Assistive device helps Kansas first-grader communicate

Santos Ramirez and Rachel Osborn, first-graders at Jay Shideler Elementary School, are best friends. Rachel described Santos as cool and said he makes her laugh.

A Kansas first-grade student with limited speech because of ataxic cerebral palsy uses a DynaVox Vmax assistive device to help him carry out conversations. The Vmax has become a "second voice" for Santos Ramirez, his mother says. "I just want Santos to have his voice -- whether it be his own and/or the Vmax -- and the opportunity to speak his mind," she said. The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kan.)