or simply some environmental factors. Say just ten years ago, when there was no such concept of barrier free community, people in wheelchair would have had trouble going out of their house...not to say taking public transportation. But thanks to the collective effort of a lot of unknown heroes, who advocated for the rights and needs of these forgotten minority, many countries have incorporated barrier free community in their urban planning. So now, we are enjoying facilities such as ramp, automatic door, accessible public washroom, low-floor bus. In fact, for many people with physical disabilities alone, a wheelchair-friendly community is all they need to allow them to live and work independently, with a quality of life and contribution to the society no less than the able bodies.
My dream is that one day, the whole world will be built with people of all abilities in mind, so that the people with disabilities will be "able" to do what everyone else can do and the term "disabled" will become obsolete again, why not?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Anson's Story
I knew Anson and his mom when he was just 3 years old. He was in the same Sunday school class with Jason. When I observed him in class, I knew there was something special about him. While others were coloring with a crayon, he would write up 3-digit additions on a page. While others barely knew their ABC, he was printing his name in capital letters. But when it comes to speech, his was a little slurred compared to his peers. When Koty his mom told me at the end of the class that he was developmentally delayed, I told her that Jason was the a special kid too. That was how we crossed each other's path in God's masterplan. Thereafter were years of friendship blooming out of mutual support and encouragement. Never had I expect to be so privileged to witness this amazing transformation and the birth of a musical prodigy. In fact, Anson used to be in my Kindermusik class before he learned to play piano. He was trying to hard to get my full attention that once he went through the school bags of every student in class and tossed everything out. I must admit I felt quite agitated, helpless, not knowing how to react. Since that class, Koty pulled him out of my class and I declared my class management skill a complete failure.
Then, Koty started teaching piano to Anson. Yes, Koty may be a piano teacher, and a music major, but she never attempted to force Anson to learn piano at very young age, like many Asian parents do. For if she did, she would have started teaching Anson piano when he was 3. But I remember visiting them one day when Anson was five or six. He wanted to show off just like any kid would, and all he was doing was banging on a toy piano with colored keys. But it was not until a short year or two later, when I listened to him playing a grade 3 piece in the student recital that put me in awe, that I felt something more than musical talent is going on in him. There is just something in his music that made him stand out.
Here is Anson's story in his own writing as posted on Nick Vujucic's blog (the inspiring speaker with no limbs). I hope you will be touched just like many others were.
Here is a sneak peek of his heavenly musical performance. Look for more on YouTube under channel anson022.
Then, Koty started teaching piano to Anson. Yes, Koty may be a piano teacher, and a music major, but she never attempted to force Anson to learn piano at very young age, like many Asian parents do. For if she did, she would have started teaching Anson piano when he was 3. But I remember visiting them one day when Anson was five or six. He wanted to show off just like any kid would, and all he was doing was banging on a toy piano with colored keys. But it was not until a short year or two later, when I listened to him playing a grade 3 piece in the student recital that put me in awe, that I felt something more than musical talent is going on in him. There is just something in his music that made him stand out.
Here is Anson's story in his own writing as posted on Nick Vujucic's blog (the inspiring speaker with no limbs). I hope you will be touched just like many others were.
Here is a sneak peek of his heavenly musical performance. Look for more on YouTube under channel anson022.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Inspiring Video on AAC
I came across this video from another blog I was following. This was made for the AAC awareness month. (recall: AAC means Alternative Augmentative Communications)
Yes, many of our kids and even young adults who are restricted in their wheelchair, with what appears to be uncontrollable limb movements, limited vocal, not to say speech development, and add to that, big soaked bibs hanging embarrassingly from their neck, are often misunderstood to be unable to communicate at all. But with the help of AAC, these kids are empowered with a voice, and they can express their thoughts like you and me. Not only that, they can have a dream, they can have an ambition!
This video was just so overwhelming, powerful, inspiring...I don't know of any good words to describe it. Just watch this till the end if you have time. Hope you can feel the power.
Yes, many of our kids and even young adults who are restricted in their wheelchair, with what appears to be uncontrollable limb movements, limited vocal, not to say speech development, and add to that, big soaked bibs hanging embarrassingly from their neck, are often misunderstood to be unable to communicate at all. But with the help of AAC, these kids are empowered with a voice, and they can express their thoughts like you and me. Not only that, they can have a dream, they can have an ambition!
This video was just so overwhelming, powerful, inspiring...I don't know of any good words to describe it. Just watch this till the end if you have time. Hope you can feel the power.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Teacher with PASSION
Two Sundays ago, a pastoress from Singapore came to our church to give a sermon. Her message was about building a Chrisitian family. She mentioned her daughter was a special ed. teacher in Hong Kong for 18 years, but lately has to take a break because of a bad back after years of hard work. I obtained her contact anyway as I want to get information about special education system in Hong Kong before I go back. I called her last week and turned out to be the best decision I've made.
Her name was Julia. I can tell she was a little shocked when she heard I was calling from Canada. But after a brief introduction about me and Jason, how I got her number, she was quick to ask me questions about Jason and seems to know already how to help me. The way she talked was so calming and positive and reassuring, that you know you can trust her. She offered to refer Jason to one of the house doctors within what is called Hong Chee Association for the disabled, so that we can get a doctor's letter and start applying for school. She asked me what Jason can do, I told her how he can answer yes or no to questions, expressed his basic needs, etc...she immediately said he would be a good candidate for the school in Shatin, which is catered for those with physical and mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities.
When I brought up the concern that Jason can only read certain English words but not Chinese, she said half of the students there do not know how to read either language or at all. But they will be taught pre-reading skills such as recognition of familiar signs in the community like MTR, washroom, etc... Then she said something which touched my heart. "There are toooo many things every one of us cannot do, so we don't count what one can NOT do. Instead, we look at what they CAN do and build upon those skills to help them reach their potential".
Isn't this so true? There are so many things each of us, able bodies, cannot do! I can't swim, you can't dance, he can't ride a bike, she can't play piano.... but we don't get classified by what we can't do! We respect each other for who we are, but not by how much we can or cannot do. And when I told her Jason is easily distractible and may not pay attention to his task on hand, her response to this remark made me cry immediately. She said, they believe that when a child did not pay attention or did not learn, it's not his/her fault, but that of the teachers. I cried because I have finally found a special ed. teacher with passion and conscience. I cried because I finally found someone who actually believed in and practiced what I wrote about the "Least Dangerous Assumption" (recall my post Reflection on the teaching journey dated Aug 7/2010.) I cried because I finally found a teacher who can rightfully take pride of her role as an educator, and not a unionized worker hanging onto a secure job.
Talking to her made me relieved. It rekindled my hope to Jason's future. I am looking forward to our meeting in November when I visit Hong Kong.
Her name was Julia. I can tell she was a little shocked when she heard I was calling from Canada. But after a brief introduction about me and Jason, how I got her number, she was quick to ask me questions about Jason and seems to know already how to help me. The way she talked was so calming and positive and reassuring, that you know you can trust her. She offered to refer Jason to one of the house doctors within what is called Hong Chee Association for the disabled, so that we can get a doctor's letter and start applying for school. She asked me what Jason can do, I told her how he can answer yes or no to questions, expressed his basic needs, etc...she immediately said he would be a good candidate for the school in Shatin, which is catered for those with physical and mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities.
When I brought up the concern that Jason can only read certain English words but not Chinese, she said half of the students there do not know how to read either language or at all. But they will be taught pre-reading skills such as recognition of familiar signs in the community like MTR, washroom, etc... Then she said something which touched my heart. "There are toooo many things every one of us cannot do, so we don't count what one can NOT do. Instead, we look at what they CAN do and build upon those skills to help them reach their potential".
Isn't this so true? There are so many things each of us, able bodies, cannot do! I can't swim, you can't dance, he can't ride a bike, she can't play piano.... but we don't get classified by what we can't do! We respect each other for who we are, but not by how much we can or cannot do. And when I told her Jason is easily distractible and may not pay attention to his task on hand, her response to this remark made me cry immediately. She said, they believe that when a child did not pay attention or did not learn, it's not his/her fault, but that of the teachers. I cried because I have finally found a special ed. teacher with passion and conscience. I cried because I finally found someone who actually believed in and practiced what I wrote about the "Least Dangerous Assumption" (recall my post Reflection on the teaching journey dated Aug 7/2010.) I cried because I finally found a teacher who can rightfully take pride of her role as an educator, and not a unionized worker hanging onto a secure job.
Talking to her made me relieved. It rekindled my hope to Jason's future. I am looking forward to our meeting in November when I visit Hong Kong.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Second week of cold laser therapy
I have diligently gone through the reflex integration program prepared by Bonnie Brandes. It was a well-written handbook with lots of information about reflex and how it affects daily functions. I realized that Jason has many of the retained reflexes that make him unable to perform many tasks. For example, the Moro reflex is like a startle reflex that is triggered when there is a sudden loud noise. Instead of filtering the noise, Jason would paralyze with a blank stare, and stop whatever he is doing, and may even break into tears. We saw this since he was very young. It went away for a while when we were into the 2nd cycle of g-therapy but sneaked back in without any triggers.
So the first reflex we are dealing with using the cold laser is Moro. I have done this for 2 weeks by now. We did notice he crawls with better confidence. Balance is better but not good enough to allow independent crawling. But the "intentions" to move are definitely better. We didn't test his Moro reflex yet but noticed some changes that may or may not be related to this. He was sticking out his tongue more (with ease and longer) and would observe the environment more. For example, we were at the same Walmart that he's been going for years. But today, he suddenly got curious and looked up to the ceiling and started observing what's up there. (turned out it was the big circular vent). He did that the other day too at another place but I did not take note and forgot where it was.
Anyway, I am not supposed to see complete integration to happen so fast but I was told subtle changes will start to surface. Hopefully we are on the right track so my big investment into this laser is well justified.
So the first reflex we are dealing with using the cold laser is Moro. I have done this for 2 weeks by now. We did notice he crawls with better confidence. Balance is better but not good enough to allow independent crawling. But the "intentions" to move are definitely better. We didn't test his Moro reflex yet but noticed some changes that may or may not be related to this. He was sticking out his tongue more (with ease and longer) and would observe the environment more. For example, we were at the same Walmart that he's been going for years. But today, he suddenly got curious and looked up to the ceiling and started observing what's up there. (turned out it was the big circular vent). He did that the other day too at another place but I did not take note and forgot where it was.
Anyway, I am not supposed to see complete integration to happen so fast but I was told subtle changes will start to surface. Hopefully we are on the right track so my big investment into this laser is well justified.
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