I decided that I needed to write a blog to express the importance of having a backup device, or at the very least, another means of communication.
So, to make a long story short, Friday night my DynaVox completely died. The software would not start up. I had my parents hook up my old device which, thankfully, I still have. Let me just give you an idea of what my life would have been like if I didn't have my old device right now.
First, obviously, I would have not been able to say anything. ANYTHING. No "how's it going?". No "Can I have a drink?". No "I really don't like what you are wearing, please go change!". Nothing.
I would not have been able to go on my computer. No checking of my email. No listening to my iTunes. No stocking people on facebook... And let's face it... Sometimes that is more important than being able to talk!
I could not watch TV when I wanted to. I could have asked somebody to turn it on for me, but who really wants to rely on anybody else?!
And most importantly, I would not been able to work on my book. When you are a writer and when a brilliant idea comes to you, you need to be able to write. NOW.
My point of telling you all this is if you use a communication device or if you work with anybody who uses a communication device, you have to have a backup plan. Do anything you can do to have your old device still work. If you don't have another device... Word boards. Picture books. Going through the alphabet. Even morse code. They all can work in an emergency.
Until my next random piece of advice, Sara
Okay. Are you guys ready? I'm so excited!
How is your book coming?
My novel is going really great. I'm about 70% done with it, so I really need to step it up, finish the thing, and get it out the door. Oh yeah, whenever I am done writing it, I have to edit it. And edit it. And edit it.
I'm also completely in love with my main character, Tommy. If only he were real, and about ten years older....
What was your favorite class in college?
Definitely this play writing workshop. The professor was a total hippie and a lot of fun. Even though my play that I ended up writing was utter crap, I really enjoyed getting feedback about my writing. If I had to do college all over again, I definitely would take more creative writing classes.
How do you get to and from presentations?
I have personal assistants. They come everyday to help me with my daily needs and take me wherever I have to go. I have had some really great personal assistants, and some not so really great personal assistants, but that's a whole other blog...
Actually, that might be a whole other book...
What is the most adventurous thing you have done?
That would be driving to Chicago. In a day. With my friends. To meet this guy I was talking to on Facebook. After my mom told me I could not take my van.
I also go skiing every winter.
Until you have more questions, Sara P
Hey everybody! I haven't written a blog in a while. I am completely horrible about that. Sorry! I have been doing really great. I gave four presentations this month which was so much fun to do! The audiences were amazing! Also, my roommate from college came to visit me this weekend. We went for Frozen Yogurt THREE times. Yeah. We are cool like that. Because I don't blog as much as I should, I have decided to try something new. I will be taking some of your questions off of Facebook. Every week or so, I will pick three or four questions and answer them. That way, I will get to interact more with you guys, you guys can be more knowledgeable, and I get to perfect my writing skills other than when I am working on my novel. :) If you haven't Liked my Facebook Page yet, you can do so here. Until then, stay fabulous! Sara P
I just came back one of my biggest road trips. On Monday, I had the opportunity to be the keynote presenter at the ADK Abilities Assistive Technology Expo in Tupper Lake, NY.
ADk Abilities spotted a video of me on the DynaVox Facebook page. They thought they would take a chance and ask me if I would come present at their conference that was for professionals who were interested in learning about assistive technology. I, of course, accepted right away.
My presentation consisted of what assistive technology I have used in the past, what I am using today, what's good and what's not so good about having to use assistive technology, and pointers of how to interact with someone who uses assistive technology. Over all, it was a pretty awesome presentation!
Well, everybody. I'm sorry to be writing that I will not be auditioning in front of Steven Tyler, JLo, and Randy. However, the whole audition process really was an awesome experience, and I'm so glad I did it.
My day started at 4:45 am. Actually, my day started at 3 o'clock am when I woke up and shortly found out sleep was going to be a lost cause. I arrived at Heinz Field by 7 o'clock am. I was ready for business.
Before the auditions started, they had everyone sit in the stadium so they could film the opening of the Pittsburgh episode where, you know, we all say that we are "the next American Idol". I have to say that was just so cool to be a part of, and I'm really anxious to see how it turned out.
After the opening was done, it was time. Audition time. Now what they don't show on TV is you have to go through two other rounds before you are able to get the big audition with the judges. The first round is with two producers and you are actually with four other people. If you advance, you have another audition with more producers.
I was the last person to go in my group. When it was my turn, I went up in front of them. It was only then I really felt like I was going to break down and start bawling, and they didn't even say anything yet! I don't think I was ever that nervous in my life. Anyway, I explained what I was doing there and started the national anthem. Everybody only sang a part of a song, so I tried to stop it in the middle of it. Unfortunately, the song started over again.
I eventually stopped the song. I went back to my group. They had everyone come back to the table and said it was a no for all of us. They said we weren't what they were looking for and thanked us for coming out.
Now that I had a day to think about it, I probably didn't get through because the song started over. For anybody who is not familiar with communication devices, they would probably think I was just repeating myself. But who knows? Maybe I didn't have the personality they wanted. Maybe I was just not lucky.
Nevertheless, it was an experience!
Until my next adventure, Sara P
As some of you already know, I have decided to audition for American Idol.
Wait... What?
Yes, that's what I said. The girl who can't talk is going to try out for America's top singing competition. Actually, the girl who can't talk is not going to beach with her family, because she is going to try out for America's top singing competition.
No, I'm not crazy.... Well... okay, I might be a little crazy.
Here's why I am doing it.
Ever since I learned how to program music into my DynaVox, I have wanted to do this. I always wondered what Simon would say to me. Unfortunately, good old Simon quit before I had the chance to audition, so I will never know the answer to my question.
That's probably a good thing.
In all serious now, I am not under any delusion that you can win a singing competition with a communication device. I will be the first to admit it. I am just going to tell them I am there to audition to do the National Anthem at the finale.
Why do I want to wait for hours and hours and hours to possibly not get an audition, or, even worse, possibly be the next William Hung?
One word.
Awareness!
Awareness! Awareness! Awareness!
I completely understand that I have about a 3% chance of getting on national TV, but if I do, and even if they say "hell no you can't do the National Anthem at the finale", not only will America see the awesomeness of the DynaVox, they will see someone being more than just a disability. And that is what makes it worth everything!
This is probably the most absolutely insane thing I have ever done, so stay tuned for the stories!
Sara P
Hey guys!
I know, I haven't been writing as much as I thought I would. But today, as I was seeing what's going on with my facebook friends, I noticed my one friend posted a video informing all of facebook that today is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, and in turn, inspiring me to write this blog.
I'm not going to repost the video, because it highlights all of the struggles people with cerebral palsy face, such as the ridiculous costs of wheelchairs and the endless amounts of therapy. Instead, I want to focus on what people don't normally realize at first.
People with cerebral palsy have feelings. We want to be accepted. We want to be respected. We are people who might care who wins American Idol. We are people who might not be able to stand the Twilight books. We are people who might want to walk down the aisle one day with someone they are madly in love with.
A lot of people tell me that I'm "amazing" or that I'm "inspirational" without even knowing my last name. Now, I completely understand that if you think somebody is inspirational, you think somebody is inspirational. There is nothing you can do about how you feel. However, we really don't want to be amazing. We really don't want to be your inspiration. We want to be your friends. We want to be your students. We want to be your boyfriends. We want to be your girlfriends. We want to be your peers.
I hope I gave you some unique awareness about people with cerebral palsy.
Happy Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!
Sara P
Hey guys!
Thank you for checking out my website! I'm so excited that it's up and running. It was pretty easy to set up with Weebly. Okay, maybe I did scream at my computer a few times...and threaten to throw it out of the window, but that's beside the point.
I really love to write, so I will probably be writing a lot about the everyday stuff that happens to me. I have to warn you, I have some pretty...unique... Luck. My stories tend to get a little crazy sometimes. I can't wait to start sharing some with you!
Thanks again guys!
Sara P
|
RSS Feed