Kaliope Uz Hernandez, a 10-year-old from Verona, NY lives with a complex developmental disability, is non-verbal, and for years struggled to express her needs and emotions. Her mother, Alexandria, often relied on guesswork to understand her daughter’s gestures and cues.
That all changed when Kaliope was able to access a state-of-the art communications device – an app used on an iPad that allowed her to communicate with symbols, text, and natural-sounding voices.
The app became Kaliope’s voice.
“Now she’s able to tell me what she needs right away,” Alexandria says. “The other day she had a wiggly tooth, and she used her device to tell me exactly where—rather than just pointing at her mouth.”
The Community Health Outreach Project (CHOP) administered by the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State in Cohoes, NY provided the communications device with support from the Foundation. The technology is not covered by Medicaid, making support and care management services from CHOP essential to her progress and well-being.
Kaliope’s newfound ability to communicate her feelings helped strengthen her relationships and improve her behavior.
“It has made her relationship with her brother so much stronger. They talk more now. They laugh more,” says Alexandria. “It’s also led to fewer meltdowns because she’s not getting as frustrated.”
The transformation is visible in the classroom as well. Her speech therapist centers therapy sessions around the app, and Kaliope connects with her teachers and classmates in ways she never could before.
“Before she used the app, she had trouble saying, ‘I’m sorry.’ But now she is able to empathize in a way she couldn’t before,” Alexandria added.
Kaliope has found her voice, forming relationships, strengthening bonds, and finding her place in the world.