I can speak Sophianese

The fact that Sophia doesn't say words doesn't mean she doesn't have a language. It took time but I think I'm pretty good at interpreting what she is trying to say. I know when she is playing with the mirror or when she is playing with a hanging toy. I know (most of the time) when she is hungry or when she is tired or when she is uncomfortable. I know all of this because each sounds different, there's a different tone, a different length to it. 

Of course, these are the basics, sort of like Basic Sophianese, maybe Intermediate. I'm still working on more complex things like finding out the exact reason why she is uncomfortable or upset, or the details on why she is laughing so loud. It's a work in process and I hope... no, I will graduate and I will be fluent in Sophianese.

We have tried sign language but Sophia doesn't imitate much, we are not sure she understands the few signs we keep using. I tried the regular icons for communication boards but they don't mean much to her, she does much better with real pictures. The teachers and I have been working on presenting two pictures for Sophia to choose from: two toys or two foods which she understands and sometimes she even goes and looks for the toy in the picture she chose. They show her a picture of my car when it's time to go home and she looks at the door. There's a lot of potential, I'm sure there's a lot of things in that little head of hers and I can't wait to hear what she has to say, we just need a little help and time.

The school approved an iPad and an AAC app for Sophia, There was an evaluation to see what app was the best fit. Unfortunately, it was the end of the school year and for budgeting reasons we didn't get the iPad yet but they assured me it was going to be available for Sophia to use when school starts. In the meantime, I have been working with two words, ALL DONE and MORE, the same words we are starting with when we get the iPad. Once she gets the idea and understands these two choices we can add more.

It's a long process and it requires a lot of patience and dedication but we are getting there, I am getting there, and whether it's with sounds, pictures, an AAC app or actual words, I WILL be fluent in my daughter's language.