31 March 2009
Augie Nieto’s Inspiring Story and Use of EyeMax on The Today Show
Augie Nieto, fitness entrepreneur, appeared on The Today Show yesterday (video below). Diagnosed with Lou Gherig's Disease several years ago, Augie has been raising money for research. He now uses a trackball to access the computer with his feet. He demonstrated the use of the EyeMax from Dynavox for communication and computer access. He is planning for additional access strategies early, as his body continues to deteriorate.
You will find this video inspiring and encouraging. The code to embed it here wouldn't copy, so I am linking it below...
Augie Nieto Video from The Today Show
Also: Dynavox site page with focus on Augie Nieto
Enjoy!
Lon

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You will find this video inspiring and encouraging. The code to embed it here wouldn't copy, so I am linking it below...
Augie Nieto Video from The Today Show
Also: Dynavox site page with focus on Augie Nieto
Enjoy!
Lon
Bookmark this on Delicious
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30 March 2009
Anxiety attack!
I had an anxiety attack last week when I was in my therapist’s office.
“Breathe,” she said.
“I am breathing,” I said as I looked questioningly at her.
“No, you’re not. You’re breathing very shallow breaths. You’re not getting enough oxygen. You can pass out.
“You’re having an anxiety attack,” she said.
“Now, take a deep breath and blow it out to the count of 10!”
That’s exactly what I did and felt better, but was freaked out as I felt like so weak. How could I have an anxiety attack when I’m just telling a story? Why is this incident affecting me this way?
I don’t know, but I am going to find out so I can get through this. Bye for now.

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AAC Featured on NBC’s “The Today Show”
I received this email from Dynavox today on some AAC exposure on the NBC Today Show:
"Today, March 30, AAC solutions will be highlighted on NBC's Today Show. The segment features Augie Nieto, vice president and co-chairman of the ALS division of the MDA and founder of Augie's Quest, who was diagnosed with ALS almost four years ago. Augie will be communicating in the segment with a DynaVox EyeMax System. In addition, we expect the segment to discuss how AAC solutions can help people with many different conditions, including autism, Down syndrome, stroke, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury. It will be a great introduction for anyone who knows an individual who is struggling with communication.
Augie's segment is scheduled to air between 8:30 - 9:00 AM. We hope that you will be able to watch it live or set your DVR to view it later.Later on Monday, you will find a page on the DynaVox web site with a link to the Today Show video and other information that will be of interest to those new to AAC. Please feel free to forward this on to any families, SLPs, teachers or others that might be interested. "
I will link to the video and more info when it comes out later today,
All the best to you!
Lon

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"Today, March 30, AAC solutions will be highlighted on NBC's Today Show. The segment features Augie Nieto, vice president and co-chairman of the ALS division of the MDA and founder of Augie's Quest, who was diagnosed with ALS almost four years ago. Augie will be communicating in the segment with a DynaVox EyeMax System. In addition, we expect the segment to discuss how AAC solutions can help people with many different conditions, including autism, Down syndrome, stroke, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury. It will be a great introduction for anyone who knows an individual who is struggling with communication.
Augie's segment is scheduled to air between 8:30 - 9:00 AM. We hope that you will be able to watch it live or set your DVR to view it later.Later on Monday, you will find a page on the DynaVox web site with a link to the Today Show video and other information that will be of interest to those new to AAC. Please feel free to forward this on to any families, SLPs, teachers or others that might be interested. "
I will link to the video and more info when it comes out later today,
All the best to you!
Lon
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Gates: Focus on improving teacher effectiveness
According to Fred Hiatt, editorial page editor for the Washington Post, Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to refocus the Gates Foundation’s educational efforts on successful charter schools and improving teacher effectiveness. Good news, at least on the latter matter.
As I developed in an earlier post, the Gates Foundation could [...]
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29 March 2009
28 March 2009
Anesthesia and LD
Cumulative percentage of learning disabilities diagnosis by the age at exposure shown separately for those that have zero, one, or multiple anesthetic exposures before age 4 yr. (Fig 1 from Wilder et al., see sources).
Writing in the academic journal Anesthesiology under the title “Early Exposure to Anesthesia and Learning Disabilities in a Population-based Birth Cohort,” [...]
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Research input opportunity
Here’s a copy of a post I put on EBD Blog that has content that’s also relevant here.
The US Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) is seeking citizens’ recommendations about a research agenda. Although this initiative aims at addressing issues for adults in the community, which differs from the focus of EBD Blog (educational [...]
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Adult stakeholders
The US Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) is seeking citizens’ recommendations about a research agenda. Although this initiative aims at addressing issues for adults in the community, which differs from the focus of EBD Blog (educational issues related to children and youth and their families), I want to mention it here so that readers [...]
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