High Hopes and Expectations

Guest Blog by Rhema

Rhema is 12 years old and communicates using a letter board and her iPad. She has been doing RPM for one year. She loves having tickle-fests with her sister Hope, going for car rides, listening to music, and riding her tandem bicycle. She enjoys doing RPM lessons and studying Bible, poetry, history, science and math. She is thankful for the opportunity to share her thoughts on Philip’s blog. Rhema's adventures can be found on the blog Rhema's Hope.

I LOVE BEING AUTISTIC BECAUSE I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS

I HAVE MY GLORY IN THE LORD

I HAVE GOALS FOR THE FUTURE

I HAVE MY HOPE IN THE LORD

I HAVE FULL HOPE IN GOD

I HAVE HISTORY IN MY FAVOR BECAUSE GOD HAS MY HEART

Growing Up

Guest Blog by Matthew Cuoccio 

Matthew is 25 and lives in Floral Park, NY with his family.  He is friends with another guest blogger Thomas Callahan.  Matthew's progress has been slow, and for awhile he had difficulty writing his thoughts, often just repeating what was said to him.  But his family kept working with him and bringing him to see Soma to help them progress at RPM.  During this past meeting with Soma,  his 4th time seeing her, Matthew decided he wanted to write about a movie.  

Matthew used the entire session to write his movie:

An old house is for sale.

A family moves in as tenants.

There are three children.

They have nice yard to play.

But they can see a small boy running in and out of their rooms.

But parents don’t see him.

They think children are making it up.

Then one night the children see this boy outside playing alone.

But when they go down to join him the boy is gone.

They grow up and look different.

But this boy doesn’t grow up.

Then they stop seeing him.

When we grow up we stop seeing many things.

The End

Soma then asks Matthew if this has happened to him. Has he stopped seeing things now that he has grown up?

“I don’t see colors around people.”

Let Me Spell

Guest Blog by Charles

Hello my name is Charles.  I am non verbal and now I am able to communicate by using RPM so that my voice can be heard.

I am really quite smart and especially funny and amusing.

I am sure people will be amazed that I can spell.

I am so furious to hear that people still need proof that RPM really works to give me a voice to express myself.

Below is a poem I wrote a few weeks ago.

SPELL

SPELLING IS MY TALKING

PEOPLE NEED TO SEE

EVERY FORM OF COMMUNUCATION IS VALID

LET ME SPEAK 

LET ME SPELL

Charles is a 21 year-old college student who lives in north East Midlands in the UK.

A Letter to Philip

Guest Blog by Ryan

From Ryan's Mom:

Ryan and I feel so fortunate to be able to guest blog again on Faith, Hope, and Love…With Autism.  Lisa has been a mentor to me and Philip has been a mentor to Ryan.  We have corresponded with them over the two years since we began RPM.  Lisa was kind enough to share her experiences with me as a new parent starting out with RPM.  She was very encouraging and very selfless in offering assistance and guidance along our journey.  I am honored to call her my friend.

Ryan wanted to write a letter to Philip for his guest post this year.  The letter follows below.

DEAR PHILIP,

I AM WRITING TO THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ME TO START MY OWN BLOG.  HAPPY TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. 

BECAUSE OF HEARING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH BIKE CAMP, REALLY EXCITED TO DO IT MYSELF THIS SUMMER. 

LEARNING TOO MUCH FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES.  PLEASING TO ME THAT YOU GOT TO BE ON TV AND IN THE NEWSPAPER.

                                                            YOUR FRIEND,

                                                                        RYAN

Ryan is nonverbal but has been learning grade-level and above-grade-level academics for more than two years now. Ryan learns by Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), which has also enabled him to learn to communicate his thoughts using a letter board. He loves his family, reading, baseball and his country. He also loves the Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson book series and is interested in learning more about history. Ryan and his mom write a blog at iaminmyhead.com.

Camp ANCHOR

Guest Blog by Thomas

Thomas is 24 and lives on Long Island.  We have an amazing program here called Camp ANCHOR.  ANCHOR is a year round program for children and adults with special needs.  Thomas has been attending ANCHOR's summer camp for the past 12 years along with his two brothers who both started as volunteers.  Through writing with RPM he was able to let us know how much he loves camp and also send a message of thanks to all the kids who volunteer.

"Hey all you ANCHOR enthusiasts...with just one season away, it's time to get pumped for camp.  If Camp ANCHOR is the highlight of your summer, then 'like' this.  

There would not be Camp ANCHOR without the awesome volunteers.  You are very much appreciated.  This summer will be the best one yet.  I hope that you are pumped like I am.  Don't forget to be real and have high expectations.  We will have fun respecting one another and playing tricks on one another.  Don't be afraid of what you don't know and embrace all of the differences."

Thomas

Thomas and a camp volunteer

Autism Acrostic Poem

By EJ

Any idea

Up

Top

In my head

is So right

My heart feels.

                  

EJ is 9 years old and loves animals, cooking, and being outdoors and active.  He enjoys learning, communicating, and working on handwriting with RPM.