Friends Discussing Autism

Today's post was co-written by two best friends, Brayden and Fox, from Ontario, Canada.  Both learned to communicate from Soma Mukhopadhyay using RPM.  They spell their answers on a letterboard.  I am particularly impressed because I met Brayden just this past July at a Buffalo RPM workshop when he was just starting out.  To see him progress this far in just 9 months is astounding!  I believe a big factor in this has been his friendship with Fox, who had been communicating via RPM just a little ahead of him.  The two boys meet weekly to play and talk to each other.  I hope you are inspired as I am by the power and love of this beautiful friendship!  -Lisa

Friends Brayden and Fox

I AM BRAYDEN. I AM EIGHT YEARS OLD. I HAVE TWO SISTERS AND A SERVICE DOG NAMED GUSTO. I CAME UP WITH THIS LIST WITH MY BEST FRIEND FOX. WE BOTH HAVE AUTISM AND ARE NON VERBAL. WE USE RPM TO TALK. WE CAME UP WITH THE MISCONCEPTIONS LIST BECAUSE WE WANTED TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT AUTISM. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME TO HAVE A FRIEND THAT UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE WITH AUTISM. HE ACCEPTS ME FOR WHO I AM INCLUDING MY FLAWS. THATS WHAT GOOD FRIENDS ARE FOR. I ACCEPT HIM FOR WHO HE IS. WE CAN TALK ABOUT AUTISM AND ANYTHING AT ALL REALLY. I AM HAPPY WE ARE BEST FRIENDS. GOOD FRIENDS RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. AUTISM IS A GIFT AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE A BURDEN BUT A BLESSING FROM GOD. LOVE YOUR AUTISTIC AND BELIEVE IN THEM. THEY HAVE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. TREAT US LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. WE HAVE A HARD TIME EXPRESSING OURSELVES AND CONTROLLING OUR BODIES. HELP AUTISTICS FIND THEIR VOICE AND HELP CHANGE THE VIEWS ON AUTISM. CHANGING AUTISM ONE VOICE AT A TIME. I AM FOX. I AM EIGHT YEARS OLD. I LEARNED TO TALK WITH LETTERS LAST MAY. LETTERS ARE MISSING IN LOTS OF AUTISTICS LIVES. MOM TEACHES INTERESTING THINGS TO ME AND I AM WISHING ALL AUTISTICS ARE ABLE TO LEARN INTERESTING THINGS TOO. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AUTISM ALWAYS KEEP HAPPENING. I HOPE THIS LIST HELPS KEEP MISCONCEPTIONS AWAY. I BECAME FRIENDS WITH BRAYDEN AFTER HE STARTED TALKING WITH LETTERS TOO. I LOVE BEING FRIENDS WITH BRAYDEN. HE IS FUN TO TALK TO AND PLAY WITH. TALKING TO SOMEONE WITH AUTISM MAKES EACH DAY MAKE SENSE. THE LIST REALLY SHOWS HOW AUTISM IS MISUNDERSTOOD. I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE OUR LIST. Misconceptions About Autism: B: HAVING A STUPID MIND F: THAT AUTISTICS ARE ALWAYS DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO B: THAT WE CAN'T LEARN F: THAT AUTISTICS ARE NOT ABLE TO ALWAYS UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE TALKING B: THAT AUTISTICS HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR BODIES ALL THE TIME F: THAT AUTISM MEANS WE LEARN A LOT SLOWER THEN EVERYONE ELSE B: THAT AUTISTICS ARE BADLY BEHAVED F: THAT AUTISTICS YELL ON PURPOSE B: THAT AUTISTICS DON'T NEED FRIENDS F: I AM LIKING THAT ONE B: ITS BULL F: BRAYDEN IS A GOOD FRIEND B: YOU'RE A GOOD FRIEND TOO FOX