Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! | Explore Support & Services for SLPs
Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! | Explore Support & Services for SLPs
Welcome to our new series, “ableFamilies in Real Life,” where we celebrate the everyday victories, challenges, and heartwarming moments of ableFamilies. We’re excited to introduce you to Mark —an ableFamilies Parent Enthusiast—Lauren, and their son River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—a family whose teamwork and positivity help River thrive.
The Randalls are a close-knit family of three: Mark, Lauren, and their five-year-old son, River. Mark and Lauren have been married for nearly ten years, and River joined their family right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. With no close family nearby, they’ve learned to lean on each other and have become a true dream team for River’s success.
River has been using the QuickTalker Freestyle for over two years. Communication in the Randall home is all about patience and clarity. Mark shares, “Communication for our family has been slowed down over the years. We try to focus on speaking slowly and using less words, and we’ve seen a surge in communication and comprehension from River.” Routines play a big role in River’s day-to-day life, and his device is a constant companion—especially at ABA therapy, which he attends five days a week.
One of the biggest wins for the family was customizing the QuickTalker with family photos. Mark recalls, “The biggest win for me is when we put our pictures under the mom and dad button. Then one day, River opened the menu, pushed the mom button, and pointed to Lauren.” Bringing the device to school and having ABA teachers champion its use has made a lasting impact for River.
Mark’s advice for other families? “BACK UP YOUR DEVICE! We lost so much customization by not having our app backed up when River learned how to adjust the settings.” He also reminds families that progress takes time: “It takes a lot of time to start something new.”
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.