If I Had a VOCA (Voice Output Communication Aid) (Tune: If I Had a Hammer)*
If I had a VOCA,
I'd talk in the morning
I'd talk in the evening
All over this land.
I'd talk about justice,
I'd talk about freedom,
I'd talk about love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
If I had a keyboard,
I'd type in the morning,
I'd type in the evening,
All over this land.
I'd type about justice,
I'd type about freedom,
I'd type about love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
If I had a story,
I'd write it in the morning,
I'd write it in the evening,
All over this land.
I'd write about justice,
I'd write about freedom,
I'd write about love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
Well I got a VOCA,
And I got a keyboard,
And I got a story to write,
All over this land.
It's the VOCA of Justice,
It's the keyboard of Freedom,
It's the story about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
It's the VOCA of Justice,
It's the keyboard of Freedom,
It's the story about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
NOTE: Original words and music of "If I Had a Hammer" were by Lee Hays and Pete Seeger. The arrangement used in "If I Had a VOCA" on YouTube was by Peter, Paul and Mary, who brought the Hays and Seeger song to an older, now, and future generation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJi_Si_jTHk
Welcome to Everyone Communicates!
As our name indicates, we believe that everyone communicates, in one way or another. We also believe that communication is a basic need in life. When an individual does not have fluent, natural speech, it is urgent that other methods of communication, often called augmentative or alternative communication (AAC), be explored exhaustively.
Being unable to speak does not mean that an individual does not understand, cannot learn to communicate, or cannot think and reason. It only means that the person has a barrier to communication. With access to a variety of methods, and with creative, attentive, and dedicated people providing support, people with communication impairments caused by a wide range of disabilities can work to develop effective communication.
Freedom to Communicate
Stick figures, one with communication device and speech bubble; "Freedom to Communicate = Access to conversation anywhere, anytime, about anything with anybody through technology and personalized supports if needed.
Dedication
DEDICATION: This site is dedicated to people who are still waiting for a means to communicate more effectively. We hope this site helps to bring access to communication to more people so that someday soon everyone will have the opportunity to communicate effectively, and no one will have to spend days or years or a lifetime in silence.
Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Song: She'll Be Using Her Technology to Talk (AAC song)
She’ll Be Using Her Technology to Talk (She’ll Have Freedom to Communicate at Last) (tune: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes.
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her when she comes
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her when she comes
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her when she comes.
She’ll be using her technology to talk.
She’ll be using her technology to talk.
She’ll be using her technology,
Using her technology,
Using her technology to talk.
She will wave and say “How are you?” to us all.
She will wave and say “How are you?” to us all.
She will wave and say “How are you?”
And she’ll tell us “I have missed you!”
She will wave and say “How are you?” to us all.
She will talk with anybody when she comes.
She will talk with anybody when she comes.
She will talk with anybody—
Anytime and Anywhere and
About anything she wants to when she comes.
She will tell us jokes and stories when she comes.
She will tell us jokes and stories when she comes.
Anywhere and anytime and
She may even sing and rhyme and
We will have great conversations when she comes.
We will talk with her 'til midnight when she comes.
We will talk with her 'til midnight when she comes.
We will talk with her 'til midnight,
We will laugh and have a good time,
We will talk with her til midnight when she comes.
She’ll have Freedom to Communicate at last.
She’ll have Freedom to Communicate at last.
She’ll have Freedom to Communicate,
Yes Freedom to Communicate,
Yes Freedom to Communicate at last.
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes.
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her when she comes
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her when she comes
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her
Oh we’ll all come out to meet her when she comes.
She’ll be using her technology to talk.
She’ll be using her technology to talk.
She’ll be using her technology,
Using her technology,
Using her technology to talk.
She will wave and say “How are you?” to us all.
She will wave and say “How are you?” to us all.
She will wave and say “How are you?”
And she’ll tell us “I have missed you!”
She will wave and say “How are you?” to us all.
She will talk with anybody when she comes.
She will talk with anybody when she comes.
She will talk with anybody—
Anytime and Anywhere and
About anything she wants to when she comes.
She will tell us jokes and stories when she comes.
She will tell us jokes and stories when she comes.
Anywhere and anytime and
She may even sing and rhyme and
We will have great conversations when she comes.
We will talk with her 'til midnight when she comes.
We will talk with her 'til midnight when she comes.
We will talk with her 'til midnight,
We will laugh and have a good time,
We will talk with her til midnight when she comes.
She’ll have Freedom to Communicate at last.
She’ll have Freedom to Communicate at last.
She’ll have Freedom to Communicate,
Yes Freedom to Communicate,
Yes Freedom to Communicate at last.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Song: Take Me to Conversation: AAC and Literacy Advocacy
Take Me to Conversation: AAC Awareness Song
(tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame)
I must have conversation.
Teach me literacy.
It will set my conversation free.
You must introduce mentors to me.
And of course role models with help me
Because they show what can be
Self-determination and more possibilities.
Come and hang out with me, I
Talk with technology.
People call it AAC, you know,
It gives me a strong voice and although
You may think perhaps it cannot be,
I’ll show you and you’ll see,
Conversation works very well with my A-A-C.
A-A-C is just ways to
Choose, discuss, and to chat.
If perhaps speaking is hard, you see,
Then alternatives may be the key,
And with pointing, signing or typing,
Eye-gaze or switches to press
Conversation happens and takes away lots of stress.
Who you ask needs A-A-C?
Many people you see
Anyone who tries and cannot find
How to speak to say what’s on their mind.
You must never doubt that A-A-C
Sets thoughts and feelings free.
A-A-C conversation gets better with literacy.
One last thing that you must know,
Hear us before we go.
Yes, everyone does communicate.
Listen well and facilitate.
And then silence won’t have to rule ‘cause
People have A-A-C.
You can make a difference presuming competence.
So yes . . .
We all need conversation.
We need literacy.
Yes, conversation can set us free.
Mentors also help both you and me.
And of course role models can help us,
Because they show what can be:
Self-determination and more possibilities.
(tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame)
I must have conversation.
Teach me literacy.
It will set my conversation free.
You must introduce mentors to me.
And of course role models with help me
Because they show what can be
Self-determination and more possibilities.
Come and hang out with me, I
Talk with technology.
People call it AAC, you know,
It gives me a strong voice and although
You may think perhaps it cannot be,
I’ll show you and you’ll see,
Conversation works very well with my A-A-C.
A-A-C is just ways to
Choose, discuss, and to chat.
If perhaps speaking is hard, you see,
Then alternatives may be the key,
And with pointing, signing or typing,
Eye-gaze or switches to press
Conversation happens and takes away lots of stress.
Who you ask needs A-A-C?
Many people you see
Anyone who tries and cannot find
How to speak to say what’s on their mind.
You must never doubt that A-A-C
Sets thoughts and feelings free.
A-A-C conversation gets better with literacy.
One last thing that you must know,
Hear us before we go.
Yes, everyone does communicate.
Listen well and facilitate.
And then silence won’t have to rule ‘cause
People have A-A-C.
You can make a difference presuming competence.
So yes . . .
We all need conversation.
We need literacy.
Yes, conversation can set us free.
Mentors also help both you and me.
And of course role models can help us,
Because they show what can be:
Self-determination and more possibilities.
Song: Yankee Doodle AAC Advocate: Communication Rights (short version)
Here are lyrics I wrote in honor of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, using the George M. Cohan tune (which is now in the public domain). Anyone who wishes to use them is welcome to do so. I would love to hear of any occasions when they are sung.
Yankee Doodle AAC Advocate: Communication Rights Song (tune: I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy)
I’m a Yankee Doodle Advocate,
A Yankee Doodle do or die,
A real campaigner for the ADA
Signed in the month of July.
I’ve got a Yankee Doodle vision
For the future, you will see:
Self-determination and communication freedom.
We must campaign for A-A-C.
Everyone needs to communicate
And needs literacy, too.
A conversation helps to set us free.
Mentors help both you and me.
We know that role models can show us
Endless possibilities:
Self-determination and communication freedom,
They are a right for you and me.
Yankee Doodle AAC Advocate: Communication Rights Song (tune: I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy)
I’m a Yankee Doodle Advocate,
A Yankee Doodle do or die,
A real campaigner for the ADA
Signed in the month of July.
I’ve got a Yankee Doodle vision
For the future, you will see:
Self-determination and communication freedom.
We must campaign for A-A-C.
Everyone needs to communicate
And needs literacy, too.
A conversation helps to set us free.
Mentors help both you and me.
We know that role models can show us
Endless possibilities:
Self-determination and communication freedom,
They are a right for you and me.
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