Now

By Kaylie

Now

Picking love another useful tool
The love my parents show me is really cool
They never perceived me as autistic only
They treated me nicely

Meeting Soma saved my life
or began my incredible new life

Now I create music
Now I can tell you I'm happy
Now my life has meaning
Now I'm pointing and talking about my feelings

I'm another beautiful person like you
My emotions are really picking love
Our time is precious
I'm pleased love made people believe in me

Now I can make music
Now my baby sister makes me feel loved
Now I'm really more myself
Now I'm educating others

Kaylie is 12 years old and has been using RPM for about 3 years after being inspired by her local friends to give it a try, including Philip.  Since starting RPM, Kaylie has learned to communicate using a Bluetooth keyboard and iPad, has changed schools to our district middle school where she is excelling in her Science and Spanish classes, and has recently started her own blog after lots of encouragement from Philip.  Find Kaylie's blog at www.kayliespeaks.blogspot.com

My Voice

By Umberto

AUTISM IS A HARD LIFE.  MY NAME IS UMBERTO AND I HAVE SEVERE AUTISM.  I AM FIFTEEN YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN SILENT FOR MANY YEARS.  I FOUND MY VOICE WITH SOMA RAPID PROMPT METHOD IN DECEMBER OF 2015.  BEFORE RPM, I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE MY HEAD WITH NO WAY TO SHOW MY INTELLIGENCE TO ANYONE.

         AUTISM IS NOT AN INTELLIGENCE PROBLEM, I WAS LEARNING MY ENTIRE LIFE BUT DIDN’T HAVE THE MOTOR PLANNING TO LET ANYONE KNOW.  I TRIED SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT DIDN’T HELP BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T FOCUS ON MOTOR PLANNING BUT ON REPETITIVE LOW LEVEL ACADEMICS.  I WAS SCARED TO TRY RPM BUT THANKFULLY MY MOTHER INSISTED AND I AM GRATEFUL SHE DID.  I NOW HAVE A VOICE AND A HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

         AUTISM IS MY LIFE.  I AM KIND.  I AM PEACEFUL.  I AM LOVING.  I AM A GOOD SON.  I AM INTELLIGENT.  I AM NOT A BEHAVIOR PROBLEM.  I AM AN EXCELLENT AUTISTIC KID WHO LOVES ALL SUBJECTS IN SCHOOL.  I AM A FRIEND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO STRUGGLE.

         I WISH ALL PEOPLE A VOICE AND A HOPE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE.  SINCERELY - UMBERTO

Umberto started RPM four months ago and is progressing very quickly.  He is thrilled to be studying age appropriate academics and is even more excited to start transitioning to typing on a keyboard with voice output.  Since Umberto’s recent breakthrough with communication, his family is learning a lot about him.  Umberto has a very close relationship with God in which he gained his strength throughout his years of silence.  He is interested in theology, mathematics, science and writing. He has already started writing to encourage others with autism and he hopes to share more of himself as he develops his soon to be blog, Umberto’s Voice.

Progressing Towards Independence

By Philip

I am progressing towards independence. Learning RPM has changed my life. I am never going back to my old life. I was making no progress with ABA. I landed myself in a place where no one saw my potential. I was babysat all day. I left that place to go to a regular school where I am treated like the smart boy I am. Pleasant people and interesting lessons make my days meaningful. Lasting progress now happens in my life. Life is still hard. I still cannot communicate quickly or independently. But I make progress slowly but surely. Patiently I work towards independence. Now I am meaning to write without a person holding my keyboard. I practice every night. I see me targeting the letters better. I love seeing myself get more independent. I am also becoming independent in getting myself ready in the morning. Practicing every day helps me make progress.

Lisa’s note:  Now that Philip is 13, we are really working on helping Philip become more independent.  This is very challenging because he has poor control over his body.  In technical terms, Philip shows elements of dyspraxia, the difficulty in carrying out motor plans because the neural communication between the brain and muscles is impaired.  To be clear, Philip’s brain works just fine.  He knows what he is supposed to do.  But, as Philip has described many times, his body has a hard time obeying his brain.  There is a kind of disconnect.  But this doesn’t mean hope is lost.  I have watched in wonder as Philip has been able to learn new skills these past few years.  I know his communication has been an integral part of his success.  It has given him confidence, connection with others, and a way to process his thoughts and feelings.  Overcoming anxiety has been a big barrier to trying new things, such as bike riding and ice skating, in the past.  Since being able to communicate, he has been able to find the courage to not only try, but succeed.  Enrolling him in programs specifically designed to teach kids with special needs has been so beneficial.  I believe training the muscle memory has been vital in learning bike riding and skating.  I know this kind of practice will help Philip at home too.  We have structured Philip’s days around routines that help him learn the repetitive skills of daily living while still having novelty in learning and dealing with new problems.  We have added extra time in the morning so Philip can get himself ready with less of my assistance, but still with supervision and verbal prompting.  He now does part of his homework with the keyboard on the table, typing independently.  He and his siblings also do chores in the evening.  Philip’s usual chores, done on a rotating schedule, are picking up the family room, bringing his laundry down, taking out the trash, and unloading the dishwasher and sorting the silverware, plates, and bowls.  Everything moves slower, but it is worth it because progress is happening.  It makes me think of my favorite character from Aesop’s fables:  the Tortoise from the Tortoise and the Hare.  As the moral of the story goes, “Slow and steady wins the race.”       

  Philip getting ready to perform at the SABAH ice skating show  

For the Love of Reading

Guest Blog by Chana and Meredith

Chana

From Chana’s mom, Meredith:

I am ashamed to say it, but I had never read a book to my daughter Chana. Well, not since she was a toddler. I gave up reading to her around the age of 3. I just figured she didn’t understand what I was saying and she couldn’t seem to tolerate sitting for a book unless I sang the words.

I am one of those “intense” autism moms. Our non-verbal daughter has received thousands and thousands of hours of therapy... ABA, Floortime, Son-Rise, OT, Speech, PT... you name it... we tried it... And yet, until she turned 14, I had NEVER, EVER -- not even once -- read a “real” book to her.

In the past 20 months, since we started RPM, we have joyously read many NOVELS together. Hundreds and hundreds of pages shared. It is a dream come true, but it took nothing more than my belief that despite a disinterested or even resistant exterior, she really was listening. At first, I followed her around a bit. We built up what Soma calls her “auditory tolerance.”

Now, at the age of 15, Chana can sit intently while I read several chapters in a row, stopping to ask her occasional questions. Less than two years ago, I was sure she couldn’t understand a simple phrase like “The library is open today” and now we go there to pick out books together.

I now know Chana loves non-fiction. Our latest read is “I Am Malala.” We are reading the Young Readers edition since Chana has told me she is not a fan of scary stories or war stories. It is a marvelous book about the bravest of young women. Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. So, for this blog, I asked Chana to fill in a sentence.

The assignment was to change “I am Malala” to “I am like Malala because _____”. Chana’s answer:

I AM LIKE MALALA BECAUSE I MAKE DECISIONS IN FACE OF ANXIETY.

Chana has written about her anxiety many times since starting RPM. She is one of the calmest non-verbal autistic people I have ever met, but she says her anxiety is often deep and overwhelming and it is due to her autism. Thank goodness she now has a way to express it. And thank goodness she can now hear the words of courageous souls like Malala, whose stories of bravery can be her friend in the face of the fear she feels.
I hope all parents of non-verbal children will read to them. Read even if your children don’t show their love of it at first. Read to empower your children! It’s a gift all kids deserve. 

Autistics Deserve a Chance and a Change of Beautiful Heart

By Graciela

Gentle autistics have many feelings talked about in front of them as if they are not present. This must be recognized and stopped. Understanding the autistic experience is hard. Let me try to spell it our for you. I am happy to educate.

First thing you need to know is that autism is not a cognitive disorder. It is a motor based disorder. As a result we can fully understand everything that is being said around us or in front of us. This ought to be burned into everyone’s minds that cares for us. Understanding this one rule really would make a huge difference to our personal opinion of ourselves.

The next thing that must be understood is that life is harder for autistics because they are sensitive to many things that do not effect others as much. For example I am always sensitive to food and am always trying to find a food that does not upset my sensitive stomach. Another thing that is hard for me is the kind of love that is fake. I am able to see through each person’s facade to their core underneath. Have you ever been angry at someone and argued with that person? Have you ever decided to fake the resolution in order to get out of the argument? This is kind of how I feel around people who act like they love me and really do not. This creates really forced relationships that make me stressed to the max.

I understand each and every day that feelings get hurt but autistics have a harder, tougher time moving on. Life is hard for all of us but it is harder for the autistic who feels things so deeply. Getting massively overwhelmed is not an easy thing to deal with. People need to understand that we are not weird but our bodies are under a lot of stress and are hard to control because of the motor disorder.

Beautiful people want to learn more and are ready to get educated but always these people do not insist on learning from the autistic experts and often become miseducated and all confused. Attention must be put on the autistic experience in order for amazing results to happen.

I have formed many opinions about my life and am fortunate to have access to a means of communication that allows me to express myself. I also am always putting my opinions in practice with those who try to understand and love me for who I am. Maybe you can try to love an autistic too. Strength and courage is necessary to get many feelings of rejection put away forever. With more love and support in our lives we can have beautiful memories to keep when things are rough. Learning to love is a gift from God. Put it to good use. Making all of the autistics accepted members of society will make the world a better place for all to live.

Feelings people have currently towards autistics are not acceptable because people are not understanding. Life is too short not to enjoy it. So I am doing my part to raise awareness and promote acceptance for all autistics. Keep analytics out of the discussion and just listen to your heart.

Autism and autistics are here to stay. Putting the effort into education that hones the strengths of autistics is kind of people’s missing link. With better education we can play a bigger role in the world. We are smart and amazing individuals with a lot to offer. Give us a chance to save the world from bias and judgment. 

Graciela Lotharius is an autistic 12 year-old RPMer who enjoys daring others to listen to her powerful words. She is a lively girl who likes to learn and who feels strongly about finding a way to go to a school that will somehow have the ability to dare to keep up with her mind while also embracing her hard to control body. You can find out more about her at her blog Dare To Listen.