Tobii Communication Device

My name is Berkley. I am four years old and I was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at 18 months old. I am a spunky, little gal who loves to walk, eat, and watch my favorite show Henry HuggleMonster on Disney Junior!!!! I also love taking baths! My parents let me soak in the tub and watch my iPad and I get to splash as much as I want!!!

I have been going to an early childhood program for a year and a half now and I have made so many awesome friends and love all of my teachers! My friends at school help me and cheer me on when I am learning new tasks or working on my therapies.

I also go to therapy in Franklin once a week on top of all my other therapies at school. I work really hard and my mom has also signed me up for Hippotherapy. I am also learning to time train on the potty. I have been working on that for almost a year now and I am doing really well.

It is sometimes hard having Rett Syndrome. Not being able to talk to my mom and dad is really difficult, especially when I need something or I do not feel well. It makes me frustrated sometimes. My mom and dad are working really hard on getting me a Tobii so I can communicate with them and my friends and teachers at school. It also makes me really mad sometimes that I cannot get my hands to work. I can't really play with toys or anything so that is why I walk so much and watch my shows. It keeps me happy and out of trouble for the most part. I guess I really don't know any different. I was so little when I lost my skills of feeding and talking that I don't really remember it anyway.

I am thankful for my family, I am thankful for my walking, my great eye contact and my killer smile. I like to use my smile to my advantage. Especially when my Grandparents are involved! 

My parents are really good motivators and will continue to push me and keep me involved in anything and everything until we find a cure for Rett Syndrome. I ask that you please help my parents get this Tobii Communication device for me. It is so expensive ($17k) and we are getting so close to our goal. Our insurance company so far have been just terrible to us, not offering one dime of payment on any of this device. We have been fighting them for a year and a half with no results. We heard about this website and thought we would give it a try! Please help us out! Thank you so much!