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Ben on
keyboard!
;
bbbb en
numbers: 1:19
- 1:42
[Char ... I
think he is pointing to bible passages. Numbers. He was looking at
your post specifically on this one.]
Here's a
success story, Char & everyone ... because we need to hear about the ones
where your work is making a difference!
Your note
reminded me of your FC experience with Down Syndrome kids. This past
weekend, we met a man who is going to be our new neighbor across the hall.
He is about 50 yrs. old and has Down Syndrome and Autism. He is one
of those amazing people with those pure, joyful spirits. *And a true
success story* when adult services are implemented with care. He spent
about 12 years in an east coast institution and had little to no
speech. We met his caseworker a few weeks ago. When that institution
was shut down, he was shuffled from group home to group home. He began
speaking after being introduced to a talking letter board! Speech is still
difficult to comprehend, but boy does this guy try hard! Then, the local
assisted living teams from the DMR stepped in. This will be the 2nd
attempt to provide assisted/independent living for him. The
first apt. he was placed in out here was a crack house and he suffered a
lot from that exposure. You know --- users/takers who took advantage
of his giving nature. Anyway, they're putting everything together so that
he can live primarily on his own. This neighborhood isn't too much better,
but we'll look out for each other ;o)
Tom, if you
get out here for that conference, you'll get to meet John. As you put it,
he's a real "hoot!" I walked out front to get the mail this weekend
and there he was sitting on his 3-wheel giant bike. He says "I work at
McDonald's." "I'm waiting for the keys." I told him i
know. [his caseworker had told us a little bit] He works in the same
one where Ben did his conductor bit. lol This guy is SO proud
of his abilities. I'm looking at his tricycle and I notice a couple funny
things. He has a little cooler pack filled with Skittles and M&Ms in
the big basket [he gets 'em wholesale & sells them for a dollar to earn
extra money.] Then he says "I'm quiet, but you might hear my music."
In the basket is this radio - you know those old, old boxy looking big
transistors? With the leather covers? Not the handheld kind ... the
bigger ones. That's what he's got! I haven't seen one of
those things in years. He was listening to a local Oldies station.
:o) Then he says "I got a Section 8" [local housing voucher.]
I was thinking that I hoped the radio didn't break because he'd have a
hard time finding replacement parts. Right then, he says out loud "Well,
i'm getting a new vacuum from [local repair shop] because the old one broke
& cost too much to fix." I mean, this guy just was so trusting and
incredibly sweet. And not a little telepathic! I know you will
know what I mean! I can see why some would take advantage.
He talked about a few other things and promised that he
would meet the children this week. They were in the back yard at the time,
but he wanted to do that later. So! I had to run in the house
with Sarah. And while we did so, Ben walked up to the front gate and
peeked over at John. He waved his "rattle" and made a quiet "E-yo"
sound. It almost sounded like when Ben tries to vocalize
"Eeyore." Well, it will be an interesting summer, i think!
John rides his trike up & down the local busy Avenue, waving at people &
playing his radio when he's not working at McDonald's. And I feel like
we're going to learn quite a bit this year ;o)
So, on that
ramble ... know that every word, every step, every person touched when we put
our experiences out there ... can produce a much better and more loving place
right now and for the future.
Keep on
putting the word out!!!!
XO for the
power of love~
~*~ Ben &
Tink
-----Original Message-----
From:
autismlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:autismlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
cbrandl@xxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 10:28 PM
To:
autismlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Autismlist] Re: Flutie family
faces challenge of autism
Tom
(and everyone),
I remember being at a conference in Illinois where I heard
Jonathon Shestack speak to a very large group about his son Dov. He
agonized over the family's inability to know just what was wrong when Dov was
ill or in pain. At that time, I carried with me a copy of my book,
telling of my personal experiences with FC, but was too shy to approach him. I
KNEW there was a way to "reach" Dov! It was just two years later that my
annual Christmas appeal from CAN told the exciting story of the "breakthrough"
that had occurred. Dov had started to communicate, and (as we might
expect) it was through facilitated communication. For whatever reason,
however, CAN, Dov's family, and Soma and Tito (who were instrumental in making
this happen) have chosen NOT to talk about how things got started.
What about the Fluties? Is there any chance we could introduce
FC into Dougie's life????
And --- why am I such a
wimp?????
Char
>
> From: Tom Smith
<qim@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 2005/07/24 Sun PM 07:23:09 CDT
> To:
Autismlist <autismlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Autismlist]
Fwd: [AutDads] True measure of QB's heart found at home, Flutie family faces
challenge of autism
>
> ''I believe Dougie can understand the
majority of what we're saying to
> him," Doug said. ''I just don't think
he's able to respond.
>
> I think the elder Flutie is making
progress.
>
> Tom
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