Our number one priority is being able to make a positive impact on the lives of those suffering from Rett Syndrome. Recently we received this letter from a therapist in Mexico who was the recipient of a Rett U scholarship. We want to share her words with you.
[original letter in Spanish follows below]
Dear Rett U,
My name is Gladys Yadira Rubio Sevilla, and I live in Zapopán, Jalisco, México. I am a physical therapist, certified in educating, communication and diagnosing children with Autism. I am certified in Speech and Augmentative Communication and I have 144 hours of CEP classes in PECS and Augmentative Communication and workshops on Sensory Educational Inclusion; all of this in order to support these girls with Rett Syndrome in all necessary therapies.
I have been working with Rett Syndrome students for the last 5 years. A time where I have learned a great deal regarding specific therapies to support these girls. I have immersed myself in as much information as I could in order to fully support these girls because in Mexico it is impossible for the parents do all of it on their own.
In April 2014, the parents of one of my girls with Rett Syndrome made a significant financial effort and aquired a Tobii communicator, a very expensive investment. I began using the “Look & Learn” program, however, once it was time to advance to the next level, I could not motivate my student to communicate. Although we didn’t have a ‘homepage,’ I would navigate to the activities pages for her and tried to get help and support from other speech therapists but they basically shared the same strategies that I was already using and we continued to miss out on communication.
Finally one day, I received an inviation to apply for a scholarship to Rett University. When I found out about Rett University and their Scholarship Program, my initial thought was that they would not accept an International application. However, shortly after I applied I received the news that I had been awarded the “Getting Started with Tobii” online course by Judy Lariviere! I could not believe it. I was so excited for the opportunity. As soon as I was granted access, I immediately started making changes to the Tobii, and the results were far better than I could have ever imagined.
I was finally able to use the Tobii adequetly. I created a Homepage so my student could choose on her own what she wanted to do from the beginning. I changed the voice to a more appropriate one and was able to use adequate and expressive language for communication. More than anything, the online course focused my instruction and now Maria actually enjoys using her Tobii. She is able to choose and read her own books, music and activities. We even have a page to chat! She is motivated and is making huge leaps in just a month.
I still have a lot more work ahead of me. My goal is that my girls (I now have two more) learn to read and write. It’s noteworthy that after a year of searching for help and support I found everything I was looking for through these Rett University online courses that were awarded to me. All of these changes occured in one month! Thank you so much for this opportunity. I would have never achieved this much without the help and support of your scholarship.
This amazing opportunity for support has been provided without looking at race, origin, or borders. You simply do this out of faith to help our girls with Rett Syndrome with strategies to succeed.
All instruction I needed I can find on Rett University. I am still in awe that after a whole year of looking for help, I found everything on Rett University and have been able to make such changes in such a short time. I am very thankful for the opportunity and your scholarship. You never once questioned my ethnicity or my city of origin, but made possible the instruction and correct strategies for me to be able to propel my students forward –For that I am very grateful!
Very Kind Regards-
Gladys Rubio
Queridos Rett U,
Mi nombre es Gladys Yadira Rubio Sevilla, vivo en Zapopán, Jalisco, México. Mi título es Lic. En rehabilitación física, tengo un diplomado de autismo por la asociación americana de autismo, y un diplomado de comunicación y diagnóstico de niños con autismo, un diplomado en comunicación alternativa aumentativa , completado con 144 hrs de PECS entre otros congresos, talleres de sensorial inclusión educativa etc. Todo esto con la finalidad de apoyo en todas las terapias necesarias para niñas con síndrome de Rett.
He estado trabajando con niñas de síndrome de Rett en los últimos 5 años en los cuales he aprendido mucho, sobre las terapias necesarias para apoyarlas empapándome de mucha información para estar al día y apoyar de manera altuista ya que en México es imposible que los padres puedan con todo.
En abril del 2014 , los papas de una de las niñas con síndrome de Rett hicieron un gran esfuerzo para adquirir un comunicador Tobii que resulto muy costoso, al principio comenzamos a trabajar con el programa de “look to learn” ., pero una vez que ya era tiempo de avanzar al siguiente nivel, no podía hacer que mi niña se interesara por intentar comunicarse, además que no tenía un homepage , yo hacia la elección de actividades por ella , trate de conseguir ayuda y apoyo con otras terapeutas de comunicación y me decían exactamente los mismas estrategias que yo ya trabajaba y no lograba enganchar la comunicación.
Finalmente un día me llego a mi correo una invitación de la universidad RETT para aplicar por “scholarships”, al principio pensé que no aceptarían otorgarme una beca por ser de México, sin embargo tan pronto apliqué tuve respuesta de Paola, no lo podía creer estaba emocionada por la oportunidad, tan pronto tuve acceso empecé a hacer cambios en el tobii y resulto mucho mejor de lo que esperaba.
Aprendí a utilizar el tobii adecuadamente agregue un homepage para que ella pueda elegir desde el principio, cambiar a una voz apropiada, utilizar un lenguaje adecuado y expresivo para comunicarme, pero sobre todo a comprenderla ya que la introducción del curso me enfocó, y ahora María disfruta de su comunicador ella puede leer libros, elegir su música, y sus actividades y hasta tenemos una plantilla para platicar.
Falta mucho trabajo por hacer ya que mi meta es que mis niñas (ahora hay dos niñas mas) aprendan a leer, cabe recalcar que después de un año estar buscando apoyo todo lo encontré en las clases que me otorgaron, todo este cambio y actitud sucedió en un mes, muchas gracias por esta gran oportunidad ya que no hubiera logrado este cambio sin su apoyo de “scholarships”.
Es una maravillosa oportunidad de apoyo que se nos brinda y aquí no ven raza ni genero ni lugar de origen todo lo hacen con la fe de apoyar y encontrar estrategias para nuestras niñas con síndrome de Rett.
CON CARIÑO GLADYS RUBIO
