AACtivate LLC, 401 Northlake Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL (2025)

10/03/2025

Time to fill in some since I'm 2 weeks behind and it's . I am thankful that people are patient as I've had some personal things going on, but here we go.

2 weeks ago, goes to my buddy T. He was wearing his shirt for his program and when I asked if he was going on a field trip he replied "yes". I asked him where they were going and he carefully took his time in the places page and when he could not find the specific place, he said "grocery store". I later asked a staff member where they were going and I was told they were going to Whole Foods. Nice job knowing your own schedule T.

Last week, my little buddy L was watching his videos and one of his favorites came on, Baby Shark, and wouldn't you know, this little boy went to his device, navigated to people and hit baby and then navigated to water animals and hit shark and then hit the message window so we could hear "baby shark". I love when my clients combine words with navigation. You go little L.

Finally this week, one of my best buds, J wanted to watch one of his favorites and completely independently formed the question "can I watch Ms. Rachel?" Keep making independent statements like that and you can do whatever you want. Go J.

09/30/2025

Today AACtivate says another final goodbye to one of our own, Mr. R. He never had a weekly win because he was a permanent win.

Mr. R was one of the best users I have ever worked with and sadly, he has finally lost his fight with ALS, but he is in a more comfortable place now.

Thank you for all your knowledge, and fun sessions Mr. R, you will be missed.

P.S. weekly wins will return this week

09/16/2025

I forgot to post last week's and what an exciting one for my buddy B!

B received his new device and we got to set it up. He now has his own voice that he can use all the time, not just when I come for therapy. Woo Hoo 🎉🥳🎉🎊

09/07/2025

This week my was always planned to be around the act of saying or not saying "goodbye", but then then the word "goodbye" took on extra meaning as our AACtivate family said a true goodbye to one of our own. This week we lost our friend Mrs. D to her battle with ALS, she was an amazing and strong woman with lots of fun stories and she will be missed.

As for our wins, it goes to several of my friends this week for both saying goodbye and also not wanting to say goodbye. We start with Miss M, a huge fan of NEVER saying goodbye, even when it is presented as a way to finish early, but on Monday, she was given the choice to say "goodbye" and end 10 minutes early, and wouldn't you know, for the first time, she said "goodbye" on her device within seconds. You go Miss M!

Then onto my little buddy, L. He is another who rarely says "goodbye" but on Monday, with just a little prompting he hit "see you later alligator" and then to add to the excitement, he waved and verbally said "bye bye" ☺️

Finally, on Tuesday, my good buddy I, who always says "finish" and "goodbye" at the end of a session without hesitation, must've been feeling emotional that day because he was hugging my arm and refusing to say "goodbye". This was another first.

As a therapist, it always feels good when your client doesn't want to say goodbye because they enjoy your company and therapy so much and it is an equally good feeling when they learn to say goodbye appropriately. Good job to all my this week and again to Mrs. D, you will be missed.

08/30/2025

This week our goes to Miss M. She actually gets the "I look like I'm not paying attention but I am" award.

We were working and towards the end of the session I yawned and said "I'm tired". Well, Miss M took her shot there, when I thought she was paying no attention at all and navigated to the furniture page and said "bed".

Well aren't you savvy Miss M, yes, in fact I would've loved to hop into bed and nap at that point. Just when you think they aren't paying attention, they prove you wrong. More proof that these nonverbal guys are not stupid, they hear you and they will tell your secrets when they get a chance if you don't think highly enough of them. Go Miss M
So proud

08/21/2025

Another for Big A. This week I was told in confidence that his dog was very sick. While trialing the Tobii I13 again, Big A decided to tell me "I feel" + "angry". I asked him why he felt angry and he responded "dog". I then asked him why he was angry at his dog (all along knowing his dog was sick) and he went back into feelings and said "sick".

Big A did not hear his nurse tell me this news and this statement came at least 30 minutes after I was told. This statement came completely unprompted as I did not want to guide him in any direction. Before this, he had asked to play with bubbles. It's amazing when you are given the opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings.

Here is the infuriating part that I must share. His nurse told me after this that a friend of the family had asked why they would even bother telling him since he doesn't know or understand anything anyway. So here I am on my soap box for a minute. Being disabled and nonverbal does not automatically make you stupid and unable to understand life situations. Please never assume you know what they know or understand unless you have some absolute way of knowing this information. Let me tell you, they know, hear and understand way more than you will ever imagine and I for one will be happy to be the one to provide them with the voice to unleash all your secrets 😜

08/14/2025

This is a super exciting !!! It goes to my little buddy L.

When I arrived today, L was having a major meltdown. I came in with his device and spoke to him with it "why are you sad?" He immediately calmed down. Mom then stated that she thinks he is upset because he doesn't have enough words. This is every AAC Specialist's dream problem, not enough words, I will happily give you more.

To put things in perspective, L just turned 5 years old this past weekend. I met him only shortly before his 4th birthday, where I was tasked with training and ordering him a device he was trailing on only 25 buttons. I immediately put him on 42, which quickly went to 60.

Today, only 2 days after his 5th birthday, he needed more words, so what did we do??? We went to a page with 108. You have never seen a brighter, happier smile on any face as you did on this little face. Happy child, happy parents, happy therapist. Not to mention, L is also having a verbal explosion. L, keep reaching for the stars, you will do something great someday, and Happy Birthday!!!

08/09/2025

It's time. This week it goes to my buddy I. I have talked about him one other time. He was my first ever client in Florida and we have been working together for nearly 4 years.

In our session on Tuesday, I said hello and asked him to greet me. Normally, I prompt him A LOT as this is not his favorite thing to do. But on this day, while he was busy pushing his device away, he finally pulled the device close to himself, navigated to the social page and said "hello". This was all 100% independent.

This is my favorite type of win, out of the blue with a long time client. It's the tiny progress that makes the biggest difference. These are the reasons we never give up.

08/02/2025

It's been a busy week, but there is always time for a . This week, my win goes to Big A. He is a member of the day program I work in.

Big A and I have been working on AAC solutions for quite some time, but he was excited to trial the Tobii I13 I currently have on loan.

Big A was not a huge fan of following directions; however, after his tube overflowed on his shirt, he was able to use the device to say "I need help"+ "change my"+ "shirt".

This was amazing for a guy who has rarely been using only yes and no switches up until this point. Big A got to request what was both a want and a need and the best part of all was seeing the pride and joy on his face from being able to do so. Let's keep working Big A!

07/25/2025

This week T gets the weekly win for requesting help twice independently while answering questions during his activity. He was trying to answer independently but just couldn't find the words, so instead he navigated home and hit the "help" button.

Help seems like such an easy concept, we spend so much time teaching and talking about it, but most often from our nonverbal friends, we get pulled, hit, self injurious behaviors or crying rather than asking for help. Once we figure it out for them, then we show them the word help on their device or sign it or verbally say it but this is most often after the fact or while they are already upset.

Being stuck in a problem and asking for help is a big win in my book. Keep up the good work T!

07/15/2025

Last week was a rough one, there were many cancellations, people were tired and not feeling well and clearly I am behind on finding a weekly win during a rough week. But then I reevaluated the week and thought "wins are not always extraordinary", because this week, J told me he was tired and then asked me if we could stop therapy a little early (see picture)

M combined words to ask to use the bathroom. And Ms. J told me she is not happy in her chair.

Far too often people use the device only for what they want and not needs. Needs have usually been established through some system cause it's faster and easier for care givers but unfortunately, that system isn't always established with the rest of the world so expressing basic needs is totally a win in my book.

07/01/2025

I'm only working 2 days this week so I was really worried that I was not going to have a to report, but in the last minute, my little man, L pulled one off

He really enjoys looking through the photo reels on his device and I just recently made him a military vehicles page. Most of those vehicles don't have symbols so I had to take pictures of them. L was having a ball looking at these pictures, but something was missing and L started crying hysterically. First, I used my words, asking if I could take his device to ask him something. I asked him to show me what picture he wanted as it was clear there was a picture he wanted.

He took his device, he navigated right to his military vehicles page and hit "aircraft carrier". There is a symbol for that so I never took a picture. Picture was taken and put in the device and boom, we had a happy kid again! Way to make yourself heard kid.

AACtivate LLC

10/03/2025

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