As I teach each weekday at work ,  I Observe how the general public acts and reacts to coming in contact with anyone who is different: physically or cognitively.. I can tell from watching, how almost fearful, some children react to various appearances and behaviors that are foreign to them. What seems most tragic to me is that too often a matching look is mirrored on the face of their parents!   Even more tragic, I have seen similar  discomfort and avoidance towards the physically and mentally challenged sometimes even at Church by individuals who are loving people, but just donâ€t feel comfortable connecting with and drawing in those who are “different. “   I was searching  for,  and hoping to find something said that could help me find a way to teach primary children and their teachers ,of  the great blessing and great opportunity that can be theirs as they  discover the power and truth of what Our Savior said: “Perfect love casteth out fear”. Although none of us have that perfect love, our Savior, Jesus Christ  DOES … and He imparts to ,  and empowers with His love,  those who have the faith and desire to love, understand and include those who are “different”  and do so even at the self risk  of feeling awkward, at a loss for words, or even difficulty in basic communication with them .  (See lyrics from the Primary song “Iâ€ll walk with you”. And consider the  song “God Bless the outcasts, the Children of God” From the Animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame) …Two of my favorite songs!  The movie Gigot starring Jackie Gleason 1962,  seen as a child, inspired me to learn American Sign Language so I would never find myself at a loss to share with anyone that “asks me a reason for my hope” as Paul admonished.  But the the real foundation for my passion to include comes from my greatest  earthly Hero…..

When I was young, I remember looking at someone with Cerebral Palsy and asking my mother what happened to them. My Mom was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (I am  convert  from age 17) ,  but this wise and compassionate woman taught the Love of Christ by her fearlessness. Her ability to see past the “wrapping paper”!  Her  value  of the “eternal soul” of  an individual was one of the things that made her my hero.

To answer my query, she infused into my young heart the quoted phrase “…”There but for the Grace of God go you and I” She planted into my soul the desire to treat others as I would be treated if I were in their circumstances., because, in reality,  any one of us very well may have been born to  a much different life situation, or have life changed in an instant by a “Mac Truck gone amok! “

Mom took me to nursing homes and into neighborâ€s homes where she provided respite for their elderly parents…. As a pre-teen, I remember it didnâ€t always smell too wonderful. They would shake, and make funny noises, but the life stories they could tell were better than a movie! The look on their faces when I brought them flowers or drawings warmed my heart and ignited in me a great love and respect  for them….and oddly enough, the smell, the shaking seemed to disappear from my mind as I looked into their eyes  and got a glimpse of “The worth of a souls” long before I had ever read the written phrase . I will be forever grateful to my fearless, including Mother, who not only gave her community a great service, but did a great service to me by exposing me to opportunities to look for the treasures beneath the surface of those who are “Different”.

I have written a book! It will be published soon!  Here is the lowdown:

It is called The “Say It Now Communication Book”, available at: sayitnowbook.com.

I have been working with developmentally Delayed Adults for nine years now serving people with special needs, in an effort to teach independent living skills, safety, social skills, better communication, and facilitate meaningful community inclusion.       Over the past years, Iâ€ve seen a lot of frustration, and anxiety-related issues. Many of these are triggered or escalated by the inability to communicate effectively basic needs, wants, fears, and ideas.  Taking note of opportunities where communicating common phrases and sentences would be especially beneficial, I have created an easy to use tabbed book.

How this book differs from other communication books and tools on the market today: One of my customers has an electronic touch screen voice device, but is frustrated in waiting for it to warm up, then having to sift through sub menus to get to the simple phrase she wants to convey. Another customer had only a few simple Velcro icons in a little book used back in his school days. The Say It Now Communication Book provides hundreds of common words and phrases for everyday life at home and “out and about”, available at the flip of a tab!  It is half the size of a standard notebook, laminated with large tabs, making it easier for those with fine motor challenges, or cognitive impairments.

Say It now communication book for higher functioning individuals enables one to go into a fast food restaurant, order food, and tell the counter clerk that you want the onions left off, and the drink and fries supersized.  It provides a simple way to tell the health professionals where it hurts, and describe the symptoms. Tell a friend or family member how you feel by flipping to the emotions and feelings section.  You can ask a neighbor to call for help by using the emergency pages and much more…..

There are 20 color coded, tabbed and laminated sections to use in communicating to the general non-signing public. Useful to those who are the victims of stroke and other acquired illnesses or injuries that have lost or have slurred, unclear, or unintelligible verbal communication. Those who have had speech related Developmental Delays from birth can use this tool to connect with those who have been distanced by prior communication barriers.   Photos, icons, and ASL pictures   above each word and phrase make it easy to express yourself and have the recipient know clearly what you mean to convey.

Because the pictures are large and clear, the non-reader or those with limited reading abilities can easily find the section and picture, point to it, and have the recipient understand not only through the picture, but also the written phrase below it.

We all recognize that the Deaf Community have no problem communicating with each other or with the hearing who know sign language. If they need to communicate with the general public without an interpreter, there is always the little notepad and pencil!   The Say It Now communication book may yet be useful to you in communicating with the general non-signing public for times where an interpreter is not readily available: at the grocery check- out,  bank, doctor, post office, anywhere where you need to convey a message or just would like to  make a quick comment. Say It Now Communication Book may be especially useful to any individual who is deaf with limited reading or writing abilities because of the ASL photos that are on most of the pages.

THE SAY IT NOW COMMUNICATION BOOK SIMPLER VERSION

This is an abbreviated version of the communication tool designed for those with moderate to more severe cognitive impairments. We have found that more pages and sections arenâ€t  always better in some instances!

This version has less pages and is designed with bigger icons and pictures. It has pictures on the large tabs as well, making it easier for an individual to quickly access such things as favorite foods, activities and places,  feelings and needs. Included are sections for colors shapes, numbers, daily hygiene routines, clothes, holidays, seasons and more. There are even a few pages where one can customize a personal photo gallery of family, friends and frequented places.

Both books are half the size of a regular notebook, and bound by loose leaf binders providing easy addition, removal, and replacement of pages as life and circumstances demand.

CUSTOMIZED VERSIONS OF THE SAY IT NOW COMMUNICATION BOOK AND TRAINING IN THE USE OF PRODUCT ARE AVAILABLE:

Request details at barboogoode@yahoo.com