Back
Beat BabstBeat was awarded a Smalltalker (Vantage) through the "40 for 40" program. Beat is 18 years old and lives in a Boarding school in Masans, Chur, Switzerland.
This is from Beat:
Within the framework of the teachers' further educational program of the BUK (Office for AAC, Zug) I have on various occasions participated as a speaker on the subject of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). In the course of this I talk about my development with regard to communication, about the challenges and the advantages of AAC and the application of the different communication aids. The participants of the course also have the live possibility to learn the use of the communication book and to communicate with me.
This co-speaker involvement is a most interesting and rewarding activity. Each time it requires intensive preparation, but the effort has always proved to be worthwhile.
I understand you very well, if you speak to me in a normal manner. I communicate by miming and through gesticulating and now with my Smalltalker (Vantage).
I have only had this device for a few months now. Next to the Minspeak® language I can also copy completely normal text, which can then be transferred to Word for further use.
I am able to read text that I save there sentence by sentence or as a whole coherent text.
I already know quite a few symbol combinations in the Minspeak language, but learning these is a step-by-step procedure, just like learning any other foreign language.
I am humorous, patient and get along with everyone. I do not like it when I notice that others are not able to do something because of my handicap. Then I often prefer just to drop out. I am adventurous, always open for something new like gaining an insight into the institution: working and living area; gaining an insight into professional life; getting an idea about how life will continue after school and making new contacts.
My other interests include:
- I like playing chess and other board and party games.
- I like going to the cinema with my sister.
- I am very interested in technical matters and like visiting exhibitions like the Technorama.
- I like reading the paper and let others read to me what I can't read myself. I am especially interested in current news events and the sports section.
- I love to go to sporting events, and if this isn't possible, I watch them on TV.
- I like swimming.
- I like being with other people.
- I am interested in anything to do with computers.
- I log on to the Internet with my sister and also visit the Chat.
- My fervent wish is to be able to make a lot of progress with reading. I practise very hard to increase this ability.
Whenever possible (depending on the facilities) I operate the lift myself, no matter if there is someone pushing me in the wheel chair or if I am on my own using an electric wheel chair.
With the electric wheel chair I can run errands independently. I can sound a horn in front of a door or with the Talker ask someone to fetch the lift for me, for instance, "Can you please call the lift for me and press button 2?"
With the Smalltalker (Vantage). I can also control DVD's and the television at home. I find that great because I no longer have to wait until someone has the time to do this for me.
|
Trial Evaluation