Garrett’s private SLP, Paula Herrington, really helped us get started and was great about using the Vantage during therapy and giving us ideas for use at home and school. We are forever thankful for Paula's support.

Garrett can now answer questions and make requests. This has helped him become more functioning at home, in school and in the community at large. Garrett first began using the device with hand-over-hand prompting. He quickly learned how to access what he wanted to say independently, then began exploring the device and has taught himself how to say many novel, generative utterances.

Garrett demonstrates less frustration throughout his day now that he has the power of communication. He is able to generate language that is not anticipated by familiar people and caregivers, indicating that he has a lot to say that nobody ever realized.

In the past he had access to a simple device that only had six options, which were tape recorded into the device and that device was only available to him at school. So he was very limited in what he could request. The Vantage has an unlimited amount of words that he can learn to use.
Garrett uses Unity^® Enhanced in his Vantage.

Garrett’s greatest strength is his ability to observe his environment and understand what is going on. He listens to conversations and watches others. Before he had the device, Garrett could only talk about the “here and now,” but he can now make comments and talk about things that are not present. Garrett now spontaneously initiates his wants and needs, such as telling his mother that he wants to leave the doctor’s office, or telling his teachers that he needs to use the restroom. When Garrett is in a new situation he can now let us know how he feels and if everything is okay for him.

Garrett has also learned many new leisure skills since having his communication device. He now participates in playing with a variety of toys and games including cars, trucks, trains, and board games.

Our family is proud of Garrett and how he has taken to his Vantage. He really loves the ability to communicate effectively at home and in the community