TRANSCRIPT - Staying Connected: How Technology Revolutionized and Expanded One Young Deafblind Woman's Community with Rachel Collins

>>Donna: Good Thursday afternoon everybody will give everyone a minute or 2 to get in to the room and get settled. And then we will start. All right, good afternoon, everyone. This is TSBI outreach tech T time. I'm Donna Clemens and with us today is Rachel Collins.

>>Rachel: Hello. And before we start, we're gonna reiterate our goal for our sessions, which is to build our community of practice for technology. That will help us support all of our. Students when we are teaching. In the spirit of that goal. We want this to be interactive if you want to converse through the Q&A or the chat. You are welcome to do so. We'll be checking those throughout the session. This session is recorded and by registering, you know, you'll I used to say by registering your image will be recorded on this site but We are not doing that anymore. So. It is recorded and posted in our professional development library. And Again today we have Rachel Collins. She her topic is staying connected how technology revolutionized and expanded one young Devine woman's community. And I'm so excited for her to talk with us today. So I'm going to. So. Stop my share. And pass things over to Rachel.

>>Rachel: Hello everybody. Let me get my presentation app. Okay. I have everybody is having a wonderful afternoon before we get started. I want to just say happy world Down syndrome day. I wanted to just throw that out there. My young one has, she's not really young. She's 19. She's not really young. But she has sound syndrome and, and because March is, all death blindness, you know, month, like all things deaf blind education. I wanted to mention that according to the National Center on Death Blindness, Down syndrome is the third highest ideology for individuals who are deaf blind. So I just wanted to give that fun fact for today on World Down syndrome day. And now I will get started. So as Donna said, my topic today is staying connected. And I'm just going to be talking about, technology and, and how it really made such an impact on, one of my students. Here we go. Alright, so this is Natalie. Natalie was born with CRS or congenital rubella syndrome. She lost her eyes. I'm pretty both of her eyes at a very young age and and she wears prosthetics now. She is profoundly deaf and she wears a cochlear implant on her left side. And so I got to be, I got to have the pleasure of being at the least teacher at the death blind from her freshman year in high school to her senior year and she is one of the most brilliant, intuitive, adventurous, and all around awesome people I know. And now I get to just be her friend, which is how lucky am I. And so many of you may have heard, heard their story hers and her family's story, during Texas step line symposium. But this is the catalyst story. This was before all of that and how all of that happened. Alright, so, Natalie was at TSBI for about 4 years and then she came to, she came to Mcneil High School and Round Rock. That was where I was the Death Line specialist for many years. And when she first got to, Mcneil, the first thing that we tackled was, how to email her work to her teachers because at the time she was creating. She was saving it on a thumb drive and she was handing the thumb drive to her teachers and I was like yeah nope we need to expedite this process like yesterday. So, she was using an apex and she still did use her, her Brailer for math. And so she still did use that for math. And, and I would interland it for teachers, but then her intervener actually took it upon herself to learn the, the Brown members and symbols for algebra and she actually took that on. So that was pretty cool. Right. So, so she So Natalie was really utilizing her. Real note, should be moved onto a Braille Note touch because Apex was no longer being updated anymore and so we moved on to the Brown Note Touch and she was pretty she was pretty good about you know emails and setting up her her calendar but I. I just kept thinking that something was still missing. She didn't have a lot of connection with friends or family at the time. Especially at a distance, except through email and I knew that there had to be better ways for her to be able to stay in contact with people. So this is a picture of Natalie and I. We're sitting here. This is pretty much how our sessions would go. I've got 2 laptops. 2 iPhones and a Brill note touch and I'm trying to figure out like how to connect all these different things and for whatever reason we couldn't maintain a consistent connection with our iPhone and the Braille no touch. I mean, maybe it was school firewalls, maybe it was user. Error, not sure. Whatever the case, we just couldn't get it to figure out. And, so I knew that I was feeling lot of pressure because she was about to graduate. So. Her like because she was about to graduate she was about, Natalie was about to lose her entire social network. So she was talking to friends every day. Up until that point she hadn't really been able to communicate with friends except for the assistance of a staff member. And so when she got to Mcneil, her communication like absolutely exploded. She was actually able to have like one-on-one conversations with deaf peers and they could and that then she could figure out like she knew what other people were talking about and what other teenagers were talking about. And so from that point, her communication and her interest level just exploded. She really did. Build a lot of really great friendships at Mcneil's like hang out outside of school go to parties kind of friendships and it was really really beautiful to see. And so on the slide I have isolation because isolation for an individual who is deaf line can be a real big issue. And so I have a couple of quotes here, from Miles and Regio and it's through, the book. Here it's called Remarkable Conversations. If you guys have seen this, but it's a beautiful book. If you haven't seen it, find it. It's amazing. And so there's a couple of quotes here that I wanted to read out. To everybody since vision and hearing are 2 distance senses, the absence of one places a great emphasis on the remaining distance sense. A person who is deaf blind has limited opportunities to compensate. Increasing emphasis falls upon the near senses, especially touch. Okay, so she's about to graduate. Every single day, you know, during the school week she's got she's got peers that are coming in and out of her. And out of her day and she's able to have one on one conversations. As soon as she graduates, that's gonna go away. So unless you are right next to her, there wasn't a way really to, to communicate. And I mean, I guess there's email, but How many people really email to communicate and not very many? And so with that graduation on the near horizon, I, I set out on a quest. I was like, if there is one thing that I can do from, now until graduation, I have to get her, I gotta figure out how to, to learn how to text, you know, with her phone. And, and so I would just, I really wanted to expand that, her ability to be able to, to be able to communicate outside of being right next to each other and to avoid isolation. So here comes the focus 14. So I mean why this one and not some other device like well this one was the one that I have access to and so, that's, really the reason why. And so at the time, the only the only thing the only like information or like literature that I could find on on the focus 14 was just how to connect it to an IOS product. Got that. Excellent. I got it. But then what? Then what are you supposed to do with it? Like then how are you supposed, how do you use it? Like how does it work within different, apps? How does it work within, you know, all of these different things and There wasn't, oh, there wasn't any information or at least I couldn't find it. And, and so I'm sure like in hindsight thinking about it, I'm sure that it was like many other devices, but for whatever reason those instructions that I was finding online was just not working for us. And so I borrowed a focus for team from the Education Service Center. I took it home. I connected it to my phone and then just press different buttons and then I press different combinations of buttons and whatever it did I wrote it down and then I'd go back to school the next day and I would teach Natalie and you know it was that the best way to teach her I mean, you know, I mean it was it was maybe not but I wasn't gonna waste any more time trying to figure out what I could do or how to make it better. I just needed to just make it happen. So here is a picture of Natalie when we first connected her. Her iPhone to her focus 14 and she was, she was for the first time probably able to actually navigate and choose what songs she wanted to play and she's got the most beautiful smile on her face because she's so excited about being able to to do this. And, and so that's how we started. We started with her iPhone and then we went into text. And, and then I interviewed her. So, so coming up to today, I interviewed Natalie, you know, knowing that I was going to be presenting today. To see like what her thoughts were on using the Focus 14. But before I do that, does anybody have any questions? That they want to ask me? Right now.

>>Donna: I'm not seeing any in our chat or in our questions or answers at the moment. But when they pop up, I will let you know.

>>Rachel: Okay. Not a problem. Thank you. Okay, so here we are. Okay. Okay, can you guys see this? Let's see. Okay, Natalie. I want to ask you a few questions, okay? Okay. What? Devices or technology do you use to keep in like communication with your friends and your family. What technology devices do you use? I use Locus 14 with Connecting to my phone. Okay, awesome. And how long? Really quickly, I'm so sorry. I'm gonna get back and I wanted to give like a like an explanation of like what we're what we're doing. So we're sitting. Facing each other and our knees are touching and so you'll see you'll see that she uses tactic sign language so her hands are on top of my hands when she's the one who's doing the signing my hands are either tapping her arm or tapping her leg that is a pro tactile strategy called back channeling and it is to acknowledge what she's saying and that I'm listening to and then following along with what she's saying. It's kind of it is the like the equivalent of like nodding my head, but of course you can't see me nodding my head. And so, or she can't hear me say, yeah. So, I am, I am affirming her, conversation and her, her communication by tapping. Just in case you guys are wondering, why am I, why am I, why am I sitting here? Have you been using your Focus 14? How long, how many years? I was 18. First time, 18. And till 25 years. I'm 25. Okay, that is many, many years using the Focus 14. Wow, that is awesome. Okay? When did you First learn how to use the focus board team. When? 18. I was a senior in high school at Mcneil. At school in high school. Okay, first remember we first learned how to use how to listen to your music with your iPod. Remember that? Yes, and then you learn how to text on your Focus 14 with your phone. Right? How did you feel? First time. Happy! Yes, you're so happy. Takes mom and dad, yes, and, and early. I remember you, Texan Irving. That's her brother. I remember. I'm second. I was happy. Yes. Yes, that was so awesome. And now you can text your family in Mexico. Tell me about that. Texting family in Mexico. Tell me. How do you feel about that? I'm happy and excited. Do you text in English or? Spanish witch. Hi, Ted, I swanish. Yep. You text in Spanish. How did you learn Spanish? Oh! I translate, translate. Using what? I use translate. Translated to Spanish, English to Spanish. Google used translatable translate. Yep, that is awesome. You use Google. Translate with your focus 14? Yes? All right, wow, okay, so you use Google Translate. What else do you use your focus 14 4 4? What do you do with what like what apps do you use? With Focus 14. I the focus book I use Facebook recipes Amazon I shop I buy stuff I order food I order food delivery and from a lot of my music with Spotify. Yep. Music and I text, Facebook, I send, I check about the weather, I do many, many different things, all. Wow, Natalie, you were so smart. That is amazing. Wow, first and learn how to use the Focus 14 with me. But then you went to HK and C, right? Yes, then you learn many, many, many more, more and more things, right? That is awesome. Do you love your focus 14? I love it, love it, yes. Awesome. Okay, thank you, Natalie. Thank you for chatting with me. Thank you. Yeah. Oops. Okay. So. So HK and C is Helen, Helen Keller National Center for the Deaf Line and that's up in New York. And so after she left after she graduated high school she went to Helen Keller for about a year and a half and and that's a So where she went to kind of like learn like more independent living skills and and her technology just kind of just really, really exploded from that point on. Okay, so before I do that. In the next so in the next few slides, I will be sharing my interview with Natalie's parents and so now they're gonna share their thoughts about the Focus 14 and just this family. Is absolutely incredible. I just love this family so much. They're so dear to me and and Just listening to their thoughts about this. I don't this is really kind of the first time that we really kind of sat and talked exactly about like What? Like what? They what their first impressions were, what they thought about it and what has happened since. Let's go. So this is the first question and what was your reaction the very first time you received a text from Natalie and how has the focus 14 impacted your communication with her? I feel very excited because I knew. Now she can tell us what she wants. Because before it was like very difficult because we took in science. But we are lost off playing some That's sometimes we were confused about what? She was asking us, but the way the text She was more explicit about your once. So. Was very exciting. Yeah, for me, I mean, I felt like so happy. I mean, really excited about what she's coming. I mean, she's going to learn. Because this is a new world for everyone like now she can talk to the world not only with few people not only with you, Paula, my sex language. She you open I mean, they opened a new communication channel that can be global. And that will be I mean one of the best chances for her to talk to people. For the man people and to Leno. And how has it affected your communication with her? Like just in general. Yes, now it's like I wait like is that we can communicate with here and all our people around us like They can communicate with here like in the way that we communicate with my others. It's the same communication. Before. We have a very limit. Communication. We used to wear like maybe not Saying one war and she was very glorious trying to understand each other with the science. But now with the focus routine is like We can wear able to communicate like the same with my others. And do you use the focus 14 just in text or just in regular communication? Just really just in text. No, no, I'm in. Well, not only right now, what does this is the focus working for almost everything? Yes. Like she takes people using like an iPhone position. Yes. But all sorts of Facebook in English and the Spanish. She moved from WhatsApp to Facebook. I don't know how to do that. For example, but she does that. She, for example, one time on, on the Pandemia, she ordered food for us. And sometimes she uses what it's to order food. She used to buy an HGV all her food because you know, instead of going to the store, she's going pick it up. And then she's not exposed in the Pandemia. So she learned a lot of things about that and communicating with people and doing things with herself and also providing things. Like she said, hey, cause I wanna go to the store in the night because I need like a fruit. Or are you not gonna go to Mexico in June? Or I wanna go to this restaurant so she makes plans for us sometimes and then she uses the focus for T 4 like let us know. And like when we are up here, she takes no like, oh for example, she doesn't know what I am, she takes a where are you? Oh nice. She wasn't able to do that before. No, I know that sometimes she wants to eat something and I don't know how to do it. She sent me the recipe. We need this in these ingredients and this is the way we gonna do it. Oh my gosh, so she will like Google a recipe and send you the recipe. I'm like, and this is gonna, I don't understand like, for example, like Amazon is a huge store. Or you can find almost anything. But, sometimes they're even not in as the things that you buy. I'm not a brand when she's like something she made that lease for it should be for example but she's saying I want like She doesn't say the the things just She named the brands of the thing that she wants. Wow! And sometimes I didn't know that run and I'm looking, where is the friends in my phone? And like, you know, I get in with communication for here is important because now she's doing everything. She's in social media. She is like many people, texting people, buying things, buying food. Right, groceries. So her wall is just like. Outside of the house is when we went to the restaurants that she was saying, but we gave the phone to them Wages? Yes. And then she was right. She was she was communicated with a weighted bike to the phone. That's awesome. I remember I was very excited. So she, so she was able to order for herself and not through you. Idea. So, so cool. I just think that they're just like the most amazing people ever. Alright. Oh, nope, Okay. Alright, and so then the next question I asked was how was the, how has the focus for team impacted Natalie's communication with her brothers. She's got 3 brothers and And so this is this is there. Comments. Really quickly, do you guys want me to like expand it? Or is it okay? Well, I think like what changed to them is like, you know, so that they are not like really familiar with same language. Like one of them like but but you know with the text they can communicate with care whatever she wants like For example, like she usually talks to her in a lot. Like she wants to go to bar, she wants to work for restaurant. And then she talks to Danica and that's my my son's a wife like and they usually sometimes we came to the house we can't find out that's what he's done, And she made plans with Hannah and went to button John or something like that. And I like, you know, in in this way like maybe they don't know what's their name works or they, they, we don't all have, signs. But with, with texting. We can fix everything. She went with my Junker's son to the movies. Yeah, and she's not he's not familiar with the So they were communicating to the text but they were they they to wear together. Okay, Thank you. Really? And so, and so has he said anything about like, you know, I without this. Would have never been able to. Will be like for example like one of my songs is going away like it's moving to Chicago. And you know like a Boy and away for that long probably he will forget more and more about some image. But now you know with this he will he will be able to communicate with that you know And I was surprised, you know, because, when she talked, to the movies. In the move I mean you don't go and buy they go to a place where they order or they say, okay, like an animal draft house or something like that. And not only was they they had to be talking. Because there is a menu and you know there are options and in some way has just had to know what she wanted to So now she's communicating with her brothers too. That is, that's pretty, spectacular. I love it so, so much. Okay. Do it again. Then the next question I asked was how has the Focus 14 enabled Natalie to stay in contact with her friends in her community and her community? Well, I, nobody has like, to different worlds, I would say, which is the same for her. But, For example, like she communicates with other people here in the United States in English. And like for example when there is a camp or an event or a party or something she is going to come again I need to go to this place so you need to go for me because I want to go to the campaign or and then she has all these like events or you know Let's say I have ways to talk to people and let them know like you need something that you want something or she wants to go to some players or anything. And and basically like This is the way that she keeps in communication with people around here, But then, in some ways, you learn the Spanish back yourself. At the when they go with some, and, and they're, and then, and now She makes plants with her family in Mexico. And she says, in December and you need to take me to Sushi place, I want to go to It like some ice cream. I want to go and visit this place and I want to visit my own and my own core and I want to go to the farm and I want to go to the ranch. And she has all this kind of communication with people. And people actually know what she wants to do. Their friends. In Mexico or here? Okay, they take a lot in the Spanish with the and they made plans like for what the next time you go to Mexico But also now like Tina, she's, she wants to live by herself before the pandemic. But now she's saying no and I'm okay with you. But we were, Come with that because she's able to like, she need food, Gloria, and, She said. Yeah. So that focus open that or for her to be able to live by herself and Do you think that that's still something that you guys are gonna look into or that she's, that she's shown interest in wanting to do. Well you know like you remember when you did an experiment it's another 5 weeks to Mexico open yourself And while now last year she went 2 months. State, M, there, I mean, but with Connie, of course, I mean, but, like, what happened is, like, Nadiya didn't stay with Connie of the time to stay with, Sandra's sister most of the time. So like she wants to go to Mexico for 2 months again this summer. And then we're okay with that. She's going to be with my brother, with her sister with her with different people around them. Open to that. She is wants to stay with us because we buy the house and she wants to like to be in. New girls but I think the in the future she is gonna like say No, no, I want to leave by myself. Yes, so we're open to that. We know that she's going to be able because Yeah, she knows how until like that too. So of his, you were saying that she, that she stays in contact with friends in Mexico and makes plans for like when she goes back. What about here? Like does she, does she make, does she say in contact with our friends here in Austin and does she? Make like plans to go out and and do these things with them. Yes, she needs like sometimes she's a We need to talk because she makes plans and never told us or the people are telling us and you know, I'm going to be into your house at this time because not only yes. Sound with me and say, well, no, Yeah, she makes friends with friends like like every single event that is at that one time every single event she comes to Okay, when I go to this place this time, and with my friends there. Okay. And then, sometimes talking to people around there, she says, oh, now let's make a plan with me to go to some place and to eat or to come home or we should go to your house and yeah of course I mean like Anytime she wants to make a plan, it's fine with us. Because you know, is this different, not like, There is we have many friends around We can just plan it all right away. And forget it's like a little bit more difficult. She has a small number of things. And whenever she says, I wanted to do this, yes, that's it. Because you know it's the way for her to you know Enjoy and you know, spend some time with friends. So I will, and test to, attest to the fact that she will just. Randomly text and, and say, Rachel, we're going to goodwill and go thrift shopping and we're going to go get some above a T and we're going to go here and this is what we're going to do. And on this date, this is what we're doing. I'm like. Sounds good, but I can't on that day, but how about another day? But, this is funny because like when we did this interview, this is case in point. It was so funny that she didn't tell her parents because she and I were communicating about when I was gonna come and do this interview. Well, then I told her parents that, when the date was of the, you know, this presentation. And so they got it mixed up and thought that I wasn't coming until today. And Natalie, they were like arguing going, no, Rachel's coming to day and he's, they're like, no, she's not. She's not coming until the 20 first. And so I show up. And he was and Jose is like, oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I totally got I totally made a mistake. Natalie was trying to tell me and and I didn't believe her I thought it was this other day. He was like I'm so sorry. So that absolutely that absolutely happens. But I wanted to I wanted to just kind of like talk about. Her communicating with her family in Mexico. So she had always had an interest in learning Spanish. And but without a real way to communicate with them. And so, and so when this, avenue showed up to be able to communicate in a way that they could understand her that just made all the difference. And so then that would like if you were there for a Deaf Land Symposium, that's how the catalyst got started with she started getting Spanish. She's communicating their family. Now this girl is like quadrilingual. She knows English, ASL, Spanish, and Mexican Sign Language. And she communicates like lawlessly between all of them. And it's pretty it's pretty incredible. Like when I was watching them sign half of the signs were in American Sign Language and half of the signs were in Spanish. I'm like, I don't know what you guys are saying. Like, I don't know what you're talking about, guys are talking about anymore. So she's, and she's able to do, she's able to switch like that. It's pretty cool. Okay, let me go. I do keep doing this. I'm so sorry. All right, so the last question that I asked the family was, how has the Focus 14 affected Natalie's ability to stay connected with her community. Near and far. For me and now she has like a real team. Like our old people because now she can spend hours in her room texting. Doing, Facebook? Like the other people then. Me sometimes I spend a lot of time in the point so now she's doing it because she's able to do it like through the like it yeah to have a a life, a normal life. Also, yeah. Yeah. I think it's the focus for tennis and life changing technology. Because see change the life of all our family. In the United States and Mexico. It was over the border like That is no border walls because you know like you can communicate with people in English and Spanish using the same device. And that device has a capability of, you know, connected the phone and use all the apps in there. And basically, you know, I help her to, you know, use it. And it's a small device. And it's very precise like in the sense like I you don't you don't have a long thing and she she always yes she always has it and like for example, you know like one time coming someone you always need to have it would you because you get lost. Now you can tide in Sam boss. And then we can find you because you where you have location or your phone It does. And then we can text you by and say, okay, don't move for us as for help or cry or something. And then we can just go and hit. That is the case, no? Besides all the good things that happen, Like the way that you let us punish is using they will says later about using the focus 14 and then this thing would family, they will be done a little bit than a little bit, that's more fluent. And you know, Well, I mean, that's amazing. I mean, it's just. It's very, very helpful for us because We are working and she is in the hall by herself. I'm asking how are you doing? Where are you doing? And then I feel Say? Because I know that she's answer me and then the cheese fine plate. Yeah. I think like, this should be a project like, that people should have one device that is. Everyone, every single one of them. Because you know Like I said, it's life changing and then it can just. Come able to communicate with anyone around the world and maybe you know save your life in a case, an accident or Get laws or nithead or something. Okay, so, she had mentioned a couple that they've mentioned a couple of names. Connie. Connie is, is Natalie's community intervener. And so she is, I mean, she's really at this point. She really is like another family member. And so she is the one who kind of like, you know, bridges, that, you know, that gap with the environment and information and she helps and she helps Natalie kind of navigate through that. She just kinda takes her around and, and does whatever it is that, you know, they are, asking her to do or like, I bet Natalie probably drives, you know, the, I guess the activities that they do because she will she will have an agenda of things that she would like to do and and then they just go they go do that and just live. Just like regular life. I, I think. One of the one of the really, the more profound, you know, comments that were made, like, during Deafline Symposium was one of her aunts and, you know, and she was saying that like. Over all the over all the years like that she you know she had been on this earth like they had never ever been able to communicate with Natalie without the help of Jose and Sandra because if Sandra and Jose weren't around they had no way of relaying any sort of information to her. And so how isolating must have that must that have felt where you're surrounded by a bunch of people that nobody is able to talk to you and nobody is able to share and And just to think about all the things that she's doing now and all the things that she's interested in now, all that stuff was in her head before, but without. Any way of being able to access it or to or to find out more about it. Now she will, Google different things like different kinds of diets or whatever and she'll just like send me some like random fact like did you know that this diet is a good diet to try or you know like what about you know I think she was talking about Lipo section one time. Can, can you do libo section? And I was like, And, and these come like randomly like throughout the day and I'm like, sure you could, but you know, and I haven't thought about this. And so, it's, been really, it's been really fun to. To continue to see the growth and to continue to see. How, this is, this all has evolved. And so before we go to the last thing because we still have quite a bit of time. What are some what are some devices that you guys have used with your students, you know, if you have students on your case, who are deaf line and, have you been, have you used like different devices and, and how, what kind of impact has it made on them?

>>Donna: Just type them off into the chat there. We will read them off. I am so excited to see this. Rachel, I mean, I am like blown away. She is a rock star and I just, you know, I'm a little bit. Tiered up there for a little while because it opens up so much and it's of all of our range of devices, it's relatively one of our simpler.

>>Rachel: These incredible.

>>Donna: Devices. And it makes such. A difference. And pairing it with that Google Translate.

>>Rachel: I know.

>>Donna: I don't know why I never like connected that before. I mean, that's brilliant. You know, and opening her up to her family in the US and in Mexico and and having that connection in that community and Oh, we need to get her on.

>>Rachel: Yeah. Yeah.

>>Donna: Calendar so she can share her calendar with mom and dad's.

>>Rachel: Yeah, oh my gosh. Yes. So, you know, and maybe that was the thing, like, because I kept trying to, to pair her phone with, with the BNT. And, and it just wasn't working. It just kept crashing. And of course it was like a newer one. So then it was cr crashing anyway, you know, and just like we were on, we were on with human wear.

>>Donna: Yeah. And in the in the beginning the Braille note being an Android device trying to pair it with your Apple device they sometimes they sometimes fight each other least for in the early Braille note, you know, in the early Braille notes.

>>Rachel: Oh my gosh. Is that what it was? Oh. Yeah. Okay, okay.

>>Donna: They're better now, better. But it is an Android based device so it can it can be a little

>>Rachel: Okay, well then that makes a lot of sense. See, I didn't know I didn't know like the science behind it all, but I was like, I'm telling you, it was not connecting. I don't know why, but you know, you, hit the nail in the head that it's a simpler device. And I was like, and maybe that's just what we needed. We needed something simple just to just to get her to be able to like do the basic stuff and then she could figure out like how to use just that thing to be able to do to access all the rest of her for. Rest of her devices, but.

>>Donna: Yeah. And the power of the phone is what drives that and having all those great accessible apps. That she can then grow from like ordering food.

>>Rachel: Yes. Uber eats like what? Yeah.

>>Donna: And let's see. What? Foot just appears. Oh my goodness. Let's see, Margaret says she's not. Presently working with a student, but students who are deaf blind. She, I have worked. With students with visual impairments on iPad iPhone voice over Braille note, and I'm so glad that Natalie had you for a teacher.

>>Rachel: Okay. I was the lucky one.

>>Donna: Yeah, there there is that student that at least one I would hope all of us have that is just I was the lucky one to have them. And you know that. She's just amazing in the whole family hearing their their journey and their experience was. Phenomenal.

>>Rachel: Yeah, they're just so they're so incredible and like, you know, they're an amazing feeling because like, you know, You know, Natalie is amazing. Yes, but I think that she is so amazing. Because her family like really encourages her to do things on her own. They encourage her to be adventurous. They encourage her to seek out knowledge. They encourage her to do to do these things. And so, and so when she says like, Jose was saying, like, if she says I want to, I may want to make a plan or like whatever you need. Yep, we'll make that happen. Whatever it is, we will make it happen for you. And I think that that also plays a very big part, but, She's like forever. She's forever connected now and I am, I am so thrilled. About it.

>>Donna: And the changes in not only our fields and in technology, but in technology in the community as in general. Because when I started 20 plus years ago now. Cause I think I'm on 26 years. My student, we didn't have access to the internet and and things that we do. In such a powerful way as we do right now, her way of being connected with her friends and her family was through. Of all things, a ham radio. You know, so that's how long ago, she got into ham radio use and her grandparents built her a ham radio use and her grandparents built her a ham radio tower.

>>Rachel: Oh.

>>Donna: So it's wonderful to see. Over the years as things as technology grows and and changes in the community that we are able to embrace that and use that and further increase the independence of our students.

>>Rachel: Absolutely.

>>Donna: And and It's awesome. And let's see, Margaret has said that the family support is so important.

>>Rachel: Yeah. And, I just, and just like getting, having her brothers come up to say like, oh my gosh, this has been so incredible that I get to touch my sister.

>>Donna: Absolutely.

>>Rachel: I get to, I get to hang out with my sister. I get to, understand what my sister is talking about. I love, I just. You know, it's pretty, it's pretty sweet. Alright.

>>Donna: Yeah. Those bonds are amazing.

>>Rachel: Yes, so the last. Nope, sorry. Alright, so this last thing, this, this is Nally. This is on one of our outings. We went shopping and then we went to go get some. And, and so I wanted to get a video of her. So I, so we took a selfie and I texted it to her. So I, so we took a selfie and I texted it to her. So this is her. She like took the picture. And I texted it to her. So this is her. She like took the picture. She took the picture. She downloaded it and then uploaded it. So I just wanted to I don't even know. There's not real. I mean, there's some, but it's just like, boaty restaurants. So. So this is, I, I had to give her, you know, the, code, the Wi-Fi code. So you can see that she's got the picture of us. That's my daughter in the background.

>>Donna: She is flying, I love it. The.

>>Rachel: So I'm gonna pause this really fast because she's navigating All of these applications in Spanish. Her settings. Are in Spanish. I was like. What? Yeah. In Spanish. I'm unbelievable. I don't I don't know. She's tagging the photo. Yeah, in Spanish.

>>Donna: That is amazing. Because like you said, her first language isn't Spanish, right? It's English.

>>Rachel: Well, you're, ISL, yeah.

>>Donna: Sorry, ASL, yeah. Wow.

>>Rachel: And then not only does she tag it, then she like. But then she like adds the location. And I was like. And so I'm thinking like she doesn't know the name of it is and she was like, I've got this. Got it. Okay. And it's uploaded. She's the coolest kid. Not good. Yeah, just the coolest gal. All done. So anyway, that is. As what I wanted to share with you guys. She's pretty she's pretty incredible. And We went from like having a real fear of being isolated. When she graduated to, I mean, her world has expanded. Like I don't even know exponentially. It's exploded exponentially because now she's chatted. Now she's like hanging with like deaf community in Mexico. She's hanging with the deaf community in Mexico. She's got friends in the States. She's, she's like. Moving and shaken. And all because of this device and so technology is awesome. Alright, so, oops, see. I don't know if anybody has any questions or any comments. Does anybody have any comments about the videos or, you know, just, Natalie or anything. Oh my god.

>>Donna: That is so awesome. And Debbie says that is awesome. Thank you for sharing.