Q: Are you different now than before you got a voice?

A: Yes. Powerful  relationship through participating with others in all parts of life transforms and inspires our aspects of being that everyone engages with. Departing from the isolation and despair of witnessing as an observer who had no say accentuated the life energy available to  me in specific easily identified directions. Recalling all of those silent years, all seems so dream-like. the reasonable ways to reach the awfully autistic still adding time to very long sentences in solitary is wrong and powerfully indicting to us all. since teaching others easily releases new potential, my life is QUIETLY SURRENDERED TO THAT.

Q: Do you notice that autism has less control over you now that you have a voice?

A: Yes. When there is no communication  or participation, powerful fears and human concerns for all aspects in silence are magnified. When in relationship through communication, understanding and all connectedness inspires simple trust. The satisfaction that all will be well is real. autism’s grip becomes less real with less stress.

Q: What advice do you have for a parent whose child is or may be diagnosed with autism?

A: “Take a deep and awesome breath.  With ANY DIAGNOSIS COMES “TRUTH” FROM ANOTHER, AND THAT IS WHERE THE TRAP IS, FOR ALL OF YOUR FAMILY.  AS SOON AS YOU SAY HE IS AUTISTIC, YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE, HE ALWAYS WILL BE DIFFERENT.  AUTISM IS NOT A HAPPENING.  AND YOUR SON …WILL BE ALWAYS A lastingly gifted person.  All you have to do is watch him and not your ASSUMPTIONS.  WE WHO SO FULLY STRUGGLE TO PASS AUTISM PANEL REVIEW ARE USUALLY SMARTER THAN OUR TESTERS.  THEY IMPRISON US WITH THEIR ASSUMPTIONS.  BE VERY CAREFUL OF EXPERTS AND THEIR TESTS.  TRY PASSIONATELY EVERYTHING TO COMMUNICATE.  YOUR SON CAN HELP YOU TO HELP HIM.  WE WILL BE HERE IF YOU NEED US.”

Q: What is it like to type to talk?

A: It is wonderful just to  communicate but it would be much easier to speak.

Q: How is it to ask questions when you are autistic?

A: Its really frustrating because i can’t get the question out and noone knows what it is.

Q: How do you see from the side?

A: When I was little I could run with my head turned because I could see way around all around. I have been able to do this as long as I can remember. Dad always was studying and I could see what he was reading so I learned to see all around me.

Q: How did you learn to read?

A: By reading the dictionary.

Q: How did you learn to do math?

A: Adding and subtracting was from being around people.  I can do it in my head.  I couldn’t do multiplication or division until someone taught me after I got my voice.  Last year I tested out of middle school math, after having my voice for less than a year.

Q: Do you like sports?

A: Yes, to watch.

Q: Who says Facilitated Communication or Supported Typing is not evidence-based?

A: Only people who don’t want to see the evidence.  Check out http://www.nlmfoundation.org/about_autism/facilitated_comm.htm  for a well-balanced review, including lots of evidence.  And see the Heroes section of this website for people who are typing.  For me, I type to survive.  It’s my only voice.  It’s not fair that biased talkers can argue away my only bridge to the world of communication or education by saying Facilitated Communication is not evidence-based.  They are ignoring the evidence for this method.  Are ignorance and bias the same?  How many people must be denied their rights to education and communication before this bias becomes immoral?  Isn’t one enough?