Since brothers Jona and Julian first walked through CHAT’s doors, they’ve not only developed essential communication skills; they’ve helped transform a school system.
SLPs Katie and Madi have worked for years with the boys and their mom, Vanessa, to help Jona and Julian learn to express their wants and needs. Jona, the older of the two boys, did not verbally speak, and Katie introduced the family to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. They quickly learned how compatible Jona was with an AAC device; unfortunately, the journey to acquire one would be much longer.
Jona and Julian’s school district resisted giving Jona an AAC device; policy sent non-speaking children to a separate school, and their school SLP had never worked with an AAC device. The family didn’t believe this was the right decision and worked with CHAT to advocate for Jona staying at his neighborhood school. After months of effort, Jona received his first AAC device from his school district.
Katie and Vanessa family not only helped Jona receive an AAC device, but they set up a precedent for similar children in the school district. When it was Julian’s turn to get an AAC, he got it in a matter of weeks.
This joint advocacy within Jonah and Julian’s school district had such a meaningful impact that the district implemented a special education structured program this past year. Sometimes to change one life, you must change the whole system. CHAT partners with families to make that happen.