HEED
1-(verb)- to pay attention to, take notice of.
2-(noun)- careful attention
Hearing and observing is not the same as listening and understanding. If we truly wish to know a child, we must HEED them. Individuals with autism and autism related disorders have obvious struggles and challenges, but they also have hopes and dreams, and a strong desire to learn and become self-reliant. At H.E.E.D, we have considerable experience teaching individuals that lack speech and have extreme sensory struggles. We recognize that individuals with such disabilities are already equipped to learn age-appropriate material, but may not be able to demonstrate this ability due to lack of education and the imbalance between motor functions, emotions, and cognitive skills and alternate wiring between sense in the brain. Although your child may now be incapable of expressing herself reliably, our job at H.E.E.D. is to train her motor system to function in synchrony with her mind, thus giving her a “voice”. We believe that your child is the person best qualified to provide insights into her own condition. As your child becomes more proficient at RPM, you will be rewarded with a new understanding of her knowledge and abilities, and the ability to communicate with her through written language.
2-(noun)- careful attention
Hearing and observing is not the same as listening and understanding. If we truly wish to know a child, we must HEED them. Individuals with autism and autism related disorders have obvious struggles and challenges, but they also have hopes and dreams, and a strong desire to learn and become self-reliant. At H.E.E.D, we have considerable experience teaching individuals that lack speech and have extreme sensory struggles. We recognize that individuals with such disabilities are already equipped to learn age-appropriate material, but may not be able to demonstrate this ability due to lack of education and the imbalance between motor functions, emotions, and cognitive skills and alternate wiring between sense in the brain. Although your child may now be incapable of expressing herself reliably, our job at H.E.E.D. is to train her motor system to function in synchrony with her mind, thus giving her a “voice”. We believe that your child is the person best qualified to provide insights into her own condition. As your child becomes more proficient at RPM, you will be rewarded with a new understanding of her knowledge and abilities, and the ability to communicate with her through written language.
Lenae Crandall, Founder of HEED
Lenae Crandall is the Founder and Executive Director of Hope, Expression, and Education for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (HEED), and is certified to teach special education. Lenae graduated from Brigham Young University in special education with a severe/profound emphasis. After completing her student teaching, Lenae spent five years teaching 3rd to 9th graders at a school specifically created for children with disabilities. Most of the students she has worked with have very limited to no speech, and the majority have autism and related conditions. Lenae has also worked with individuals with the following conditions: multiple disabilities, deaf-blind, visual impairments, intellectual disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, and traumatic brain injury.
In 2010, Lenae came across the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), an educational method used to empower the learner to express his/her thoughts, reasoning, and opinions (developed by Soma Mukhopadhyay). She completed the Soma RPM Introductory Course in Summer 2013, and in June 2014 Lenae began interning with HALO clinic directly under Soma Mukhopadhyay. She completed her internship and is now a Soma certified RPM provider. Using this method, Lenae has been able to help students learn far beyond their teacher’s and parent’s expectations and to communicate and express themselves at a level their families previously thought impossible.
Lenae believes strongly in the power of education and the need for EVERY human to access knowledge in order for them to grow, develop, and have a happy/ fulfilling life. She believes communication is powered by education and essential for every human.
In 2010, Lenae came across the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), an educational method used to empower the learner to express his/her thoughts, reasoning, and opinions (developed by Soma Mukhopadhyay). She completed the Soma RPM Introductory Course in Summer 2013, and in June 2014 Lenae began interning with HALO clinic directly under Soma Mukhopadhyay. She completed her internship and is now a Soma certified RPM provider. Using this method, Lenae has been able to help students learn far beyond their teacher’s and parent’s expectations and to communicate and express themselves at a level their families previously thought impossible.
Lenae believes strongly in the power of education and the need for EVERY human to access knowledge in order for them to grow, develop, and have a happy/ fulfilling life. She believes communication is powered by education and essential for every human.
