The HollyRod Foundation is excited to announce the GIVE THE GIFT OF VOICE campaign. The HollyRod Foundation has donated more iPads than any other organization and this year we want give away even more.

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Meet Michael, a recipient from the Give The Gift of Voice 2010!

My son Michael aka Mikey who has autism and is non-verbal, received an iPad from the HollyRod Foundation this past spring of 2011. He was so excited and eager to check it out, as were his family. Now we can work with him on communicating with the app Proloque2go. He’s currently in 2nd grade and spells at his grade level (about 80%). We started out answering with yes/no type questions. This was huge for us! Not knowing how Mikey felt was so difficult for us. Does his stomach hurt? Does he have a headache? I’d ask Mikey, are you sick? Without any visual or physical signs, how would we know? Now I get a yes/no response. The simple questions such as those continued then I started to ask him “where” questions? Most of the time, they are answered: Target, library, or aquarium (not, going to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, of course).

This is Mikey’s favorite gadget! He wakes up earlier in the morning wanting to play around with all the other learning applications. In order for him to use the iPad first thing in the morning, I tell my son he has to say “Good Morning Mom” with the iPad. He does this and sometimes he even adds…I love you, without being prompted. Recently I received Mickey’s IEP report from school, which stated he is using the iPad to describe pictures using 1 to 2 sentences!! Now I need to step it up a bit here at home.

I’m so thankful Michael was an iPad recipient for the Give The Gift Of Voice campaign from the HollyRod Foundation. Once Mickey is able to gather his thoughts and communicate through the wonderful piece of technology his frustrations will continue to decrease. Thanks again!!!

Sincerely,

Cheryl
Mom of Michael