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Dr. Mary Anne Lowe at Nova Southeastern University in
Fort
Lauderdale does AAC evals for folks with ALS...She works with students some
of
whom speak Spanish.
Nancy Gizzi, M.S.,
C.C.C.-Speech
Language Pathology From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jessica Bianchi Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 3:40 PM To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: referrals for South America Hello,
My thought would be to contact DynaVox to inquire if they have any
Representatives or connections in Ecuador who can assist the family with
setting
up an evaluation. Jessica
M. Bianchi, MBA Care
Coordinator Florida
Chapter Home Office: The
ALS Association Florida Chapter 888-257-1717
ext. 122 772-237-5251
fax You
can join our ALS advocacy efforts. The actions of our government have an
enormous impact on ALS patients and their families.
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to become an ALS advocate today. This
communication may contain privileged or confidential information. If you
receive
this in error, please reply to sender and immediately delete the message
and any
attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. From:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of lisa Hi
All, About 9 months
ago we
met a man from Ecuador who had traveled to the Cleveland Clinic for care
related
to his ALS diagnosis. At the time, he only needed mobility
equipment. Now, the family
is
requesting communication device assistance for devices that speak
Spanish.
I referred them to Dynavox Spanish speaking devices/software and Tobii ATI,
as
well as all of the various free and low cost solutions for Spanish speaking
software/apps and also included information via email on no technology
i.e.,
paper communication boards. Now they are
asking
for a prescription from the Cleveland Clinic for a Dynavox VMax with eyes
gaze
communication device even though he has not had an evaluation or even seen
the
device. Actually, the email states that I recommended it, even though I did
not. I recommended they get an evaluation and try the device.
The
man has never used a computer or a typewriter so I have some concerns if he
would even want to learn it or use it. I am not sure how insurance
works
in Ecuador—maybe the insurance company doesn’t care if he has
an eval or not?
So, the question
is…
where can they go in South America (Ecuador) for a communication device
evaluation? I see the
International ALS/MND is in Peru. I suggested they call there for
referrals….
They thought that was too far away. (They said this to me while they
were
in Cleveland!!) I also see ISAAC
has
NOTHING in South America. I do not think
he is
well enough to travel to Cleveland or to Miami (where his son has a
business
office)… I asked my
Executive
Director to fly me to Ecuador to do the eval, but I don’t think that
is in the
budget this year. Hey, I tried! Any other
suggestions? Lisa M. Bruening, M.S., CCC-SLP Patient Services Coordinator The ALS Association Northern Ohio Chapter phone: 216-592-2572 toll free: 888-592-2572 fax: 216-592-2575 Check out our
webpage: www.alsaohio.org Become an ALSA
Advocate! It's easy! Go to our
website and
follow the tab for Public Policy.
Click on
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