May 26, 2009

Pinkessa and the Purple Cow

A short video of Schuyler using her device at dinner. Nothing earth-shattering, just a glimpse at how she uses Pinkessa in a normal dinner setting.

33 comments:

DDanielle said...

You crack me up. I love the relationship you have with Schuyler. When she rolls her eyes at you, it's done in love.

Tahlia said...

I don't know if this is a dumb question or not, but I'll ask it anyway: Is it the plan that she will always use the BBOW to communicate, or are you hoping that she will eventually move on to using a regular keyboard to communicate with? (I'm assuming there is a device where the user can type what they want to say and it'll read it off for them). I'm not sure if there are motor difficulties that might preclude that or not.

I'm just curious because if you can type, using all the menus and things on the BBOW seems more cumbersome and slower. Of course, maybe there are other factors that I'm not taking into account.

Robert Hudson said...

She does have some fine motor issues that make typing on a keyboard an issue, but I suspect that when she's older, she'll transition to typing what she wants to say rather than assembling sentences the way she does now. It's hard for her now, but I think she'll continue to improve in that area.

The thing is, Pinkessa can function as a standard keyboard, too, and she goes to the keyboard frequently as she learns more and more and becomes fascinated with spelling. Either way, she's set with this device.

Jocelyn said...

I love watching these videos. All the hard work has turned into a great family dynamic. It really encourages us in our efforts.

Danielle said...

2 favorite parts: When she adds the 's' to 'flower' to make it "flowers"

And, at the end, when she says robot ;)

El said...

Does she ever get tired of having her picture taken, or the video camera?

I ask this because I remember, a long, long time ago (she must have been around 4-5), she was walking down a sidewalk, and you were trying to take her picture. She stuck her hand up in front of her face, just like the stars do with the paparazzi. It's one of my favorite pictures of her.

Anonymous said...

I cannot believe you interrupted her important artwork to ask her what she wanted to eat. The nerve! The noive, even! She clearly had no time for fripperies like FOOD, didn't you see ART was happening?

Sarcasm aside, I love the video.

Robert Hudson said...

Does she ever get tired of having her picture taken, or the video camera?

Nope. Quite the opposite.

Karen said...

I love how she laughed and teased about the 'bugs'. And I also love how you got more relaxed and less formal as the night went on. My husband does that too. He starts out narrating all our home movies as if he's hosting romper room. Then as the filming progresses he's cracking jokes and saying things I really should edit out.

Robert Hudson said...

I suspect that's just how it appears in the editing. After Schuyler ordered her food, there simply wasn't as much actual on-topic device usage to record.

We started off pretty irreverent, just not as much made it into the final edit. I cut out the whole part where Julie and I were sneaking video of the Plano MILF at the table next to us and making fun over her fake boobs. ("Those are really hers. She has the receipt to prove it.")

Sarah Lister said...

For some reason, what I thought of when I was watching this was that thing teenagers do when you're lecturing them, where they repeat what you're saying under their breath in an obnoxious voice just on the edge of being loud and comprehensible enough for the adult to hear. Schuyler is going to be able to do that with total deniability, and somehow I think she's going to take advantage of that.

Anonymous said...

So fun to see, thanks for posting this... Yes, her delivery of the robot line rules! (and you are a bit of a dumbass for not recognizing her excellent representation right away- she nailed it). Just fyi, I can't get my neurotypical 12 year old to tell me about his day either.
-e-

Donna said...

She's just as cute as cute can be. And so happy!

Elizabeth said...

So cool -- I'm struck by the ease with which she uses BOTH hands -- I know that she has fine motor issues, but is she relatively ambidextrous?

Robert Hudson said...

She is, actually. She favors her right hand and writes with it, but she switches for everything else. Julie is sort of the same way.

Anonymous said...

Pinkessa is great.

And I too thought of teenagers while reading this. Schuyler will be a kick-ass teenager. Good luck!

M.R.

katie lee said...

i desperately wish for schuyler to create a fashion line. for adults. that i can buy. or maybe can i just hire her as a stylist?

Anonymous said...

coincidentally we have an icecream store at a grocery store here, meijer's, called The Purple Cow and I think of Schuyler everytime I go grocery shopping there! I've never heard of a Purple Cow restaurant :) Another great vid of Schuyler!

Diane Marie said...

Well, the whole not talking thing aside, she's acting like a neuro-typical child. Ask them what they did in school and the answer is, "Nuthin'." And "Dunno." She's got that down! Get used to it. That phase lasts until they're about 22.

BigRed said...

haha "I'm such a dumbass!"

You sound just like my dad. I love it.

It looks like she regards using Pinkessa as somewhat of a chore.

mooserbeans said...

Oh my gosh, the look she gives you when youasked what she wanted to eat. She looked just like my preteen. Before you know it you'll have one of your own:) Keep the videos coming. We love them! I especially love your comment about yourself at the end. That was my word of choice until my four year old started using it.

Anonymous said...

I love the video because I started teaching when the only dynamic display device available was a black & white Dynavox. It weighed at least 20 pounds, probably closer to 25 when you included the carry case, charger and padding. My student had to have a 1:1 assistance just to carry and help set up, because the device weighed half of what she did!
The fact that Schuyler had access to the device early, and that any kind of language was encouraged is so evident... and something that I wish more of my current students (and former!) have had.

valeri said...

Schuyler is just stunning. She has such a beautiful and expressive face! That aside, I found this video really interesting. I have a ton of questions. I will save them for your LA meet n' greet!

Anonymous said...

I love seeing these videos too, but I have to say I'm really disappointed to have missed the whole MILF exchange...

Sandi said...

Loved the video. Schuyler is just so freaking cute, even with all her 'tude.

Anonymous said...

Now that Schuyler is older, have you asked if she is interested in learning Sign Language to communicate with you? She may not be able to become fluent, but maybe it'll come in handy when she wants to answer questions quickly.

A second question is if she has playdates with kids outside of the home. When she does, does she use Pinkessa?

--Sange
mom of a 7yo who is fighting a monster named 'Epilepy'

jennifer_jj said...

I love the bugs bit. My kids love it when I do stuff that is obviously wrong, too.

Troop 220 said...

My daughter, who uses a talker like Schuyler's old one, watched very closely. She wants the new pink machine, but I told her Schuyler was older and that is why she has the new one. It is good for us to see others using the device. Julia is the only one in her school who uses one. She is in kindergarten and I'm hoping with time she can be as proficient as Schuyler. Does she carry Pinkessa in the backpack at the beginning of the video? We are having issues with the best way to pack the talker around.

Anonymous said...

Do you mind captioning this video or future ones? It's not too hard with overstream, I think. Thanks!!!

helen-louise said...

The new voice on Pinkessa is much clearer than the voice on the older machine.

What's in the purple milkshake?

Anonymous said...

I. Want. To. Drink. A. Vodka. Martini.

Foots said...

This is for Schuyler - Schuyler, you are one cool and funny kid! Thank you for sharing some of your life with us on this blog :) Rob and Julie - I love your sense of humour. Being able to make pretty much anything into a reason to laugh is one of the only ways we've survived intact over the years with our kids. It can't be stressed enough!

Rook said...

Schuyler - I can't believe all those bugs you ate! You must really like ice cream if you are willing to eat all those bugs on it!

Dad - She's absolutely precious and dorky and I really believe that as she gets older, she'll use the written (or typed) English language to carve out her place where she belongs: Front and center with that awesome grin and playful eye roll. You can totally tell she loves being in front of the camera.