Saturday, December 31, 2011

Elysha and Jake (Companion Dog)

 Today I decided to write a small article on Elysha and her new friend 'Jake'. Jake came to live with us nearly a year ago. Our first anniversary comes up in January.Jake is a wonderful addition to our family and I am so glad that I looked into the idea of a companion dog.


Jake came to us through the Guide Dog Assoc. I contacted them in reference to getting a dog for Elysha. We have never had a dog before - actually I have always been quite scared of dogs and spent many a day walking the long way to school just to avoid the local dogs.

I knew we needed a dog that had already been trained as I had no idea. Why get a dog - quite simply because life can be lonely at times for Elysha and I thought having her own special friend would make a difference. After our initial contact with the Guide Dog Assoc I was called a couple of times and information was shared. Then a wonderful lady from the Guide Dog Assoc came and did an interview. Looking at the whys and wherefores.
It was decided that although Elysha could have a Labrador she really wasn't strong enough to walk one and we didn't want the dog to become 'the boss'.

So we were looking at middle size maybe. We then waited. In all it was nearly two years but we knew this before hand and I started before Elysha finished up at school. Then we got the call - there was a two year old and a puppy. Both had been trained but the puppy still liked to playfully nip at heels. We knew this would scare Elysha and then she would withdraw from his handling so we went with the two year old.
Enter Jake. In comes this cute looking young fella with a bit of this and a bit of that in his breed. Bichon Frise was quite predominant and so we had a dog that a) didn't molt and b) no allergies for Elysha - fantastic.

Another quality we were looking for was a dog that maybe able to do Therapy Pet training with Elysha as we felt this could be a good way for them both to participate in the community visiting nursing homes etc and sharing.
Jake fit the mould perfectly. You have never seen a dog like it. He loves to be petted and is so relaxed we can be holding him and push his gently backwards and he just falls back - paws in the air and waits for a tummy rub.
When he's washed he smells like a wet jumper. We learnt the hard way not to let his coat get too long - being wool it just got so tangled and our attempts at using a clipper left him looking a bit mangled. Time to call in the mobile dog wash people. When they had finished he was looking a bit bald but much improved and very young.

Elysha feeds Jake everyday, cleans up his poos and is up early and removes evidence if he has been naughty and pooed in the back room.
He is perfectly trained and goes to meetings with us and will sit under the table, no noise and wait till we finish. We can take him out and tell him to go to the lou "quick quick" and go back in. So many cafes welcome us and bring water for him and some even treats. He walks right beside Elysha and only has to be pulled back every now and then. Everyone and I mean everyone stops us to ask about him and want a pat he just has that cute dog look.
Doesn't beg for food but will look at you with sad eyes until you tell him to 'go away' then he sits off to the side and just lays his head down and waits till we finish. Can sucker John and Elysha at times.

Faults: hates wet grass and rain. Will not go outside in the rain no matter how hard we work at it - we have taken him out on a lead and stood there with him in the rain but he will not go. We say quick quick and he just looks at us like we are idiots. End result is if its rainy we know he will have done something in the back room (which is an outside enclosed area) and we live with it. We scold him - he looks very dejected and some days we make him stay out but then Elysha just sits at the door and keeps telling us he is sorry. What can you do??

Barked and growled at all other dogs - his tail still going madly in happiness but there he was going berserk. We had no idea what to do - it scared Elysha terribly and I have no working knowledge of dogs. We called the Guide Dog Assoc and they sent a couple of trainers who had worked with him before. Of course he behaved perfectly for them and there were no stray dogs to show what was happening. Went and knocked on someones door - we knew they had a dog but didn't know them. Asked if they would bring their dog out and of course when he growled they pulled him up and he obeyed. CHECK

Next time we went out and he went nuts didn't matter what I said he wouldn't stop. So John took him visiting his mum and her two dogs - bit of work but we got there.

That's it for faults and so minor. REWARDS -ahhhhh so many I don't know where to start. He is Elysha's best friend. He goes with her everywhere -yes even to bed at night - but just till she goes to sleep then he wanders out-like 'yes shes asleep now' and sits with us then goes out to the back room for the night. He has everyone wrapped around his little paw. We have rules and he is very good but he does know how to work all of us. Yes even me - the dog hater has become the dog lover.

John who was adamant we would never have a dog (yes I went behind his back on this but I knew he would change his mind) is the BIGGEST SUCKER of us all. Jake nudges Johns hand and John pats and rubs and if he stops another nudge will get him patting again.
Elysha talks to him, sings to him and dances with him. He sits and listens to her laughter and stays with her always.

In the New Year we will start the Dog Therapy training and hopefully she and Jake will be able to take and share their friendship with others soon.
If you have ever thought about getting a Companion Dog for your son or daughter DO IT. You just cant loose.
Hopefully I will get into doing more posts this year. I know this article isn't really relevant to sign or Proloquo2Go but just wanted to share.


Aileen


PS We have taught Jake the Auslan signs for and he responds to SIT, WAIT, GO. We can get him to sit and wait when there are treats set up around him in a circle and he will wait and go to the treat we point to then wait for next one etc.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Proloquo2Go and Pictello latest release

Have attached the latest Newsletter from AssistiveWare for your read:


Assistiveware Newsletter



In this month's newsletter it is our pleasure to inform you about the release of Proloquo2Go 1.7 and the upcoming release of Pictello 1.4. Would would also like to inform you about the new Proloquo2Go webinar and two upcoming events.

--- Product News ---

Proloquo2Go - Version 1.7 and 1.7.1 focus on layout customization and organizational improvements

We are happy to inform you that we just released version 1.7 of Proloquo2Go, our Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for iPad, iPod touch and iPhone. This free update brings many new features, such as a resizable message window and navigation bar, password protected settings, a bigger back and backspace button, as well as other enhancements. In addition, all Settings are now consolidated into the Option View inside Proloquo2Go. Please see our website for an overview of all the improvements.

We found some issues in 1.7 and most of these are addressed in version 1.7.1 released earlier this week, any remaining issues will be addressed in 1.7.2. If you are experiencing issues with the new Proloquo2Go, please contact support@proloquo2go.com for one-on-one support.

If you like the updated Proloquo2Go, please leave a review on iTunes.

Work on version 2.0 is taking longer than expected. We are hard at work on our new core words-based vocabulary and database architecture for Proloquo2Go. Once these two critical pieces are in place, we will be able to move ahead. The free 2.0 update is expected early next year and will provide two brand new vocabularies, multi-user support, folder and button level control over appearance, simpler and more powerful customization and editing, support for hidden buttons and empty slots on pages, alternative navigation options instead of swipe to scroll. We expect support for French and Spanish to follow in version 2.1. Support for other languages will follow after that.

Pictello - Version 1.4 brings new enhancements

Even though version 1.3 of Pictello was released just two months ago, we are expecting to already bring you version 1.4 next week, based on customer feedback. Version 1.4 of our visual storytelling app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that is available in 23 languages and 5 localizations, will enable you to export your stories to PDF. Moreover, in Edit Mode it will be possible to rearrange the order of the stories. Version 1.4 will be a free update for our existing users. If you like the updated Pictello, please leave a review on iTunes!

Please see our Pictello website for more information and learning material.

-- Proloquo2Go Webinars ---

With the release of Proloquo2Go 1.7 we will organize a webinar on November 14, November 30 and December 7, 2011 to cover the changes and improvements. The webinars are an ongoing opportunity to learn more about Proloquo2Go and we encourage everyone (even if you already attended all six webinars in the first round) to also attend this webinar to stay up-to-date with new features of the app. Please see our webinars page for exact timeframes.

Please use this link to sign up for the AssistiveWare News and indicate you would like to be informed about the webinars.

As a reminder: the previous webinars are available as recorded video podcasts on iTunes.

--- AssistiveWare Events and Meeting Opportunities ---

In the past month, we have given several workshops and attended the Closing the Gap conference in Minneapolis (USA). All were very successful and we would like to thank all participants and visitors for their interest in AssistiveWare, Proloquo2Go and Pictello.

Conference: ASHA Convention 2011, USA

David Niemeijer, Jennifer Marden, Laura Sussely-Pope, Eric Sailers and Nathan Swett will be at ASHA Convention 2011, 17-19 November, 2011, San Diego, USA. Come see us at the AssistiveWare booth, number 616, and attend one or more of our conference presentations. You can find more information about our presentations on our events page.

Conference: BETT 2012, UK

David Niemeijer, Martijn Leopold and Anne Verhulp will be at BETT 2012 from 11-14 January, 2012 in London, UK. We will show all of our products at the Special Needs Section. Visit us at the AssistiveWare stand (SN19) and learn more about our products for Mac and iOS.




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Hope this has helped - if you have any questions nows as good a time as any to ask away.


Don't forget to check out the list of Australian words we are compiling for the Proloquo2Go Aussie vocabulary. If you have any suggestions please either email me or leave a comment on the blog and we will add.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Using Proloquo2Go

Hi everyone. Thought you might enjoy watching these two clips of a young boy using Proloquo2Go to let mum know exactly what he wants.


Thursday, July 14, 2011

AUSTRALIAN VOCABULARY for Proloquo2Go

This is the latest update of words - thanks to everyone who has sent me words - please if you dont agree let me know or if you have more send them on.






Dont complain if words are missing from the final vocabulary if your not willing to take a minute of your time and let us know what you want. Remember the words that get added to the vocabulary will also have symbols drawn for them and it all makes life easier.

That means that if you have some words you feel should be included then I need you to either post within comments here or email me at aileen@handscantalk.com.au . When people give me words I will add them to the main list for others to see.

This is too much work for one person and this is where your support comes in.Again thank you to all of you who have added words so far

Here goes:

PLACES
Australia
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Perth
Brisbane
Gold Coast
Uluru
Canberra
Chemist
Grocery shops
Dick Smith
JB Hi Fi

Woolies
Coles
Big W
Target
BiLo
Bing Lee
Harvey Norman
Bottle-O
Pub
Preschool
Kindi
Long Day Care
Maccas
Outback
Servo
Petrol Station
Charcole Chicken
Red Rooster
Pizza Hut
Dominos
R.S.L
Opera House

ExServicemens Club
Sydney Harbour Bridge

Salvo's
The Entertainment Centre
Homebush
Vinnies
Kmart



PEOPLE


Prime Minister
Wiggles
Hi 5
Mum

Mummy
Aboriginal
(come on people give me some help here!!!)

THINGS


BBQ
Boot (Back of the car)


Bonnet (Hood)
Footy (AFL)
Footy (NRL)

Rugby
League
Footy club


Esky
NRL - Cronulla (Sharks); Canberra (Raiders); Penrith (Panthers)


AFL -
Bingo
Housie
Rubbish Bin
Fridge
Clothes Line


Texta

Biro (Pen)
School Bag
Loo (Toilet)
Cab (Taxi)
Doona
Holden
Ford
Panelvan
Scratchie
Lotto
Auslotto
Powerball
Monorail




ANIMALS
Kangaroo
Possum
Emu
Platypus
Wombat
Crocodile
Tasmanian Devil
Echidna

Koala
Cockatoo
Kookabrra
Dingo
Wallaby
Mossie
Kelpie
Magpie



FOOD
Vegemite
Nutella
Snags
Mash
Lamington
Pavlova

Bikki (biscuit)
Cuppa
Icy Pole
Ice Block
Paddle Pop
Schooner
Middy
Pint
Pot
Stubby
Vegies
Trifle
Jam -Strawberry, Apricot, Plum
Mango
Kiwi Fruit







CLOTHES
Thongs
Sweater
Jumper
Swimmers

Cossie
Wet suit
Trackies
Undies
Beanie
Singlet

Boardies
Sunnies

Stubbies (Shorts)







SAYINGS
Grouse
Bless you
Aussie
G’day – mmm not sure on that one
Cheeky

Whinge
Shout (A round at the pub)
Ta (thanks)
Barbie BBQ
Bloke
Mate
Sickie
Ute
Cranky
Grotty
Rubbish (what someone is saying)
Sticky Beak
Vego (Vegetarian)



I know I have a million other words to add here but I really have to get onto other things right now so its up to you. No swear words please and remember to think about words because the list cannot be never ending. Also this is Australian Vocabulary - there are already over 7,000 items in the original list. Please lets hear from you




Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Proloquo2Go - and there's more

Here I've decided to just add some helpful hints and tips. So here we go:



  • Use commas and full stops for breaks in sentences.

  • As I am entering new single words or using things that are already there I will go into edit mode to add full stops and commas to break sentences up or slow them down.

  • Exclamation and Question marks also help with sentence tone.

  • You can type in a sentence and once happy with it save under one of the images that have appeared with the sentence or select a new graphic/picture to be the main one for this button.

  • You then decide which category you want to save this in.

  • People who type in lots of things or select lots of individual buttons often refer back to Recents which can be reached thru the Options button.

  • If there are new items in Recents that you want to save you can do so very easily.

  • Proloquo2Go program can be used without graphics and text only; with graphics; with photos and with imported graphics.

  • You can import Boardmaker graphics but it can be very slow as each image needs to be saved in the correct format. Thre is no short cut available for that yet.

  • For photos you can use photos you have saved on the device or collect images from places like Google Image. Collecting images from Google Image is very easy to do as long as wireless Internet is available. A little more complex if doing thru your computer and putting into a folder then saving thru iTunes

  • Australian vocabulary is not currently available but they are looking for words and would be happy to receive suggestions. Sent to aileen@handscantalk.com.au or go to the page I have added on this blog - add the words to comments and I will add to the list. This category will become available soon.

  • Prediction is very helpful but can be time consuming. Working out how to make a word sound right can be frustrating at times. I am thinking of makeing a page available that will have words on it that others have already done. These words will have correct spelling then the way it needs to be entered in prediction. What I'm asking is that others help by adding their words as well. Let me know what you think of this idea.

  • Photo editing needs to be done outside the program before you import into Proloquo2Go. This will be fixed in later editions.

  • VoiceOver is a new feature available to iPads/iPods and can be great for someone vision impaired but it does remove the choice of scroll.

  • Items on a page can be moved and placed in the order you want rather than alphabetical.

  • Space choice within a category is not available yet but will be coming.

  • Colour choices of more than one colour i.e a red button as emergency button in amongst all White buttons is not available yet but is coming.

  • If you have suggestions for additions or changes you should get in touch with assistiveware as they are constantly doing upgrades and improvements.

  • If you become aware that an upgrade is available for proloquo2go please do the download onto your computer then sync your device and download upgrade direct to device. Don't try to upgrade direct to the device thru wifi as the files are too large and may cause major problems.

  • You need to do upgrades of the iOS which is part of the operating system of the device and iTunes upgrades when asked so all run smoothly.

  • If you are having problems with anything in the program contact Assistiveware as they always have someone available to help sort out. But they do not do phone support.

  • Email support is great as they are prompt and always follow up. They will type out steps to take and correct links.

  • For Australia if you really need phone support then you can call me.

  • There is a great Newsletter that will keep you up to date with new changes.

  • There is also a forum to talk to others and Facebook (Proloquo2Go).

  • Don't buy the program for someone else as Apple will not let you transfer. There are steps you can take to make the account available to others for backup of vocabulary but I will go into that another time.

  • Webinars have started in America. We can link in - webinars allow 100 people to attend so you need to be there ready to go on the dot. BUT being in America means a very eary start here in Australia - in Sydney its a 5am start and I would be ready to log on 10 minutes before.

  • Step by step tutorials are a brilliant way to go if you cant attend the tutorials and I put the links of the previous Proloquo2Go update.

  • Some videos are now available and more coming

  • If you want to become a resource centre - here in Australia then let me know. If you want to know more about what resource centres are Look on Assistivware website or let me know and I can fill you in.

  • There are also a number of different cases to use with the ipods ipads and iphones that I will cover in more detail. I have attached a link to one now that I have found very useful here in Australia - iWorld Products . I am currently trying out the Kraken case and think its fantastic. There are limited numbers of the ones available for ipad, and they have come in in only black. iPad2 covers lots of and choice in colours. But it does add weight to the ipad and that needs to be thought about. There are also ipad covers called Big Grip which is bright and colourful for children; Trident Aegis Case for iPad 2 (looks good), Speck iGuy standing cover for iPad/iPad2. There are speakers, headphones, remotes and stands.

  • There are a number of websites that try out different programs and show either videos on the apps or reviews. These I will add on the next time I come on as its time to start dinner.