I Am Malala

By Philip

Malala is a hero to me. I think she made many courageous acts to get an education and insist on the same right to education for all mankind. I admire how she spoke out against the talk of the mullahs who said it was wrong to educate girls. She followed Allah and the Koran. She ate halal. She did not disobey her religion. The Taliban made up rules to abuse people. The men of the Taliban were the ones applying their religion wrongly. Peace was nowhere to be found under the Taliban. Learning was banned for all girls. Malala would not stop her education or saying the Taliban each day committed terrible injustices. Pakistan was a violent place to live in. Malala risked her life to save the right to go to school. Malala was shot in the head for what she stood for.  But God miraculously saved her. The person who shot her was forgiven. I admire her for letting peace put her mind to good use instead of revenge. Learn from her example, not from terrorists. Malala became even more recognized and brought her cause to the whole world's attention. She spoke at the United Nations. Pakistan passed law to educate all boys and girls. Malala’s power was more power than the terrorists. I am Malala. 

*Lisa's note- Philip has been learning about Malala Yousafzai from her memoir "I Am Malala" and from watching news specials and Malala's speeches.  She is a role model for so many, and I would say especially for Autistic children.  Even though Malala is not Autistic, she made her voice and position heard in a culture that denied women a voice and an education.  The world listened.  Because of her bravery, Malala has been able to affect the change she so passionately believes in.  There are still many Autistic voices needing to be heard in America and all over the world.  We must do all we can to help pave the way towards better methods of communication and accommodation, quality education, opportunities for inclusion, and acceptance of all Autistic people as contributing members of society.  Malala inspires us to bravely speak and act to bring about the change we want to see.     
 

Toilet Training Tips

Hi Philip!

I have an 8 YO son with autism too. His name is E.  E is non-verbal. And he is still not able to communicate. You inspire me to encourage him to communicate with me. Btw, are you half Filipino? I am just starting to read your blog and could not find the answer yet. But I am so excited about the things that I can learn from you. A bunch of Thank you’s for having this blog. You renewed my passion to help E communicate and all the Autism kids. Here is my question for now.

E is not potty trained yet; do you have any advice how he can learn to do it? Again, thank you.

EM

Renton, WA

To EM,

I am half Filipino and half Mexican-American. I mean to tell you some toilet training tips. To make E try to use the bathroom, treat him like his age. I could not stand being treated like a toddler and made to pee for prizes. I did not want attention on me when I used the toilet. My mom used to do a potty song. I hated it because everyone knew I was in the bathroom. No person could train me. I did not want to be like an animal to train. Peace made a giant improvement in my toilet training. Learning going to the toilet happened for me when I was 9. Mom had started RPM lessons. She taught me about the body and how it works. I felt respected as smart and my parents loved me. I really made up my own mind to go on my own. I am the same Philip before and after communication, but I can meet my heard goals now. I wish E and you the best.

From, Philip

Philip's Responses on Movement, Meltdowns, and Stims

Thanks for your questions.  We invite you to keep them coming.  You can private message Philip and me on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/faithhopeloveautism if you want your question anonymous.

AD writes: Hi Philip. My name is AD. I am a student in college learning to do RPM with another really awesome boy who's name is also Philip! I'm just learning so I am not that great yet but sometimes Philip and I have not so great days where he doesn't want to sit and he runs away and I can't get him to keep on learning. Does this mean he does not want to learn or is this something he can't help? What are some things I can do to keep helping him? I read your messages to other people a lot and they are my favorite things to read. Thanks for all your help and advice Philip. You are doing great things for the world, you are like a superhero!

to ms. D, i am glad you wrote. i believe philip is running away because he is having a hard time controlling his body or anxiety. this doesn't mean he wants to stop learning. he wants you to keep teaching patiently. love him enough to follow him if necessary. my mom still has to do this for me. i slowly type still because i move so much. i hope he stays the caring boy to continue rpm. 
sometimes i am needing a break if i get in meltdown. the meltdown comes from pet peeves of people yelling at me or tons of stimuli or emotions. i mean to not be a mean boy in meltdown so its better to leave me safely to rest when in meltdown. move away from me but check on me. i am not wanting to hurt people. mom has learned the hard way. i am ready to work again once i am calm.
from, philip

Hi AD- Here are a couple other previous blog posts which might shed light on a new student/teacher relationship as well.  -Lisa
The Miracle Worker
RPM- Getting Over the Hump

A mom writes: Philip recently wrote about impulses vs. stims. My son has a ton of things that he can stim on and he received new "stim toys" for Christmas, yet he still wants to stim on off limits items like my jewelry (he will get into my jewelry box and scatter it everywhere), my scarves (he received his own scarves for Christmas), cords for electronics, etc. Do you have any suggestions on what we can do about this? We certainly understand the need for stimming, but we would like for him to do it with his own items (not ones that he could possibly damage).

hi. i have been cause of the same problem at my house. i like certain objects that i stim on. i choose them with care. people cannot substitute them easily. many times i look for the same object because my attention is focused on it. i believe not allowing access to the means of obtaining off-limit objects is the best solution. 

In Corrales, New Mexico over Christmas break

Ask Philip

For those of you who don't already know, Philip has a Facebook page in which he writes shorter "status updates" than the ones here on the blog.  You can reach his page at https://www.facebook.com/faithhopeloveautism.

Over the weekend he wrote this update: I pour my heart out in my blog. I put lots of thought into what I write. Please write me about your questions. I would like to answer them. 

So we invite you to ask Philip your questions here or his Facebook page by leaving a comment.  He may not be able to get to them right away, but he wants to try his best to help others understand autism and what it is like to live as he does.

Philip answered 2 questions over the weekend.  

SC writes: Philip, my son 8 year old son Ryan and i have been doing RPM for over a year now. He is doing very well, but he does not seem to enjoy lessons with me as much as I would hope. Lately, I have been having to pick him up to bring him to the table for our lessons. He still does well with the lessons and spelling, but he always points to the timer or tries to escape. Do you have any suggestions on how to encourage him to want to do the lessons with me?

to ms. c, a lot of times my mom has to push me too. i can be not wanting to do work, caring instead to stim. but i am happy she pushes or i would not be where i am today. can you make a lesson on something keanly related to his interests or people who are inspiring? people who inspire me are malala, scientists, presidents, and autistics like ido and naoki. i hope i am able to help. from, philip

LC writes: Love your blog, Philip, and I read it religiously. Thank you for inviting questions...i know you put all your heart into your blog, and I know how much work it takes to type/point each letter of the alphabet, so I always hesitate to ask questions of my autistic heroes (Yourself included). But here is one: what sorts of things might help integrate your senses to facilitate learning? For example, Sydney Edmond uses Irlen lenses, several students have a preference for one color letter board over another color, one friend of mine can be calmed by the smell of lavender essential oil. Am I making a mistaken assumption here that colors and scents help integrate senses? Or are they merely a way to calm an overwhelmed sensory system?

to ms. c, i am answering from my own experience. my senses work without stopping. i do not need integration of my senses. my hearing is too much. i listen well and can locate voices even when mixed. i get a little overwhelmed. i can hear in the next room. i hear noise always. it makes me move to block out noise. the people whom i learn from best let me stim. kind easing talking puts me at peace. i think i have normal sight but i each day get attracted to certain objects and get distracted. for example each day when i see a straw i have to pick it up and twirl it. i mean to make each distraction less. some nice sensations like music, exercise, and water help calm me. i like to smell nice soap. i like a time to teach you about me. from, philip

When asked about whether different colored letter boards helped, Philip replied on his letter board: SOMETIMES I WOULD LIKE TO USE A BLUE LETTERBOARD BECAUSE IT IS MY FAVORITE COLOR. (Btw, he does not have a blue one, but maybe he will get one for his birthday. -Lisa)

Getting ready to go sledding in Angel Fire, New Mexico

An Awkward Problem

By Philip

I am dealing with awkward behaviors all the time. At school I sometimes pace when I should be sitting or I shout out when I should be quiet. People think i am doing it on purpose. I am not. I get caught momentarily mightily by an impulse. My body cannot stop itself. I momentarily lose control. People can plead with me to stop. I want to listen but at times my body won't obey. Ramming against a caring mind is my body. Going near loud noise hurts me literally. I am each day daring hard to fit in.  A tame mind can ease my day. Peace comes day to day from people who accept me at home, school, and church. Popular ideas about autism say we don't care about people.  This is not true. People intimidate me because I cannot talk or act normal. Peacefulness awakens when people understand me and like me.

Pacing is an annoying habit of mine.  I annoy others by walking away and not looking at them. I seem to be rude. People think I am ignoring them. I am listening always and can't concentrate on what you are saying unless I look away. There is no way to help my body stop except by making me sit. I also need to not be made to look at you when you talk to me. 

I shout out to release tension from fear, frustration, or stress. People hate when I yell. I mightily wail that I even hurt my own ears. I have lots more annoying behaviors like smelling people or stealing people’s food and drinks.  Lucky I have mom to put up with me.

Listen openly to me. Please be patient with people like me.  No matter the behavior, we want to be included. I long to be like my brother Carlos. I want to play soccer and be cool too. My goal is to be more courteous and less annoying.

(The following is a response to the question, “What is the difference between an impulse and stim?”)

Impulse is trying to reach for peace momentarily but it is opposite in potential. Peace never comes from acting on impulse. It only brings remorse. Unlike impulses, stims are necessary for living. Stims should be tolerated at times. One day you might learn to appreciate them. Ceasing to stim bodes poorly on my thinking. Lots of thinking happens as I pace, flap, or use another movement. I think stims are healthy but impulses are not. Help me by stopping impulses but allowing stims as long as they do not hurt anyone.

Theory of Everything Review

By Philip

The Theory of Everything ran too short on caring to explain Stephen Hawking's ideas and moments of seeking meaning in motor disease. I think it would have been best to have put more time into exploring into Hawking’s mind and his disease to animate his true nature.  I wish a sheer view were made into his mind to see how his mind really worked even as his body was really not cooperating. I think the wife was lonely because she was made to take care of Hawking a lot. He was a burden. Mrs. Hawking tried to load each problem on assuming Mr. Hawking didn't care he was hard to care for. Take it from me; i know it feels bad to be a burden. I think too much was made of the marriage.  My interest mainly was in his work as a scientist. I was really interested in how he operated with his disease and made peace in life. I was bored through a lot of the love parts. I liked the parts with Stephen’s professor. I would have liked to learn like him. I question Hawking's theories but I like trying to explain unifying theories too. The Theory of Everything is your typical view of Hawking's life. Next time there should be a movie based on his perspective.