Ivar is a very social young man. He has a great sense of humor. He loves to share a good joke! And he's very stubborn! Or as I like to say, determined!

Ivar was born with a brain abnormality called schizencephaly. This caused him to have cerebral palsy. Ivar cannot walk, has many developmental delays, including cognitive disabilities and is totally blind. He lost his sight at five years old. He also cannot speak, of course. All these things are challenges. Losing his sight was a huge one. Having an AAC device has opened the world up to him! He can express his needs, desires and opinions! Of all his challenges, being able to communicate in a meaningful way with others is by far the most important. Having an AAC device has been a gift and a blessing.

Ivar's goals include continuing to learn to communicate better and more effectively. So he can have meaningful conversation with others for the joy of it! To learn as much as he can to be a productive citizen when he is an adult. Having his Pathfinder is a crucial, crucial part of that!

Having his Pathfinder helps him to communicate with the world in all situations that he couldn't do otherwise. It has made the world out there perceive him differently, because they realize there is a thinking, feeling person there...not just a kid in a wheelchair who can't speak!

Ivar had an Alpha Talker from the time he was six year old until he was 12. He maxed out the potential of the Alpha and we then purchased a Pathfinder. He started out with eight little choices on the Alpha, progressed to having 25 themes!! That's when we decided it was time to move on to a different device. I think Ivar is an AAC hero because he not only has had to learn to use some sophisticated devices, he has had to do that being totally blind!! All the visual cues on the Pathfinder don't help him to learn at all!! He's learning it by sound and touch and having to memorize all the buttons and choices!! And he's doing it! Talk about a hero! He inspires me everyday.

Swimming, listening to stories on tape, watching game shows and bowling are Ivar’s favorite activities.

Submitted by
Patty Manning, Ivar’s mother