Change

Today Philip and I discussed how some changes happen in society.  We contrasted revolutions and grassroots movements.  Revolutions are marked by a sudden change in power in which the powers that be are replaced by another power at the top, often by violent means.  The Bolshevik or Communist Revolution which overthrew the last tsar, is an example.  It's leader Vladimir Lenin, a politician of noble background, was moved by Marxist theory, but he himself was not from the labor class of which he claimed to speak for.  In contrast to revolutions, we looked at grassroots movements, an example being the Civil Rights Movement lead by Martin Luther King Jr.  Grassroots movements are distinctly different because they are formed from the bottom up rather than top-down.  Philip summed it up best by writing with his letterboard, "It is daring by the oppressed."  In grassroots movements, ordinary people come together to influence the change they believe in whole-heartedly, without concern of power or position.  Their passion comes from truly wanting to better the lives of others.

On the topic of change, Philip wrote:

I want to each day so care for each Autistic by establishing RPM as the standard method going to school. Right now the standard is remedial work.  It otherwise is ABA.  ABA is too repetitive and boring.  No demands are made on our intellect, only on our uncooperative bodies.  I escaped this model of education. RPM teaches me something new daily.  RPM is day to day meaningful learning and communication.  I am now in a generation of so-called non-verbals who come to learn RPM to talk with a letterboard.  You should dare to listen to us.  We are not deceitful.  Instead we are really kind and caring.  We are trying to help each other.  You really show care when you dare to meet us where we are learning notable RPM.  

Philip

An outing with Tito Mukhopadhyay during Soma's RPM Workshop in Buffalo.  Many families and professionals were able to learn RPM for their children and clients for the first time.  The kids participating were able to show everyone how smart they are!

                                                            Philip and Tito

Letter to the President

Dear Mr. President,

My name is Philip.  I am writing to tell you that I am autistic and I want to change the way autistics are taught.  Time to listen to autistics.  No stopping us now.  Standard of teaching has to change.  There is too much senseless drills.  There are not interesting subjects fostered.  Sometimes I want to learn with normal kids.  I miss autistic classmates who don’t talk.  They can’t be at my school because they can’t communicate.  I need lots of support to spell thoughts.  Not having a voice is hard.  It is hard to be the only non-speaker in my class.  Not talking is geared to nothing.  Not having a chance to learn is cruel.  Please govern fairly.  We need you to protect our right to happiness too.  

I am really lucky to have learned from Soma.  I mean to help other autistics to learn RPM too.  To start RPM you learn to listen to normal lessons.  You learn to spell answers.  Then you learn to notably spell your thoughts.  I lower myself to help others.  Learning is so important for our success.  

                                                                                                           Yours truly,

                                                                                                           Philip Reyes

Lisa’s addendum:

The morning this letter was written, Philip spelled this request:  Will you look at understanding right gears for reaching out to president for registering RPM as academic model for autistics?

Philip has been able to make a breakthrough into full communication by Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) which he learned from its creator Soma Mukhopadhyay at her HALO Clinic in Austin, Texas.  Prior to RPM, Philip received an education based on Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) from ages 2-10.  At an early age he  was able to learn the building blocks of learning through ABA, but was only able to functionally make simple requests.  By age 4 he had maxed his capacity to progress in ABA and was stuck learning the same things such as letter and coin recognition year after year.   Philip has expressed his mind was intact all along and he has been soaking up knowledge like a sponge.  However, his inability to speak and to control his body well, made him appear as if he knew very little.  As Philip grew older, this only became more frustrating and lead to more difficult behaviors.  

As Philip  mentioned, RPM is a technique that begins with a regular education and presumes the person is intelligent and competent.  As the person becomes proficient in showing what he or she knows by choosing answers from choices, spelling is introduced, and eventually full communication emerges.  Philip now communicates on a letterboard and ipad (emerging).  He has been able to enter the local public middle school where he attends classes with both autistic (speaking) peers and typical students.  Philip is proud of his accomplishments but is not satisfied with being the only one to benefit.  He thinks often of the classmates he left behind at his old school and those around the world who have no effective means to communicate yet.  He has made it his cause to advocate for them so that they may experience the same benefits he has been so fortunate to receive.    

          Letter to President Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4