RE: Re: Flutie family faces the love in autism~note from Ben

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

---

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

•  Visit your group "autismlist" on the web.
   
•  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   autismlist-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   
•  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

---