Why Science and Technology is good, very good

kittynh · 22nd January 2006, 02:09 PM

As many of you know my daughter Kitten2 has severe dyslexia. We aren't talking switching a few words around. We are talking inability to read and write. At all.

Her father and I have paid for private tutors for her since 2nd grade. We have had specialists, perhaps the best in the world since Landmark College (the only college for students with learning disabilities, and the most expensive college in the US) is nearby. Working together Kitten2 and her tutors have done wonders, but she still can't read well - yet she is reading (this was declared an impossibility by some of the people that tested her early on). Writing has proven the hardest nut to crack. She just never been able to write anything.

Along the way we have insisted that she be treated like any other student. We had her in a private school that exposed the children to wonderful literature at an early age. By middle school the pace of reading was quite fast, but I read and read and read to her. Books on tape were ok for some work, but reading out loud is still the best (for note taking and explainations). She would spend much more time on homework than the other kids, but she never slacked.

All this is leading up to what a woo would claim is a miracle.

She can now write.

Not just write a sentence.

She can WRITE.

This Fall, such a short time ago, we hired a tutor that is a college professor at Landmark College. She started to train Kitten2 intensively on DragonSpeak and other computer technology. Before when we tried Dragonspeak it would not work with Kitten2's accent. But now, thank you once again technology geeks, it works much better.

It should be noted that once a week we do tutoring at Landmark college so that Kitten2 will be in an environment with learning disabled kids going to college. The rest of the tutorials are at our home.

Last Friday the tutor called me into her office at the college at the end of the tutorial. She had Kitten2 read me a short paragraph she had written in 15 mintues.

She can write.

In fact, the tutor (and I agree) said "She can not only write, she is a gifted writer."

It was good, no it was excellent. It was entertaining, it was descriptive, it had just that little something that made you go, "wow, that was good, I wish there was more."

Imagine that you never had the ability to do those "Our Friend the Sun" or "If I were at the First Thanksgiving" types of writing that first and second graders do. Imagine you had only dictated reports to your mother or tutor, a slow process that does not encourage creativity. She is at step one in writing on her own. But now she can write. And to our shock and amazement, she can not only write, she is a writer.

I want to go personally to thank every computer person that developed the equipment and programs that have enabled so many people that had no voice before to now have one. To be able to function in our very literate world. For Kitten2, and for all of us, it is as amazing as if she had stood up from a wheelchair and began to walk.

It isn't a miracle. It's what MANKIND can do! When we as a species put our brains to good use, it's wonderful the good that follows.

She's not cured. She will never be cured. But now she has shown us a voice that was inside of her, that no one ever knew was there.

Dogdoctor · 22nd January 2006, 02:24 PM

Most excellent news

TobiasTheViking · 22nd January 2006, 02:27 PM

*sniff*

So beautifull a tale.

So happy for both of you. Congrats to everyone involved.

Dr Adequate · 22nd January 2006, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by kittynh

I want to go personally to thank every computer person that developed the equipment and programs that have enabled so many people that had no voice before to now have one.

You can probably find out who they are, and you can write to the companies or university departments or whatever who were involved and say "Pin this up on your noticeboard".

As for "never be cured", the head of the maths department at the better of the two universities in my town is dyslexic, and he still writes d and b the wrong way round sometimes. No-one ever "cured" him. I might add that he's the kindest and wisest man that I know, but maybe that's just coincidence; my point is that dyslexia can't hold someone down if they have a brain and want to use it: they just have to learn to play to their strengths.

Kiless · 22nd January 2006, 08:08 PM

Oh Kitty.

At the end of this year I'll have my M.Ed in special needs. And your story is why people need to know about kids like Kitten2.

AnotherSillyAlias · 22nd January 2006, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by kittynh

She's not cured. She will never be cured. But now she has shown us a voice that was inside of her, that no one ever knew was there.

Bloody good story!

Congrats to all concerned, especially K2.

ysabella · 22nd January 2006, 09:06 PM

Wow!! I hope you or K2 send some thanks out to people - I'll bet they'd love to hear it.

Congratulations!

kittynh · 23rd January 2006, 07:14 AM

NOw I"m inspired to really look up the people involved in this technology!

Thanks!

maddog · 23rd January 2006, 09:24 AM

Hooray!!! Congratulations!!!

veggie doll · 23rd January 2006, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Kiless

Oh Kitty.

At the end of this year I'll have my M.Ed in special needs. And your story is why people need to know about kids like Kitten2.

I'm an Education student also. People do need to hear 'success stories' such as this one, in order to understand that although dyslexia may be incurable, that does not mean that progress cannot be made.

Well done & best of luck with everything.

Dark Jaguar · 30th January 2006, 04:10 PM

Congratulations! To make sure I understand the story correctly, she writes via speech recognition programs that type out what she says?

I remember a very old version of "Dragon Dictate". I wasn't a fan of the software at the time. It took up too much resident memory and often had issues with the voice recognition (especially when attempting to give direct commands).

It is nice to know the programmers have been busy ever since.

kittynh · 30th January 2006, 07:26 PM

Dragonspeak is much improved. Before many children had to take speech lessons so that their diction would be clear enough for the program to work.

We decided that our daughter had enough with school and tutoring (up to 10 hours a week extra), plus intensive tutorials all summer (up to 6 hours a day).

Now, it's really easy to "train" your computer.

I hear Mr.Randi uses Dragonspeak sometimes also! A lot of people just like it because they get tired of typing!

burrahobbit · 31st January 2006, 04:53 AM

Fantastic!!

Just for that I will go out and buy Dragonspeak.(Although I had a terrible time with the earlier versions)

It was reported in India today that visually challenged students are finally allowed to use dictation software to take their exams.

Technology is GREAT

22nd January 2006, 02:09 PM	#1
kittynh The Hupsu Detective auctioneer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: If I told the aliens could find me, and you know they read this forum Posts: 22,707	Why Science and Technology is good, very good As many of you know my daughter Kitten2 has severe dyslexia. We aren't talking switching a few words around. We are talking inability to read and write. At all. Her father and I have paid for private tutors for her since 2nd grade. We have had specialists, perhaps the best in the world since Landmark College (the only college for students with learning disabilities, and the most expensive college in the US) is nearby. Working together Kitten2 and her tutors have done wonders, but she still can't read well - yet she is reading (this was declared an impossibility by some of the people that tested her early on). Writing has proven the hardest nut to crack. She just never been able to write anything. Along the way we have insisted that she be treated like any other student. We had her in a private school that exposed the children to wonderful literature at an early age. By middle school the pace of reading was quite fast, but I read and read and read to her. Books on tape were ok for some work, but reading out loud is still the best (for note taking and explainations). She would spend much more time on homework than the other kids, but she never slacked. All this is leading up to what a woo would claim is a miracle. She can now write. Not just write a sentence. She can WRITE. This Fall, such a short time ago, we hired a tutor that is a college professor at Landmark College. She started to train Kitten2 intensively on DragonSpeak and other computer technology. Before when we tried Dragonspeak it would not work with Kitten2's accent. But now, thank you once again technology geeks, it works much better. It should be noted that once a week we do tutoring at Landmark college so that Kitten2 will be in an environment with learning disabled kids going to college. The rest of the tutorials are at our home. Last Friday the tutor called me into her office at the college at the end of the tutorial. She had Kitten2 read me a short paragraph she had written in 15 mintues. She can write. In fact, the tutor (and I agree) said "She can not only write, she is a gifted writer." It was good, no it was excellent. It was entertaining, it was descriptive, it had just that little something that made you go, "wow, that was good, I wish there was more." Imagine that you never had the ability to do those "Our Friend the Sun" or "If I were at the First Thanksgiving" types of writing that first and second graders do. Imagine you had only dictated reports to your mother or tutor, a slow process that does not encourage creativity. She is at step one in writing on her own. But now she can write. And to our shock and amazement, she can not only write, she is a writer. I want to go personally to thank every computer person that developed the equipment and programs that have enabled so many people that had no voice before to now have one. To be able to function in our very literate world. For Kitten2, and for all of us, it is as amazing as if she had stood up from a wheelchair and began to walk. It isn't a miracle. It's what MANKIND can do! When we as a species put our brains to good use, it's wonderful the good that follows. She's not cured. She will never be cured. But now she has shown us a voice that was inside of her, that no one ever knew was there.
	__________________ WWW.BADALIEN.ORG - not all the buttons work yet, and the science content is coming...but it's ALIVE!

22nd January 2006, 02:24 PM	#2
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 14,279	Most excellent news
	__________________

22nd January 2006, 02:27 PM	#3
TobiasTheViking Resident Viking Autist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: With your mother Posts: 6,923	sniff So beautifull a tale. So happy for both of you. Congrats to everyone involved.
	__________________ He pricked me with his prick that prick - NobbyNobbs Endearingly Obnoxious - Rebecca Watson

22nd January 2006, 08:08 PM	#5
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103	Oh Kitty. At the end of this year I'll have my M.Ed in special needs. And your story is why people need to know about kids like Kitten2.
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103

22nd January 2006, 08:10 PM	#6
AnotherSillyAlias Vortex of Despair Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheep country, Eastern Oz Posts: 1,585	Originally Posted by kittynh She's not cured. She will never be cured. But now she has shown us a voice that was inside of her, that no one ever knew was there. Bloody good story! Congrats to all concerned, especially K2.
	__________________ "It's not that sicence doesn't agree so I ignore it, it's that I know what science knows, but also what is beyond science, so therefore, I also know when it is wrong" - Kilik -

22nd January 2006, 07:37 PM	#4
Dr Adequate Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Waiting Long Enough By The River Posts: 17,897	Originally Posted by kittynh I want to go personally to thank every computer person that developed the equipment and programs that have enabled so many people that had no voice before to now have one. You can probably find out who they are, and you can write to the companies or university departments or whatever who were involved and say "Pin this up on your noticeboard". As for "never be cured", the head of the maths department at the better of the two universities in my town is dyslexic, and he still writes d and b the wrong way round sometimes. No-one ever "cured" him. I might add that he's the kindest and wisest man that I know, but maybe that's just coincidence; my point is that dyslexia can't hold someone down if they have a brain and want to use it: they just have to learn to play to their strengths.

22nd January 2006, 09:06 PM	#7
ysabella Muse Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 705	Wow!! I hope you or K2 send some thanks out to people - I'll bet they'd love to hear it. Congratulations!
	__________________ "The greater the ignorance, the greater the dogmatism." - Sir William Osler

23rd January 2006, 07:14 AM	#8
kittynh The Hupsu Detective auctioneer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: If I told the aliens could find me, and you know they read this forum Posts: 22,707	NOw I"m inspired to really look up the people involved in this technology! Thanks!
	__________________ WWW.BADALIEN.ORG - not all the buttons work yet, and the science content is coming...but it's ALIVE!

23rd January 2006, 09:24 AM	#9
maddog Intimidating Terrapin Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Maryland Posts: 11,819	Hooray!!! Congratulations!!!
	__________________ 90% of what I say is meant to be funny, and the other half doesn't mean anything at all. When I grow up, I want to be just like me.

23rd January 2006, 07:56 PM	#10
veggie doll Scholar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: walking with a ghost Posts: 83	Originally Posted by Kiless Oh Kitty. At the end of this year I'll have my M.Ed in special needs. And your story is why people need to know about kids like Kitten2. I'm an Education student also. People do need to hear 'success stories' such as this one, in order to understand that although dyslexia may be incurable, that does not mean that progress cannot be made. Well done & best of luck with everything.

30th January 2006, 04:10 PM	#11
Dark Jaguar Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,666	Congratulations! To make sure I understand the story correctly, she writes via speech recognition programs that type out what she says? I remember a very old version of "Dragon Dictate". I wasn't a fan of the software at the time. It took up too much resident memory and often had issues with the voice recognition (especially when attempting to give direct commands). It is nice to know the programmers have been busy ever since.

30th January 2006, 07:26 PM	#12
kittynh The Hupsu Detective auctioneer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: If I told the aliens could find me, and you know they read this forum Posts: 22,707	Dragonspeak is much improved. Before many children had to take speech lessons so that their diction would be clear enough for the program to work. We decided that our daughter had enough with school and tutoring (up to 10 hours a week extra), plus intensive tutorials all summer (up to 6 hours a day). Now, it's really easy to "train" your computer. I hear Mr.Randi uses Dragonspeak sometimes also! A lot of people just like it because they get tired of typing!
	__________________ WWW.BADALIEN.ORG - not all the buttons work yet, and the science content is coming...but it's ALIVE!

31st January 2006, 04:53 AM	#13
burrahobbit Thinker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: India Posts: 192	Fantastic!! Just for that I will go out and buy Dragonspeak.(Although I had a terrible time with the earlier versions) It was reported in India today that visually challenged students are finally allowed to use dictation software to take their exams. Technology is GREAT
	__________________ If there is a God, it's going to be a whole lot bigger and a whole lot more incomprehensible than anything that any theologian of any religion has ever proposed.- Richard Dawkins