ableFamilies in Real Life:

Meet Betty and Ozzy

Meet Betty and her amazing 6-year-old son, Ozymandias “Ozzy”, from Massachusetts. Betty describes herself as “lucky enough to be Ozzy’s mama”—and it’s easy to see why! Ozzy is a vibrant, music-loving foodie with a passion for monsters, mythical creatures, and skeletons.

Family First

Ozzy has faced big challenges, but his strength and resilience shine through every day. Betty says, “He’s very strong for all he’s overcome. I know it’s tough, but it helps me understand more of what big feelings he has.”

Communication Breakthroughs

Ozzy has been using the QuickTalker Freestyle for about 1 year, and communication in their family is a team effort. Betty shares, “I’ll say something to my son, and he’ll use the talker or some sign to respond to me.” One memorable moment was when Ozzy, upset about not getting more gummies, used his QuickTalker Freestyle to say “leave me alone”—and Betty discovered that repeating an action on the talker can change the tone! But it’s not just for tough moments: “He uses it when he’s happy too, and he says, ‘I love you.’ He’ll also use it to express his feelings to me, which I absolutely LOVE because I was completely in the dark prior.”

Making QuickTalker Freestyle Part of Daily Life

Betty has adapted their routines to support Ozzy’s communication. When he’s frustrated, she slows things down and encourages him to “show me” how he feels using his talker. “He’s actually really good (better than me) at navigating through the AAC to get to other pages and tell me how he’s feeling, what he would like, or a question he has.”

Early wins included hearing “I love you” and “mama” from Ozzy using the QuickTalker. “He was so excited! He pressed ‘I love you!’ plenty. Also ‘mama’ repeatedly & he finally started saying Mama!”

The QuickTalker has made a big difference: “It’s much easier to figure out what he wants for dinner than it was prior, and I can easily get to the root of what’s upsetting him. We’ve been using it for potty training as well!”

Favorite Moments

A recent QuickTalker moment that made Betty smile? “Realizing my son’s sarcasm and sense of humor via the QuickTalker! Also seeing that he will ask for me while he’s at school.” “I never truly understood unconditional love until the day my son was born. The moment I looked into his eyes, I promised him I would always be there for him, that he would always have me by his side. Every day, I tell him ‘I love you’ whenever my heart feels it—which is probably a million times a day. I am so grateful that AbleNet has given me the reassurance that this love is mutual.”

The Family Motto

“There's no one I’d rather be, than me” - Wreck it Ralph “We may have our differences but nothing’s more important than family…I’m proud we are family!” -Coco

Advice for Other Families

Advice for Families

Betty’s advice for families just getting started: “The SLPs have lots of useful advice. If you’re patient with the AAC and keep trying, your child will catch onto that.” She also recommends programming in familiar images to help kids catch on faster.

Share Your Journey or Connect with Us

Stay tuned for more real-life stories from ableFamilies across the country. Want to share your family’s journey or have a question? Ask our Parent Enthusiasts or find more information and resources on our SupportHub.