01/29/2026
Has anyone else had that moment? Your client walks in to the clinic, parent’s right behind them… and you can already tell something’s off.
You do the quick scan. No backpack. No device case. And then mom says, “Oh my gosh… I’m so embarrassed. I can’t believe it, we forgot his device.”
First, we always tell our parents, “No need to be embarrassed. These things happen!"
We know that even with the best intentions, devices get left behind, mornings go sideways, batteries die, but the show must go on.
🦋 Instead of panicking… we have a backup P.L.A.N.
💙 P: Prioritize communication. The device is one way to support communication. It’s not the only way.
💜 L: Lean on what’s available. This is where we honor all communication. Loaner device. Therapist iPad. Low-tech board. Gestures. Signs. Partner-assisted scanning.
💙 A: Assume competence and best intentions and keep modeling. We don’t stop because the tool changed. We keep showing up and modeling communication.
💜 N: Normalize real life. Imperfect days are part of supporting communication across real-world settings. Period.
Having a PLAN keeps communication at the center, even when things don’t go exactly as planned.
🦋💙 Save this for the next time life is life-ing & your session needs a backup plan.