Single Plan of Care - Fall Video of Ashley's Progress

Today my husband and I attended Ashley's Single Plan of Care team meeting. It is always amazing  to me to see just how many people help and care for my little girl.

 Ashley's  making great progress across the board  in communication she is reaching for her picture cards rather then using eye gaze, she making lines on the page now and holding a pencil better compared to just dabbing with the marker last year,  she is doing some feeding with a spoon and fork at times, and slowly and steadily progressing with her  motor skills.  I prepared this video to show her team how much work she is doing outside of school in therapy have a look.  I'm so proud of her.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ashley's fabulous Team!

Yesterday Ashley also received her PODD!


Ashley also was given this new voice a communication book... pretty impressive and it has to travel with her at all times.  A lot of thought was put into this and we are going to do out best to help her learn to communicate with it.  It has many sections to give her lots of reason to talk to us.

fyi PODD is a Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display
This book isn't exactly Dynamic like the Dynavox or iPad but hopefully if she learns this system well an iPad will be in her future.  Someday she will be giving speeches just like Stephen Hawkings!   Wish me luck this task is just a bit overwhelming to say the least but I can't let her down and her voice is so valuable. 

Daddy was Mommy for the day! - OACRS

Today I went to the OACRS annual conference  (Ontario Association of Children's Rehabilitations Services).  This meant Daddy was in charge packing lunches, getting the kids dressed and out the door.   Ashley arrived at school on time for a nice change I'm usually running late and he literally played with Taylor all day.  He even packed all four kids in the car and headed to hippo therapy after school.  I'm pretty sure he was glad to see me home when they arrived back just in time for  baths and bedtime.

I on the other hand got to drink coffee and chat with adults uninterrupted, even go the bathroom without a one year old in tow.  What a change of pace for me.

Best part of the day was listening to Spencer West from metowe  speak  he knows how to overcome obstacles having lost both his legs at the age of five, stay positive and give back to the world.   He is building schools in Kenya and India with youth and spreading a message about being the change you want to be in the world.   He inspired everyone in that room to want to reach out and help others and appreciate all that we have.  He was also very open about his difficulties in childhood spoke to the therapist and parents in the room about what it's like to grow up with these challenges and all that therapy from a child's point of view.  He was just fabulous,  so I just  had to blog about him ...



I also learned about Advocating at school and of a number of other great programs being run in other treatment centres across Ontario.  It pays to know what's  out there then you can be really demanding of the best possible programing and treatment services for my girl.   Best of all I'm going back tomorrow to Day 2 of OACRS and the Keynote Speaker is  Dr Charles Pascal.

Spencer West was encouraging and inspiring but here's my number one  inspiration my girl! I'm working on a new video of her latest tricks such as hippo therapy and swimming.  If you haven't  seen my last video of her last spring check it out but stay tuned for her latest fall tricks coming very soon.