It's quite remarkable how our dreams and expectations for our children can evolve over time. When I envisioned parenting, raising a child with autism wasn't part of the plan, let alone imagining that my son would be nonverbal.
If someone had told me years ago that my son would be nonverbal, I would have been puzzled. I didn't realize that speechlessness extended beyond certain rare circumstances.
But here we are, nearly nine years into raising Brantley, and it's been ages since I've heard the raspy little voice that once came out of his voice box.
Yet, Brantley does still has a voice.
It's not produced by vocal cords, but rather comes from a device that resembles an iPad.
When Brantley turned three, we introduced him to his first Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Device. It was an iPad equipped with a speech-generating program, offering Brantley a means to express himself.
He quickly grasped the concept, using buttons on the device to convey his desires, which the device then verbalized.
Though he's encountered setbacks and regressions along the way, we've transitioned to a device specifically designed for communication purposes. While he struggles with consistent usage, he seizes every opportunity to express his love for food, using the "eat” button or slyly hitting “I’m Done” or “Bye” to protest the endless questions that come his way.
Before Brantley, I had no knowledge that AAC devices existed. But, today I'm endlessly thankful for the technology, which ensures that every child, regardless of their communication challenges, has a voice—a means to be heard, understood, and cherished for who they are. #autismfamily #autismlife #nonverbalautism #aacdevice
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