My Time in Maryland (ICI Conference)

Me and Diego

Two weeks ago I attended ICI in Maryland. ICI means Institute on Communication and Inclusion. Making learning about autistic means to inclusion pleases me. I met Diego, his mom Edlyn, and his helper. It was fun hanging out. One of my favorite days was when I got to type with Michael and Camille. We typed about the ABCs of inclusion. Inclusion is so important. Elizabeth cared about our group and loved what we wrote. I am pleased she wanted to talk with me and held my keyboard even though she never met me before. She had confidence in me and her ability to talk with me.

Me and Elizabeth (practicing independence)

Good meaningful lectures peacefully made me take note of what I would like to achieve too, like doing a talk. I would also like the ability to type more independently. Lots of time and practice needs to be invested to get good. Part of my learning was getting to practice more stressful environments. I want to get better at sitting quietly and not being disruptive. I get mad at myself for being too noisy when stressed. Peace often escapes me in crowds and loud places. I was managing as best I could. Life day to day can be unpredictable. Sometimes I am in more control of my body. Other days I can hardly feel my body. It is the worst feeling to feel weightless. I hate being practically disembodied. It becomes a nightmare. Stimming helps feel my body again.

Part of a big drum circle

On day 1 I could not stay calm. I needed to stim badly to feel my body. Help came from Casey. She gave me a massage and sang to me. Casey saved my day. I sat more calmly after that. On day 2 I had my best day. I loved that I could participate and meet new friends. Making friends was the best part of the conference. I will remember talking to Diego, Michael, Camille, and Elizabeth as the highlight of the week.

Michael, Camille, and Me

ABC's of Inclusion

by Philip, Michael, and Camille

Actual inclusion opens doors.

Be patient with us. 

Caring people make it successful.    

Don't give up.

Excellent expectations. 

Friends, need I say more?    

Give us lots of patient encouragement.

Hear us when we spell. 

In day, talking to friends opens my world.      

Just like typically functioning,need support.

Keep believing in us. 

Learn challenging subjects. 

Must be proud.

No baby talk. 

Open hearts please us.       

Praise our achievements as they are yours as well.

Question your assumptions. 

Remember we are just like you.

Spelling is our way out.

Treat us with respect.  

Understand totally intelligent and eager to learn.

Voices must be heard.      

Wait for us to finish our thoughts. 

Xylophone can't make open words and it still is in the orchestra.

You are needed for our success. 

Zero tolerance for non believers.

Montgomery County's "Real Boys" by Guest Blogger Jack Allnutt

The Real Boys

In 2013, Montgomery County Schools in Maryland approved a pilot program for 5 non verbal boys with autism.  After a full year of meetings and intense advocating on behalf of the parents, the "Real Boys" entered general education classes with a 1:1 aide to help them facilitate communication through typing. All 5 have succeeded and flourished in mainstream classes. By presuming their competence, Montgomery County has forever changed the course of these boys lives.

Jack Allnutt is one of the Real Boys. He is 13 years old and started typing to communicate in November 2012 after being "locked in his silent prison" for 10 years.  Since being mainstreamed, Jack has made Honor Roll every semester. 

By Jack Allnutt

I came casted as a mute farther behind everyone in worldly directions.

Answering eagerly to fast calculus problems that were in my head yet, just seated tiresomely for hours reviewing simple numbers. Rewarded with labeled autistic behavior. How would autism always permanently determine learning when limitless populations of teachers don’t realize our great capacity for knowledge? I peered into windows around school and saw my schoolmates learning history and math and science.  I hoped real education would find a place for me one day answering my prayers.  

Having real classroom learning isn’t foreign to me and the Real Boys anymore. Now I attend Lakelands Middle School and I’m dealing quite well.  Teach subjects I never thought I would know and excelling.  Can’t claim all autistics can type but it has left me free from my apparently silent autism prison. Am too happy people see me as intelligent.

Autism Revolution

I believe the tide is turning in the way we view autism and handle its challenges.  Autistic self-advocates have been leading the way for some time in promoting understanding and acceptance.  Their efforts are slowly but surely starting to catch on with parents and some professionals who have embraced notions of neurodiversity and the presumption of competence.  These parents and professionals have found a new path that is exceedingly more rewarding than the old path merely treating autism as disease and developmental delay.  They have chosen for their children alternative methods of education and communication that respect and work with their child’s unique autistic neurology.

Today Philip typed this to me:  I want to partner with my autistic friends to write a blog about autism.  It should be many voices. 

What a delight this brought my heart!  Philip can speak through his fingers.  He has friends.  He wants to work together with them.  Together with them, he wants to write about autism and teach the world what it is really like!  Haha- isn't this the real Autism Speaks!  Only a few short years ago, I did not think this could be possible!  At the time I had never met a nonverbal child who could communicate beyond simple requests.  Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what I know today.  Today I know the truth.  There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of people who were once thought to be severely cognitively impaired and voiceless, who can actually learn, think deeply, and now express themselves on paper, stencils, letterboards, keyboards, tablets, and computers.  The number of people is growing everyday, but many more still need to be reached.  They need dedicated parents, teachers, and supporters to teach them at their true level of understanding and help accommodate their communication as needed.  This communication is not a cure for autism, but the ability to be heard, understood, and affect one's own destiny brings serenity and alleviates some frustration.  Learning to communicate is a process that takes time and requires hard work and perseverance on the part of both the child and support network.  It can be very trying at times!  Thankfully there is an online community of families and allies who support, encourage, help, and celebrate one another in their journeys of unlocking their children’s voices.  There is good camaraderie among members and dialogue is overwhelmingly hopeful and positive.  It is a marvelous thing and nothing short of revolutionary.  

This month this blog will feature the writings of many of these Autistic children and adults who communicate through spelled or typed words.  Many have learned through well replicated techniques such as Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), Facilitated Communication (FC), or various other Augmentative and Alternative Communications systems (AAC).  A few parents even discovered their own particular technique through intuition and ingenuity.  The method does not matter as long as it works.  What matters most is empowering each person and their families through real and effective communication. This month, Autism Acceptance/ Awareness Month, we band together as a community of Autistic people, families, professionals, and allies to express ourselves in a beautiful array of voices, each with its own unique personality and experience.  The goal of this month is not simply awareness so we can tolerate one another.  The goal is acceptance, so that by each person’s inclusion and appreciation, our world is enhanced and each of our lives enriched by the diversity of thoughts and experiences working together.

MY LIFE AS A GIRL WITH AUTISM

I HAVE A VOICE AS LOUD AS A LION’S ROAR.  

IT IS DEEP DOWN IN ME LIKE A BIRD AFRAID TO LEAVE ITS NEST FOR THE FIRST TIME.  

NEITHER TIME OR LUCK WILL WAKE THIS SLEEPING DRAGON, 

BUT MY KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR HAS ARRIVED TO RESCUE THIS PRINCESS IN DISTRESS.  

RPM HAS AWAKENED MY VOICE LIKE SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKING FROM HER SLUMBER.  ALL MY WORDS LEAVE MY BRAIN LIKE A WATERFALL FLOWING INTO MY FINGER ONTO THE THICK BLACK STENCIL BOARDS.  

SUDDENLY MY HEART FEELS LIKE A LITTLE KID ON CHRISTMAS.  

MY VOICE IS AS IMPORTANT AS A MEANINGFUL POP SONG THE WORLD FALLS IN LOVE WITH.

THIS IS ME AND THESE ARE MY WORDS LOUDER AND MORE FEROCIOUS THAN EVER.

BY

TIFFANY JOY BROSKOSKIE

Age 13

Kenilworth, NJ

(RPM for 1 year)

Mom Debbie and Tiffany