#Lyn may daughters how to

We were able to record our voices for each button and change the pictures, in order to tailor-make the device according to Chloe’s particular vocabulary. The device consisted of a board with buttons representing a simple vocabulary, e.g. Nonetheless we persevered and received funding for an electronic communication device. We took a folder home to practise with and she was intent on crumpling the pages and throwing the cards. She constantly withdrew her arm and looked everywhere but the cards. I can’t remember what those initial pictures were now, but I think they bore some resemblance to the PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) cards she had in her classroom.įrom the very outset, Chloe was extremely reluctant to participate in the FC sessions.

#Lyn may daughters how to

She appeared to us as something of an Australian grand dame who took no nonsense, boomed instructions and spoke most convincingly about her successes with Facilitated Communication (FC).Īs a lead in to FC for Chloe, Rosemary showed me how to hold Chloe’s arm and hand and help her touch pictures in a folder in order to express simple thoughts. Rosemary was charismatic, articulate, personable and funny.

This perfect mix led me to the doors of Rosemary Crossley at the DEAL Centre in Melbourne. Her brain could not control her mouth, which also means she couldn’t chew.īack in her younger days, I had boundless optimism and very little experience. For that reason alone, I confess I persevered with unproven methods of communication well beyond my very strong doubt.Ĭhloe’s genetic disorder, Cri du chat syndrome, caused her to have multiple disabilities, including the inability to talk. The downside is that she also couldn’t explain symptoms of illness or injury or retell anything that happened to her outside my supervision. She never begged me for new pets, holidays or toys and she never had a boyfriend or went to parties or tried tobacco, drugs or alcohol. She ate everything on her plate always had. My late 16 year old daughter didn’t want designer clothes or brand-name devices.