Red Aloud Silent e

"Being unable to speak offers up different perspective, I enjoy thinking of unique themes, enticing the right balance necessary to keep the reader embracing my words." -Austin McClendon

Red Aloud Silent e

By Austin McClendon

King vowel sounding block

Found red, lips locked

Born a short e

Growing an r and d

Now sitting silent e

Locked up without a key one lonely day.

Breaking loose was of a snap.

I'll say.

About the time he was two, really true, his color then completely blue. Some often looked at e, reflecting on so arrogantly, why can't you ever speak?

It possibly if really free, places impossible, possibilities, whether meaning to or not, glowing in a tot.

He couldn't ask, although finely tracked, many taking on his task. You got me going with math, any help sweet young lass?

The young lass,

just done with class,

in nice new red running shoes,

wasn't sure what to do.

Often coming in under, wanting more or true hunger, owing honor or deep in wonder, keeping dignity not asunder.

Oh, how he longed to be free.

Quite a while going along, each that he saw, sang the same song,

all

day

long.

He didn't seem to realize right away

what he'd learned on that lonely day.

Then the swollen fear, growing inside, broke out his tears.

Upset he cried,

why oh why did this happen to me?

As easy as can be, faster than one to free, four little sighs released.

The vowel king, was innovative, in his son was fascinated, for he was born a short e, bright cute and real fun e.

Knowing inevitably,

as red learned to speak,

when willing to just reach,

by tapping on the keys

the gift opened up and loosed his defeat.

The vowel king merry man

heard e's pleas

and had a plan.

Just look inside and there is where e found his key.

Red or blue I still love you

and I still see your e.

Now you understand that e's speech is read.

Thank you for hearing me never make a sound.

Sincerely,

Silent e

Austin McClendon is 16 years old and lives in Burleson, Texas. He has autism, and is visually impaired and nonverbal. He is homeschooled by his mom.  He communicates through the use of a letterboard and a keyboard with proloquo. He began RPM in 2011 but did not continue; he has recently resumed to help his keyboard skills. He has excellent receptive language and is a gifted writer with a unique style.  You can read more of Austin's writings on his blog at www.silentesvoice.com.

Aggression Explained

Ms. K writes:

Hi Philip!

I found your blog through The Mighty, and just wanted to start off by saying thanks for sharing your thoughts with the world. 

I have a cousin who has autism and does not speak. He's an adolescent and getting to the point where he has violent behaviors that we're not able to de-escalate or predict easily. For instance, he pinches and hits very often, even when he doesn't appear to be upset at all. Do you have any advice for how to help him reduce these types of behaviors or any insight as to what may be causing him to act this way?

 

Thanks so much and keep it up!

Ms. K

To Ms. K,

I am telling you about aggression. I act aggressive when I feel extremely anxious.  I get anxious in a brand new situation or a stressful time. I have stress when I am not able to properly act to expectations. I go seeking my stims a lot for comfort. Treacherous times come when my stims are not enough to calm me. I try to get away at all costs. I will pull at people's clothes or bang my head. People try to stop me but I don't have the ability until I meet peace again. I understand I hurt people and I hate when I do it. I feel so sorry. To deescalate aggression, attend to making me safe and let me have time to rest. Peace will come again.

Nonverbal people who cannot communicate well have a lot of fear and frustration. They aggress to show their feelings. I was once there. It was a nightmare. I am acting now as an advocate for them. I am teaching people to get learning about RPM (Rapid Prompting Method) and alter people's lives with communication.

From,

Philip

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

Thoughts on Thinking, Reading, Writing, and School

By Philip

I think reading is important bc (because) it is how we hear information best.  I read a lot.  I like to read signs and TV.  I have a hard time reading books bc momentarily I cannot very well handle a book.  Books are hard to handle bc they store information too sedentary.   How you read it, you have to sit still.  When I read I either read it at a glance or ten words at a time.  I need to teach myself to not be too keen to tons of words all at once. It undermines the ability to understand. Before spelling I read my thoughts in my mind.  No small task. No one sees the struggle I have to write my thoughts. Ordering intentions in my swollen limited brain is tiring. I sometimes really want to be normal. I store too much information to peruse carefully now. I have to really work to retrieve my decided thoughts from swirling ideas going on under the talked  out thought. Not being able to stim makes it harder to focus on my thought to spell. I can concentrate better when I can stim and move around.  It is hard to stay on task bc I really get distracted easily.  I want to not like me going after my impulses so much.  I want to be in control of myself better.

I want to write about the need for sage wisdom to teach non verbal Autistics.  Methods of tedeous work such as ABA are ineffective in helping interests develop.  I am weak in learning skills for the real world.  One day each Autistic should decide to understand the neurotypical world.  I think going to school to learn to practice going out into the real world is so important.  We Autistics are not able to understand normal social rules without exposure to normal situations.  I need to monitor myself better.  I am sometimes really mean to people by lashing out at them in my anger and rotten anxiety.  I am immature in my emotions.  I kind of do not walk out my feelings.  They pour out instead.  I am beginning to understand myself better about pouring out my feelings better so that I won't hurt anyone.  I am not strong at controlling impulses.  Impulses to form other kinds of reaching out are strong.  No mention of escaping anxieties.  I have a strong desire for acting to obtain objects that kind of get my attention like leaves and strings.  I am active bc I learn best when I am allowed to move.  Day to day I am peaceful when I finish my writing about life.  Hearing my thoughts come out makes me mirthfully eager to stay in this world and not in Autismland.

 At Big Sis's high school graduation June 29, 2014