Ryanna Finds Her Voice

Meet Ryanna! A bright and creative Grade 5 student in the Okanagan-Similkameen School District, Ryanna loves animals, stuffed animals, toys, books, and ripping paper. Last school year, she received an iPad with TouchChat and Clicker Writer for her communication and literacy support. Before receiving support from SET-BC, she and her school-based team often found social interactions and building meaningful relationships with peers and school staff difficult.

Since receiving SET-BC support, Ryanna has been able to respond more independently to questions and express her wants and needs with TouchChat. One time, she used her AAC device to tell her school-based team that she wanted to play the piano. Both her family and school staff did not even know that she could play the piano until that moment. She had taught herself, but they didn’t find out until now having the means to communicate it to them, Ryanna played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to them!

With the aid of these technologies, she can now share her thoughts and feelings and write a few sentences. As the days turned into weeks and then months, Ryanna’s life transformed. She became a more active and valuable member of her school community. Technology has not only given her a voice but also the confidence to be herself and connect with others. Her story serves as a reminder that with the right support, everyone can find their voice and place in the world.

The following video highlights how Ryanna is using her technology at school to communicate with others and participate in class.