Recently, Maddy’s school got a PODD system. It stands for: P- Pragmatic= the way we use language socially O- Organization= the arrangement of words and symbols in a systematic way DD- Dynamic Display= the changing of pages. *Source (http://www.myeasybee.com/blog/podd-intro/) For those that don’t know, Maddy is non-verbal. She doesn’t use words to communicate the way you or I do. We (both at home and school) have tried other methods of communication, such as sign language, a PECS (picture exchange communication system), etc. While the PECS is similar to a PODD system, the difference is that with the PODD system, all the pictures are arranged in a book by category according to how we would speak in sentences.
Maddy started using the PODD system at school right before
Christmas. Shortly after the holiday break, we had an IEP meeting and discussed
the new system among other things. Her teachers were all very excited to talk
about how fast she was adapting to the book and how she’d already begun to use
is on occasion on ask for something.
After the IEP meeting, school began sending the book home.
The hope is with this system that she can take this book everywhere and use it
to communicate to anyone, not just close family and teachers. We haven’t pushed
its use too hard at home, but every night, I take the book out of Maddy’s
backpack and make sure it is available to her. Many times, she will actually
take the book to the couch and flip through the pages looking at pictures. I
guess at this point, I feel like it’s good for her to look at it in a
non-stressful or pressured way.
That approach seems to be paying off. One of the pictures has the caption “Go Away”.
Maddy has pointed at this picture when she is mad or frustrated with me (for
example, after I give her some medicine). She also thinks it’s quite funny to point
at this picture and give me a devilish grin. I always say, “Go Away?” in a very
offended tone and she laughs at me. I often reply with “You go away!”, which makes
her laugh harder. Her teachers have commented more than once on Maddy’s sense
of humor and marvel at how she is able to get her jokes across even without
words. The devil grin says it all.
Another recent breakthrough was when she asked me to read
her a story. Maddy never wants me to read her a story, preferring to hold the
book herself and be in control of the page turning. But, on that night, she
pointed to the read me a story picture. I asked her almost in disbelief if she
really wanted me to read her a story. She nodded her head yes with a bright
smile on her face. It was all I could do not to dissolve into a puddle of happy
tears. I started to read her a story. She let me get about 3 pages in before
she took the book from me. But, it was progress none the less.
I’m so happy that the school was able to purchase this
system and make this type of communication possible for Maddy. We’ve never had
such quantifiable results with any other method in the past. She seems to be
picking up this method so quickly in comparison. We are so incredibly blessed
when it comes to the staff working with Maddy. Her teachers, her paras, the
special education coordinator, all have worked incredibly for Maddy’s best interests.
I was so nervous for her starting kindergarten this year. I’ve heard and read
the horror stories of what some parents have to go through in order to get
their children services. We are so thankful that Maddy has had nothing but the
best in care and education at school this year. The progress she has made has
been amazing and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!
*update: Maddy has continued to use her PODD book both at school and at home. She recently showed me the picture for bedroom when she wanted to go to bed. She did so completely unprompted.
