BigMouth Camp: Christmas in June in the hills of Victoria
The Big Mouth Camp is a residential camp for school-aged children using speech generating devices and for their families and carers. The primary aim of the camp is for children using the devices to improve their device use and become much more competent communicators in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Big Mouth Camp for 2009 has just finished – and being held in the foothills of Great Dividing Range in mid-winter suited their “White Christmas” perfectly. Jane Farrall, Spectronics’ AAC Support Services Manager, coordinates the camp each year – and has now posted some lovely photos from the camp up onto the
Big Mouth Camp website.
Below are a few comments from Charlene Cullen, who joined Jane and Katie Lyon representing the Spectronics Speechies at the camp this year.
“This was my second year at BMC. Again, it was an experience I will never forget and one I will always treasure. We arrived on Friday and unpacked the truck with all the activities and equipment for the next 5 days. I had a group of three girls and one boy who all had cerebral palsy. They all had wheelchairs but some of them used walkers or walked independently for short distances. They were aged between 5-8 years. It would be fair to say that the kids melted our hearts. They were little legends with their devices and had the best smiles and laughs. One little boy was also a Richmond Tigers supporter like me.
It’s really hard to put into words what the experience is like. I just loved hanging out with the kids and communicating with them and their families. Some fond memories I will treasure:
- one little girl learning my name VERY quickly and calling me and grabbing my hand
- another teen kissing my hand when we said our farewells
- high fives with the young man in our group
- imaginary kicking the footy around on the oval with the Richmond fan
- someone joking with me about my name and writing “cha-grill” on their device
- hugs from parents as they left
- chats by the fire at night
- dancing on the disco floor with everyone
- laughs at the concert
- making Mexican Waves as we participated in the Boxing Day test and trying to get some Barmy Army like chants going
- something that wasn’t rain and some thought was snow, others thought was sleet falling on the last day… whatever it was, I hadn’t seen anything like it – it was cool!”
Big Mouth Camp 2010
For information on plans for the Big Mouth Camp in 2010, contact Jane Farrall by email or on phone (03) 9848 4812