In the spring of 2000, after weeks of working with Regional Sales Consultant Laura Casson, Norma Rodriguez decided that the Gemini from Assistive Technology, Inc. was the right Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device for her daughter Neyda. Neyda was eight years old and her cerebral palsy made it difficult for her to communicate at home and at school. She needed a device that was portable enough for her to carry, durable enough to handle the travel and accessible enough for her to use with ease. The Gemini fit all the necessary criteria and so the Rodriguez family set about getting Neyda's Texas Medicaid insurance to cover the cost of the device.
The original authorization request was sent to Medicaid in April. After months and months of waiting for a reply, Norma received a letter back from the agency, asking for additional information about the Gemini. Norma sent another letter to Medicaid, describing the device in detail and the reasons why it was the best device for Neyda.
Both at home and at school, Neyda required a way to express her thoughts, feelings and needs. She also needed a device to help her write her schoolwork each day - something that would grow increasingly important as Neyda got older. The Gemini provided the right amount of flexibility and power for her. The device's range of input options was essential. Neyda needed a device where she could use a keyboard and mouse, or a touchscreen. The Gemini's significant speaker volume was necessary so Neyda could be heard when she spoke her needs. The dynamic display and portability would ensure that Neyda could see the device's screen wherever she took it.
More months passed, and Medicaid finally made a decision in January 2001. Neyda's Gemini would not be covered by her insurance.
Undeterred, Norma began the fight against this verdict. With help from the Protection and Advocacy Center, Norma began lobbying Texas Medicaid to reconsider Neyda's plea.
By August of that year, Norma had succeeded in overturning the decision and Neyda had her Gemini. Medicaid was billed, and the claim was paid.
"The Gemini is Neyda's first communication device, and it's helping her a lot. She's had it for about six months now and she uses it in her class every day. At home, she can finally tell me what she wants," says Norma.
Now, at age 11 and in fourth grade, Neyda's favorite pastimes are listening to music and writing novels. By opening the music board, she can tell others what CDs she wants to listen to, whether it's Britney Spears, *NSYNC, or Spanish music (Neyda is bilingual). She uses the touchscreen to say what she wants and then she opens the Apple Audio CD player to select which song she's in the mood to hear.
By using her mouse and keyboard, Neyda writes her own stories in Speaking Dynamically™ Pro. The software's word prediction feature helps speed things up, and she can even save her work or open up previous stories from the same screen.
When she's not busy typing out stories, Neyda loves to play Bugdom, a game that comes on every Gemini or Gemini SE. With her mouse and touchscreen, she navigates her way through a garden, gaining points and avoiding obstacles… A struggle that Neyda wins both onscreen and in life.
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