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Authentic John

talking through typing

Authentic John

Hello, my name is John

ScanI was really dead to participation in the world until December 10, 2010. On that day, at 7pm, I met Laura Poorman and my life changed. You see, I have suffered with severe autism for all of my 21+ years. Now I can communicate my thoughts, talk to my doctor, begin to learn real advanced schoolwork, and participate with family and friends.

Really, I had that ability all along, but the inability to communicate prevented my engagement. This remains true for many like me. This website is dedicated to them.

I will be adding to this website regularly and inviting others to participate. Special attention will be paid to competence issues and how we measure intelligence. I hope you enjoy this. My own intelligence and that of many others like me has always been there. We need to cure faulty interpretations of autism and get medical research to help us with our neurological wiring.

Thanks for visiting.


P.S. I have just finished writing a new book entitled From Autism’s Tomb: 10 Secrets that Transform Everything, which will be published very soon.

In the book, I reveal life secrets that I discovered in my journey out of the profound Silence that holds us all. These secrets are not just for nonverbals or those on “The Spectrum”; they shape every person’s reality and potential. Yet most of humanity is unaware of them because of the depths of isolation required for discovery. I also share how embracing these discoveries has enabled me to grow from the depths of despair and resignation to a life of gratitude and accomplishment.

For more information about my book, as well as other books, poems, and essays I have written, visit my new website, JohnSmythAuthor.com. (opens in new window)

Authentic John

My Story

imageI missed most of my educational opportunity being placed in “Life-skills” with some others like me and some who are more truly unable to answer the questions. We “learned” the ABCs, how to tell time, and how to count money and listen to stories over and over again, year after year. For two years, I was also in Applied Behavior Therapy and Verbal Behavior Therapy. I’ll write about these experiences in the future. Some of my old friends are still stuck in silence.

The mission of this site is to open a window into the world of disability, especially to our population wrestling autism who are often mislabeled as “low intelligence”. I want to help families and schools connect with our real intelligence, personality and potential.


This site is dedicated to those who are still trapped in the silence of non-communication and their families, and to Laura Poorman, who freed me from the misery of isolation. If I am Helen Keller, Poorman is my Annie Sullivan.

Authentic John

My Essays

My essays share my history, purpose and future. Please take a quick moment to read a few. You might begin with “Behind the Frosted Window“, “Autism“, “A Voice for All“, and my first essay “Story About a Problem“. I write often so please come back. Sign up for my RSS feed. This website will be very active and fill with resources and real experts, including we capable, hidden, excellent thinkers who can sometimes help parents discover solutions to behavioral issues.

My Latest Work

In January 2015 I began college life at Marian University in Indianapolis. As a class assignment, I recently wrote a book
review for Ray Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451, and produced this video trailer to accompany it.

 

Here are some other creations of mine you might find interesting:

Authentic John

My Credo

I am authentic, inspiring, expert about autism and isolation and coming out of it, an advocate for the voiceless, fun, and engaging with everyone.

What I believe wearily, quietly challenges what teachers and administrators and most societal experts appear teaching almost as Gospel truth. I believe that we nonverbal autistics, in the depths queerly and respectfully and quite deeply within the stillness of poverty autism inflicts, appreciate the human condition before God so much more fully than who would assume to quickly lead humanity’s decisions and presume greatness while naked and impoverished.

I trust that who I am born to be as a voice for the voiceless will be heard and will breathe who we are with a dignity of spirit we will awfully miss in the absence of voices like mine.

I agree that all men and women are created equal and are entitled to inalienable rights that professionals should not be able to deny without medical proof of brain damage.

Read more: My Credo

Authentic John

My Blog

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