Pimp My Space

Just before Easter, I made a major purchase. I wanted a "real" chair, since most of my furniture is made out of wire or can be screwed together with an L-wrench. So I got a giant chair that one can stretch out on and relax. I promised myself, and 文大猊 concurred, that it's worth the investment because I'm going to keep it forever. Anyway, it's more useful than a tatoo...Am I right, or am I right? (click to enlarge any picture)


The chair, however, posed a problem for my tiny apartment. Namely, it started getting a little claustrophobic. Note the two feet between the chair and the couch. I was a bull in a china shop trying to walk around my apartment. Note that the birdcage is in the right corner (covered for the night).
Before:


The table is now in the bottom right corner. Note all the space between the brown chair and table. After:


The rest of the room wasn't much better. Note the two feet between the table and the chair. Before:


The table is in the bottom right corner outside of the frame. Note the room by the door and the space in the middle and bottom right.


I think there is enough space to move the couch up to watch TV with boyfriends. The birds are a little unsure, but what cockatiel doesn't love being more the center of attention? Plus, the new cage location is a good staging area for flights to exotic locations, like the curtain rod, and the top of the big wire shelving unit.

-吴碧芙

IdeaFest: The Re-enactment

"Hi, Can I tell you about my project? I did a research review on the topic of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as an intervention for childhood apraxia of speech. AAC includes sign language, using a computer to talk, or anything that is used for communication, besides natural voice. Childhood apraxia of speech is a developmental disorder that affects the ability of the message to travel from the brain to the muscles to move the articulators, resulting in unintelligible speech.

"For my review I searched a variety of databases for both AAC and childhood apraxia of speech. I found five articles that fit my inclusion criteria. Among all of the articles, there were only a few participants with childhood apraxia of speech, so it was difficult to draw conclusions. I found two systematic reviews that looked at AAC as an intervention for participants with developmental disabilities or autism.

"Although I did not find enough evidence to support AAC as an intervention for childhood apraxia of speech, I did find that the research shows that AAC intervention does not hinder natural speech development. In some cases, AAC improved speech by providing a consistent example of words or phrases. AAC also reduced frustration and negative behaviors and increased communication for some of the participants. More research needs to be done on this topic. Do you have any questions?"

Camera-phone photo courtesy of my poster neighbor and co-grad assistant, who reviewed neuromuscular electrical stimulation for treatment of dysphagia for her topic.

-吴碧芙