Developmentally Disabled Man gets a 'Voice of His Own'

Oct. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- For the first 29 years of his life, the only way Julius Croff could communicate his needs, moods, wants and feelings was with gestures and facial expressions. Croff was born with cerebral palsy, which left him physically and developmentally disabled and, until recently, without a way to express himself with words.

Today, Croff, a resident at Alden Village North Health Facility for Children and Young Adults on Chicago’s far North Side is learning to ‘talk’ with a high-tech, AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device he received in July on a trial basis.

"Julius is so excited about having a voice of his own,” says Administrator Janine Ciemny. “This is giving him a sense of empowerment and independence that he’s never before experienced.”

ACC devices, which are customized and programmed to reflect the personalities and meet the needs of their individual users, resemble a small computer monitor attached to a pole mounted on a wheelchair. Although the devices enable their users to ‘talk’ with digitized voices by pushing a button or touching an icon on the monitor’s screen, Croff is just beginning to learn how to communicate effectively.

“Eventually, the computer will be programmed so Julius can tell people his favorite foods, when he wants to go to bed, if he feels sick or needs something, even jokes,” says Assistant Administrator Kris Walski, adding that “at this point it’s like learning a foreign language. Julius takes the communications board wherever he goes, and he practices every day. He is very motivated and very determined.”

Those who know Croff describe the young man as highly personable and fun-loving. He is fully aware of his surroundings and understands everything that is said to him. He is a huge sports fan and rarely misses watching a Chicago Bulls or Chicago Bears game on television.  And while he is non-verbal, he has an infectious laugh and smile and loves a good joke.

“For people who take speech for granted, it’s almost impossible to imagine how amazing this is for Julius,” says Aisha Adams, a unit manager at Alden Village North who has known Croff since he moved to the facility in 2008. “The ability to ‘talk’ makes a huge difference in the quality of his life.”

The immediate challenge is to prove the benefits derived from the AAC device justify the cost, which can range up to $8,000 for the unit. In fact, the maze of paperwork, evaluations and physician reports required by Medicaid—which is the state agency that funds the communication device—took more than a year to process. If the funding is not approved at the end of the trial period, the communication board could be taken away.

But everyone—from the speech pathologist who spearheaded the effort to get Croff an AAC device to the entire Alden Village North staff—is optimistic.

“Already, the benefits are obvious to anyone who comes into contact with him,” says Ciemny. “In the past, when we watched Julius’ broad smile and the expressive faces he makes, we couldn’t help but wonder what he would tell us if he could talk. For him to be able to put what he’s thinking into words with these devices is nothing short of a miracle.”

Alden Village North offers specialized programming and comprehensive medical services for individuals with developmental disabilities and other medically complex conditions. With a two-year, major renovation recently completed, the facility combines state-of-the-art amenities and equipment with a mission that puts the welfare of residents and their families first. Alden Village North is located at 7464 N. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago. For more information, call 773.338.0200 or visit www.aldenvillagenorth.com.

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Alden Village North offers specialized programming and comprehensive medical services for individuals with developmental disabilities and other medically complex conditions. With a two-year, major renovation recently completed, the facility combines state-of-the-art amenities and equipment with a mission that puts the welfare of residents and their families first. Alden Village North is located at 7464 N. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago. For more information, call 773.338.0200 or visit www.aldenvillagenorth.com.