Logan is an amazing 12-year-old who began using LAMP Words for Life at the age of four. He has multiple diagnoses, including Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), Cerebral Palsy, and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). These challenges affect his visual processing as well as his fine and gross motor development, but they haven’t stopped him from finding his voice.

A Path to Communication

Logan’s communication journey has been full of growth and discovery. In the beginning, he relied on the consistent placement of words on his device because visually scanning the icons was difficult. To better support his visual processing differences due to CVI, his team reduced the visual complexity of his device by removing the icons, leaving only the text labels on each button. They also color-coded the rows using his preferred high-contrast colors—red, blue, and yellow—to create visual anchors and make navigation easier.

As his language skills developed, so did his literacy skills! Today, Logan uses an Accent 1400 with LAMP Words for Life, communicating in full sentences and confidently using features like the word finder and keyboard to type. His mom, Barbara Lopez Avila, shares that these skills have helped him demonstrate just how much he is capable of.

A key factor in Logan’s success has been the strong bond he shares with his speech-language pathologist, Maria Munoz. Barbara notes that Logan eagerly looks forward to his therapy sessions, where he continues to build on his communication and literacy abilities.

One of Logan’s biggest breakthroughs has been learning to read. Developing his communication and literacy skills together has strengthened his ability to navigate and use his device more effectively. With these tools, he is now able to engage more deeply with the world around him.

Navigating Challenges

Logan’s journey has not been without obstacles. He is unable to carry the device independently, and situations like being near water present limitations to its use. For his family, modeling and practice have been essential. Barbara emphasizes the importance of involving the entire family in the process, as their commitment has played a key role in Logan’s progress.

Reflecting on their experience, Barbara shares words of encouragement for other families considering LAMP Words for Life:

“It has worked for us. It requires a good amount of modeling and practicing for the entire family, but the results are priceless.”

For Logan, LAMP Words for Life has been a gateway to independence and self-expression. In Barbara’s words:

“LAMP has opened up so many possibilities for Logan.”