Grace

Imagine going through childhood unable to ask questions, whisper secrets, or even tell people your name. Until two years ago, life without words was 6 year old Grace's reality. Grace was born 16 weeks early, weighing barely more than a pound. Like many premature infants, she had cerebral palsy, a form of brain damage that, for Grace, affects her ability to speak.

"We relied on rudimentary sign language and pictures to communicate," says Grace's mom, Linda. "Conversations were a guessing game. It was frustrating for all of us, but especially for Grace."

Grace began coming to Gillette at age 1 to address issues with her muscle tone, another symptom of cerebral palsy. At the time, she was also receiving speech therapy from a community provider. Three years later, Grace still lived in a silent world, unable to communicate like everyone else. That's when a Gillette speech pathologist suggested that Grace try using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. The portable computer contains pictures that represent words and phrases. When Grace touches the screen, it "speaks" the corresponding word. She is also able to spell words, such as her name.

"I never thought I'd hear my daughter say, 'I love you,'" says Linda. "I heard those three words and cried with sheer joy."

Shortly after Grace received her AAC device, which she calls her "talker," the family experienced a double blow: Linda was diagnosed with cancer, and George lost his job to staffing cuts. Although Linda underwent difficult chemotherapy, she kept her hopes up because of Grace's new voice. "Grace was an inspiration to keep fighting, to not lose hope," says Linda. Today, Linda is cancer free.

To this day, Grace continues to thrive with her talker. She started first grade in the fall and participates in most classroom activities with her able-bodied peer's. She even got to participate in her classroom's show and tell! "Grace told her classmates all about her puppy," says Linda. "That would have been impossible without her talker."

Her parents say Grace's talker has given their daughter so much more than a voice. It has given Grace a way to connect with her family, her peers, and the world around her. "It's been a huge self-confidence booster," says Linda. "Her voice and her personality suddenly emerged!"

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