Mindy Youngs bio: At the age of 18 months, Mindy's daughter was diagnosed with a nonsense variant in the GATAD2B gene. Mindy helped launch the non-profit Helping Hands for GAND in September 2015 and served on the Board of Directors as Secretary for 4 years. Mindy continues to stay involved in the GAND community and is committed to helping create a sense of community for those affected by this ultra rare disorder. Mindy also brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and is currently Senior Director, Marketing for Procore Technologies. In this episode, Meghan welcomes Mindy Youngs, a fellow GAND (GATAD2B-associated neurodevelopmental disorder) mom, to discuss their experiences with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). They share the journey of obtaining a diagnosis for their children, discovering support groups, and exploring various communication devices like Proloquo2Go and LAMP Words for Life. They delve into the importance of AAC assessments, modeling, and consistent usage to promote language development. They also highlight challenges such as insurance battles, the need for dedicated devices, and ensuring backup options. The episode ends with both moms sharing their appreciation for the support community and the positive aspects of their children's progress.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:09 Early Diagnosis and Initial Reactions00:46 Discovering the Community01:23 First Conference and AAC Devices02:00 Prompt Speech Therapy and Device Comparisons02:58 Communication Strategies and Challenges13:35 Modeling and Empathy18:30 Resources and Insurance Tips28:36 Final Thoughts and Three Good ThingsResources mentioned:  A Voice Discovered: RESOURCE HANDOUT  https://nebula.wsimg.com/983f725dbfb784ac804de8add380ebbf?AccessKeyId=5D57B555CFC509675808&disposition=0&alloworigin=1A Voice Discovered: NATIONAL RESOURCEShttp://www.avoicediscovered.com/funding-resources-1.html Lilly's Voice: NEW GRANTORhttps://www.lillysvoice.org/AAC apps go on sale in October and April of every year but each app is on sale at a different time that month and for a different amount of time.  A good person to follow who does an app round up each time is Lauren Enders who is an AAC SLP and quite knowledgeable.  https://www.facebook.com/LaurenSEndersMaCccSlphttps://www.instagram.com/engagingaacslp/

Ver todos los episodios