Empower Josiah by Giving Him a Voice!

To my friends, family, and community,

I am reaching out to you with a heartfelt plea to support Josiah, my 3 year old, non-verbal autistic son. He is in need of technology to help him communicate. There are devices available to provide this bridge for him. An AAC Device can open Josiah's world up and bridge the gap in education, peer interactions, self needs, and understanding directions for safety and independence. Josiah deserves the opportunity to communicate, learn, and thrive like every child. An AAC device is a tablet that has a special program installed designed to help those with speech delay, issues or non verbal. It has different modalities for the users- pictures, symbols, text and voice output. It is specifically programmed for Josiah and his needs. These devices often lead to verbal expressive language. It requires special training, which I am proficient in. Once Josiah begins to use it, it is considered a disability aid, like a wheelchair or prosthetic leg. It is his "voice"

Here is a short video explaining an AAC device

Josiah encounters daily challenges expressing his thoughts, feelings, and needs. Imagine being hot and someone hands you a bag of chips. He is given the opportunity to make choices as opposed to always having forced choice. Given his many medical conditions, specifically the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, asthma, sleep and feeding disorders, it's imperative that he is able to communicate symptoms effectively. AAC devices have the power to transform his world by providing the independence needed to advocate for himself and to inform caregivers of his needs as they happen, eliminating the need to figure things out. This often leads to a severe breakdown in trust. Unable to trust that he will be understood, he resorts to more extreme behaviors, such as the unsafe habit of unplugging the TV when he wants the channel changed. It took considerable time and frustration to comprehend the meaning behind this behavior. Now, I've taught him to come and touch my phone, a more functional way to communicate as it also serves as a remote control.

Drawing from my experience helping clients at work with similar devices, I have been a part of many successes! I want that for Josiah. Although insurance can cover an AAC device, we have been on the waiting list for speech therapy for 9 months, and the approval and granting process can take an additional year. His need is more urgent than the timeline allows.

As a single parent and Josiah's sole caregiver, I have been unable to work for a year. Funds are limited, and every penny is pre-budgeted. I am humbly seeking your support, recognizing that my pride cannot be greater than Josiah's need for communication and the chance to achieve beyond expectations. Your contribution, regardless of size, will make a meaningful impact on Josiah's journey toward communication and independence.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

Joy Hawkins

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-Josiah