coldcurru

Not a wheelchair user, but I used to teach kids with varying abilities and typical kids.

What I used to tell the typical kids was that some friends need a little extra help doing everyday things like seeing or walking, but that's ok. Some friends just need help for a little bit, other friends will always need it.

If the kid asks you and it's obvious what the equipment is (wheelchair or oxygen tank) just politely say, "This is an oxygen tank to help our friend breathe. Can you show me how you breathe? This is how our friend breathes. Isn't that cool?" (Use enthusiasm to make it sound cool so the kid doesn't say something rude.)

If they ask and you don't know and you're within earshot of the person, say, "I don't know, but why don't we go up and ask? I'm sure they'll tell you." Assuming they seem friendly encourage this and tell the person, "My son has a question about what your equipment does. Would you mind telling him?" Just be polite and explain that some friends do things differently or need extra help.

If they don't seem approachable or it's not appropriate to ask, say, "I don't know. Some friends need help breathing or eating. It could be for that." If you can't answer other questions tell them, "Some people do things differently, but that's ok." Or get a library book or watch a video to show them more.

Above all, be friendly, encourage questions, and don't make it seem unusual that some people do things differenty.

Sorry this is long. Hope it helps.

My dad had a stroke a month ago and can't talk or swallow. He's got a trachea in his throat and it'll be who knows how long until he gets speech therapy or can speak.

Currently he's in the hospital. He struggles to communicate. The few times I've seen the nurses around him they just ask the basic questions like if he's in pain. I'm sure in his state there is so much more he'd rather be saying.

I can communicate pretty well in sign language. He can still use his limbs. Not sure how good his sight is. I've thought about teaching him to sign but none of the nurses sign so it'd be pointless without me. Any attempts to get him to write have been poor. It's a struggle.

I read about your initial communication system using the letters and blinking. He has an alphabet chart as well as a chart with basic medical needs and pictures. I tried to get him an app for augmentative and alternative communication but he's not allowed device access by himself, per my mom, so that didn't work. The apps were also pretty basic and didn't apply to his environment. More like for little kids.

My question is how would you have improved your communication system during your time in the hospital or any time you couldn't speak? Your letter chart was alphabetized but that seems inefficient as the letters aren't organized according to their frequency used in the English language. Would you have liked a chart with common words on it instead of spelling everything? I read your blog post on yoga. It seems painful going through letter by letter like that.

Mind, my dad can point and sometimes write. He attempts to mouth words but everyone's lip reading skills are poor. He really wants to speak and I want to help him. He's likely looking at several more months hospitalized. What's your take on communicating in that situation?

I work with preschool kids who have multiple disabilities, usually a visual impairment combined with other physical or cognitive disabilities. It's an integrated school with typical kids, too.

How did you socialize when you were a kid? Was there anything you remember your teachers or other adults doing to encourage friendships? I feel like most of the kids with disabilities stick together instead of socializing with the typical kids but I want to know what your experience was like.