Shifting Focus

 

I find myself with time on my hands and so many stories to share.  When I first started this blog, I was generally keeping things in some sort of chronological order.  Along the way, I have drifted off into a variety of highways and byways, and the order may have gotten completely lost.  Not to worry - Grandma's lessons seem to have some relevance regardless of time or place.  So ---- I am choosing to shift my focus and tell some of my favorite stories, in no particular order.  I hope you find them enjoyable and maybe even enlightening.  Trigger Warning:  Not all of my stories have happy endings.  Life is like that, sad to say.

At the bottom of this posting, there should be a link to one chapter of the book I published in 1999, telling some of my earliest stories related to the use of Facilitated Communication, along with a listing of previous blog postings that featured some of the kids and adults who have been my teachers along the way.  

Quick summary:  When I started teaching in 1966, there were only two labels for the kids in our school:  Educable Mentally Retarded and Trainable Mentally Retarded.  There were no kids labeled "Learning Disabled" and no kids with autism, no kids who couldn't talk or who needed support with activities of daily living.  The former (LD) were either struggling in regular classrooms or mislabeled as EMR.  The latter (autism, non-speaking, or needing more support) were either at home or in a residential institution of some kind.  See?  We really have come quite a ways!

I earned a Master's degree in a pilot program for special education teachers, but got my real education from the kids who passed through my classrooms along the way.  It was not until 1992 that I was introduced to Facilitated Communication and my life was forever changed.  There are now several different methods being used to help non-speakers learn to communicate by means of spelling or typing, and they are all good.  Devices might include alphabet boards, letter stencils, iPads or laptops - and physical support may or may not be included as part of the program.  Whatever it takes, these kids have much to say and we have much to learn.

It has been a bumpy ride for all of us (FC, RPM, S2C - and all related programs that use spelling/typing).  The opposition is strong - just do a Google search or check out Wikipedia to see what I mean.   Keeping this brief, I see three basic issues:  (1) Sometimes there are reports of abuse: (2) Sometimes there are spiritual messages or reports of telepathy; and (3) It is hard for many to accept that these individuals might in fact be thinking, caring human beings capable of learning and feeling much like the rest of us.   I have butted heads with all of these reasons for rejecting the method.  The experiences  have not been pleasant.  I stand firm in my convictions.  These folks are for real.

I have worked with people who have autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and a variety of genetic or chromosomal disorders.  The youngest to use FC with me was four years old and the oldest thus far was in her sixties.  Most important is knowing there are many, many people who can have a better quality of life - along with their families and teachers - if we can help them find a means of communication that works for them.  #PresumeCompetence - Always!

Grandma has learned a lot along the way, and continues to learn something new every day.  Let the stories begin!

To read a chapter from my book:   "Facilitated Communication Case Studies:  SEE US SMART!"

http://www.robbiedeanpress.com/readingroom/rr007.htm#Chapter%2010

Featured "teachers" on my journey:

 L. (3)

http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2017/09/

http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2019/

 http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2020/

Amanda.

http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2021/02/

Nick  B. (3)

N - Attitudes Hurt

http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2017/06/

Nick Guest Blog (#2)

Aaron G (2)

http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2010/10/guest-blog-from-aaron-to-his-friends-at.html

Aaron - Guest Blog (#2)

Roy (2)

Roy - Guest Blog (#1)

http://grandmacharslessonslearned.blogspot.com/2011/09/

"If Only They Could Tell Us"

In my early days of working with children and teens who didn't speak, we "jabberers" used to joke that we'd really be in trouble if these folks could ever talk - and tell stories about US!  And now, I can't wait to hear what they have to say when they have the needed supports.  Today I am going to share a random assortment of very important messages I have received from some of the great people I work with.  It has been over five weeks now since I have met with any of them --- I am very lonely, and my hope is that this might be just what they want me to be doing with all the time I have available to me.

Without identifying anyone, let me just say that these comments come from men and women roughly between the ages of 25 and 65, most of whom have no spoken language at all, and many of whom have had no formal academic instruction in their lives.  Added note:   All of these were shared with me over two years ago.   I apologize to my typing friends for the delay!

Concerning intelligence:
My mind is good.  In my mind I know much more.  I wish my mouth could say what I am thinking
Get more people to see my intelligence.
Please look into getting more people to understand how intelligent we are.
I will tell you that I am very smart.
Just tell more people that we are intelligent.
Please lets talk about knowing much more.
I know so much.  Help me show people.
We all are very smart. Try to make people see how intelligent I really am.

About feelings:
My feelings get out of control.
Hopefully you can read more about the love in our hearts.
Very much I hope we might find love in this world.  Help the world be more loving.
Everyone needs to feel real love, See if some day the time will come that we are all seen as intelligent.
I just think I have so many fears. I am afraid of most new things.
Love is our only hope.  Please help me find hope.
I get so mad because people think I don't know anything.

About movement:
Please understand I have lots of energy. I think you are my best friend because you understand why I need to keep moving.
I want to tell everyone that my body is my enemy.
Please help me be comfortable in my body.  I hate my body because I look crazy.
You need to help me be more in control.

The importance of typing:
I just hope I might be able to keep typing like this.
Free my from my prison.
I hope to type by myself.
Just know I need more typing.
Help me be able to type my thoughts.
I love typing.
I wish we could type all day.
Right now I just need you to type with me every day.
You just need your dear tiny finger helping.
Typing changed my life.

Concerning boredom:
I want you to help me just have more in my life.
I want to know more about just everything.
Just know I hope I might be able to get my life more interesting.
You have to help me have more of a life.
Get more things for me to do.

Respect:
You really give my heart hope.  You see my intelligence  Try to be my helper.
How you think about me can make the difference between life and death. I just need you to see that I have much more to tell you.
Just look into our souls to see how good we really are.

Advocating for others:
Understand that many more people just like me are needing to find their voices. Help them see that typing might open new doors for them.
I just need to be sure people know there are many more people like me.  We all need more opportunities to let you know that we have much to say. Try to imagine other kids like me who look like they don't know much but really have much on their minds. By giving them opportunities to type, you open up lots of doors that have been locked.

And, an added bonus to anyone who has read this far:

Higher level awareness:
Please help me move into the new dimension.
Look into more undertaking of my new dimension.
Please be more loud in telling your story. You must not wait. There are too many people planning to be really bad. The most evil people are in charge of our government.  We might be too late. There are too many evil forces out there. Please more on the evil in the government.  We better work fast because time is running out. 
Just know I might be reading your mind.  Just know you and I have holy powers. I can read your mind, but you cant read mine.
We need to be open to new knowledge.  New knowledge is coming. Be open.
Understand that mighty things for all of us are going to be happening.
Let people know about my ability to read your mind.
Look into more about moving into new dimensions.  Please get hopeful becuz (sic) I might be moving to the fifth dimension. Then I can help more people. I hope to help people learn to love. Understand I might be in the light now.

Guest Blog: More from Nick

 

Dear friends, meet Nick.  Here is his mother's introduction:
 "My son Nick is a thirty year- old Aut artist. We reside in southern Wisconsin, USA. Five years ago Nick was able to communicate with us using FC and is now also using RPM, changing all of our lives forever for the better. He is a synesthete and a compassionate being; he wants others to see him as a whole person and see the gifts of autism, not a disability. He does this through his writings and his art and we have successfully combined both in the form of posters with his quotes on them. My favorite is, "Being able to type is almost like being re-born."
Nick has been drawing since childhood and began painting in earnest over the last few years. His work has run the gamut from caricatures to portraits, city and landscapes to his current favorite- abstracts. The spheres and squares are deeply spiritual works for him, representing the expanding potential of new realms."

By way of explanation, we meet on a weekly basis for about 45 minutes each session.  I provide the physical support he needs to get his thoughts out using Facilitated Communication (my "tiny finger" as he describes it) and Laura and I ask questions for clarification as he types. He orally reads everything he types and can speak enough to give us a hearty YES when he likes what we say or ask. This is a transcript from a recent session:

Hi nick, November 6, 2017  (this part is always typed independently)

Nick: Very big news.

Char: Good news?

N: Very knowing people just love my people to be your people.

Laura: Is somebody joining up with somebody?

N: Believe in my intelligence and your love will very much show. Very much I need your time and your times.

C: Help us understand that.

N: Very much you help me get my thoughts out.

C: Tell us some more.

N: Believe in my intelligence and we can change the world.

L: What will a changed world look like?

N: very many new people are starting to see that people like me are here for the whole world.

C: True. More people are starting to see, but what does that mean?

N: (Laughs wickedly!) very soon I might be moving into the new dimension.

L: How is that going to be different? Will you be different?

N: By now you know that {Name/another FC user} is moving there too.

C: I just wish I knew how to help him. He’s been saying that for awhile.

L: Help us understand how to help you- both of you.

N: Very much I very much love this great dimension.

C: How does this work? You have to explain since you’re the teacher here.

N: Because people are in the third dimension we can not help them.

C: You and {Name} cannot help them?

Nick runs for the bathroom, returns and picks up right where he left off.

L: So you are moving from 3 to 5D?

N: Best is your help to move how I have moved.

L: How have you moved? You are the main example to us.

N: Beautiful outer beings helped me.

L: Please say more about ‘outer beings.’

N: gear up for about hearing that new earth is here.

L: How does that work? Do you help us to rise up so we can help others up to the new earth or new House, as you’ve been saying?

N: Best is if we free ourselves from all fear.

L: To be free of fear is to become full of trust?

N: very true mom.

C: We are all better off if we can see things more positively.  Is there more we need to do to keep going forward?

N: (“Yeah!”) Be very loving.

C: What do we do about bad news?

N: Bad news is just a new way to cause more fear.

L: I felt/heard every word of that before you typed it!

C: Me too. Can we share this?

N: (“Yeah!”)  very many people can be changed if you trust my words.

C: You have built a world following; they will be glad to hear your words. Is there more I can do? Do you want to do a guest blog again?

N: (“Yes!”)

L: He’s been waiting for you to volunteer!

C: You have more to say that you want out there?

N: Be very much in the dimension of love.

C: Help us understand this better in order to be clearer, share better.

N: because I am in the new dimension the world is already very loving.

L: If we give up our fear and can trust, we can go to the new dimension too?

N: (“Yes.”)Now our life is in the old dimensions but soon you will be part of the fifth dimension.

C: So we skip the 4^th. Does that mean that we have to leave some people behind?

N: Because not every body is ready not everyone will move.

L: Those who are fearful or the ones causing it, they are staying?

N: Now understand that all fear is helping people to say that new thinking is dangerous.

L: The ‘new thinking’ would be more loving without fear?

N: (“Yes! Yes! Yes!!”)

C: Who helped you?

N: Very many outer people help us so we can help you.

C: Are other people ready to hear? And who are these others? This is very profound and helpful information. I do think more people are in tune or ready today than ever before.

L: This fits with the notion that a very bad leader will force the rest of us to join together. Tune in or get in tune- to intuit truth. There’s some fun word play happening here.

N: Believe in gearing up because understanding is moving very fast.

C: So you feel optimistic? I’m glad you sound hopeful now when you’d been so worried before.

N: Can I just not ever stop typing with you.

C: I want to keep doing FC with you as long as my tiny finger holds out.

L: Do you want to tell  any more since the clock is ticking down- about a dream or your art or anything else?

N: Mom had a dream that I could get my thoughts out by talking.

C: Do you dream you can talk?

N:  Be sure that I can talk in my dreaming.

L: My dream was actually about the complexity of the Universe with colors and shifting lines and tones and energy. I wonder if you could paint that on that giant canvas.

N: Best for me to paint my own visions.

C: The world needs your visions and those of people like Jeremy who paints auras, and souls and  Alma, the amazing 12 year-old musician in the news last night.

L: We can start to bring out more wonder and banish fear.

N: Best to share those stories.

The end.

Earlier posts from/about Nick:

The Answer is Love

Attitudes Famously Hurt