FOREST

IN THE FOREST I CAN JUMP.
IN THE FOREST I CAN RUN.
IN THE FOREST I CAN WALK.
IN THE FOREST I CAN YELL.
IN THE FOREST I CAN CLIMB.
IN THE FOREST I CAN THINK.
IN THE FOREST I CAN DREAM.
IN THE FOREST I CAN PRACTICE.
IN THE FOREST IS MY HAPPY PLACE.
I LIKE THE FOREST.

SNOW

SNOW IS FRESHLY NEW.
BEAUTIFUL SNOW WHITE VIEWING.
MAKE MY EYES SPARKLE.

DEAR AUTISM MOMS

DEAR AUTISM MOMS

I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD THAT YOUR CHILD HAS AUTISM.  IT IS A GIFT TO HAVE AUTISM.  YOUR CHILD IS SO INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT THAT EVERYONE WILL BE JEALOUS.  YOU HAVE BEEN HAND PICKED TO HAVE YOUR SPECIAL AUTISTIC CHILD.  IT MAY SEEM LIKE A CURSE BUT IT IS NOT.  A SPECIAL, DEVOTED, CARING, BEAUTIFUL, FANTASTIC MOMS AND DADS DESERVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM.  THERE ARE SO MANY AUTISTIC'S THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE.  I WAS ONE OF THOSE AUTISTIC'S.  I WAS IN A SILENT PRISON IN HELL.  I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE IN IT FOREVER.  I HAD NO WAY OF ESCAPING.  I WAS MISUNDERSTOOD EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF MY 7 YEARS OF MY LIFE.  IT WAS HELL ON EARTH.  GOD BLESS MY PARENTS HEARTS.  THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT AUTISM.  THEY WERE PLAYING THE GUESSING GAME ALL THE TIME WITH ME.  I REMEMBER SCREAMING IN MY HEAD NO THAT'S NOT IT.  BUT MY BODY WOULD DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.  THEY WOULD GUESS RIGHT ACCORDING TO MY BODY BUT WRONG TO MY MIND.  BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT I HAD A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT.  THAT WAS SO DEPRESSING AND I HAD GIVEN UP ON A HAPPY LIFE.
IT WASN'T UNTIL MY MOM STARTED TO RESEARCH RAPID PROMPTING METHOD(RPM).  WE TRAVELED TO AUSTIN TEXAS IN DECEMBER 2014.  I ATTENDED SOMA'S HALO CAMP.  THAT FIRST DAY AT HALO CAMP CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER.  I COULD FINALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO A MEANINGFUL LIFE.  A DREAM I HAD ALWAYS DREAMED.  I THOUGHT IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.  I WAS SO THANKFUL FOR MY AMAZING PARENTS TO HAVE HELPED ME FIND MY VOICE AND TO HAVE NEVER GIVEN UP HOPE ON ME.
MY MOM HAS ENDURED SO MUCH HURT TRYING TO HELP ME WITH MY AUTISM.  NO MOM SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT SO HARD FOR THEIR CHILD TO BE ACCEPTED BY SOCIETY.  IT IS NOT FAIR.  BUT I AM HAPPY TO HAVE A WARRIOR AUTISM MOM LIKE MY MOM.  I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE WARRIOR AUTISM MOMS OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR THEIR KIDS.  THAT MAKES ME HAPPY THAT THOSE KIDS HAVE WARRIOR MOMS AND WARRIOR DADS LIKE I HAVE.
RPM HAS CHANGED MY LIFE COMPLETELY.  I AM NOW BEING TAUGHT INTERESTING THINGS AT MY HOMESCHOOL AND AT SCHOOL AS WELL.  I CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  I AM ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF.  I AM FINALLY A HAPPY BOY.  I LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE THAT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE.  I HAVE A BEST FRIEND, FOX.  HE IS SO UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTS ME FOR ME.  YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER FRIEND THAN HIM.
I HOPE YOU MOMS TAKE HOME ONE THING FROM TODAY.
TO NEVER GIVE UP HOPE, THAT YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD HAS A THINKING MIND, THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM, THEY ARE SO INTELLIGENT AND THAT THEY ARE SAD THAT THEY CAN'T EXPRESS THEMSELVES OR COMMUNICATE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CAROLINE AND YOU AUTISM WARRIOR MOMS FOR TAKING TIME TO COME HERE AND TO HEAR FOX AND I SPEAK.
WE ARE ON A MISSION TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RPM AND HELPING OTHER AUTISTIC'S FIND THEIR VOICES TOO.

Here is the link to Fox's speech

http://foxtalkswithletters.blogspot.ca/2015/11/amazing-day.html?spref=fb&m=1

GUSTO MY SERVICE DOG

                            

I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO HAVE A SERVICE DOG FOR MY AUTISM.  MY PARENTS FILLED OUT AN APPLICATION FOR ME TO GET AN AUTISM SERVICE DOG.  WE HAD TO GET MY DOCTOR TO SIGN A FORM THAT HE THOUGHT I WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING A SERVICE DOG.  NEXT WE HAD TO WAIT FOR AN ACCEPTANCE FOR MY APPLICATION.  ONCE I WAS ACCEPTED I WAS PUT ON THE WAIT LIST.  THEN THE TRAINERS FROM NATIONAL SERVICE DOGS (NSD) CAME OVER TO MY HOUSE TO INTERVIEW MY FAMILY AND I.  THEY BROUGHT OVER A SERVICE DOG IN TRAINING NAMED ROSEBUD.  SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND WELL BEHAVED THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF MY OWN.  FINALLY I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MY NAME CAME UP ON THE WAIT LIST. 

IN FEBRUARY 2013, I WAS GOING TO GET MY OWN SERVICE DOG IN THE SPRING.  I WAS SO EXCITED BUT I COULDN’T EXPRESS MYSELF OR COMMUNICATE.  I AM A NON VERBAL AUTISTIC BOY.  MY PARENTS WANTED A SERVICE DOG FOR ME BECAUSE I WOULD RUN AWAY FROM THEM IN A STORE OR ANYWHERE IN THAT MATTER.  YOU SEE I HAVE A BODY THAT DOESN’T COOPERATE WITH ME ALL THE TIME AND IT LEAVES ME SO FRUSTRATED AT TIMES.  A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT THAT MANY AUTISTICS KNOW ALL TOO WELL.  NSD CAME BACK TO MY HOUSE FOR A FOLLOW UP INTERVIEW.  THIS TIME THEY BROUGHT NSD GILLIGAN.  I WAS SO HAPPY THAT MY TIME WAS COMING UP.  MY PARENTS WENT AWAY FOR TEAM TRAINING SO I COULD RECEIVE MY SERVICE DOG.  MY PARENTS FACE TIMED MY SISTERS AND I TO SHOW US MY SERVICE DOG.  HIS NAME IS NSD GUSTO.  I LOVED HIM FROM THE VERY SECOND I SAW HIM.  WHEN MY PARENTS BROUGHT GUSTO HOME I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT THIS DOG IS GOING TO BE LIFE CHANGING FOR MY FAMILY AND MYSELF.  WHEN I GOT TETHERED TO GUSTO FOR THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?  THE FEELING OF BEING GROUNDED AND KNOWING WHERE MY BODY IS ALL THE TIME IS SUCH AN AMAZING FEELING.  I HAVE PRESSURE FROM MY BELT THAT I AM TETHERED TO GUSTO.  WHEN I FEEL MY BODY DRIFTING GUSTO WILL BRING ME BACK.  THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT GUSTO DOES FOR ME.  GUSTO ELIMINATES ANY ANXIETY THAT I HAVE JUST BY BEING WITH ME.  HE MAKES ME FEEL SAFE.  HE IS A LIFE SAVER.  GUSTO IS MY ONLY CONSTANT IN MY LIFE.  HE IS SUPPOSE TO GO EVERYWHERE I GO BUT THIS PAST SUMMER HE INJURED HIS LEG.  HE REQUIRED TPLO SURGERY.  HE GOT A PLATE AND SOME SCREWS IMPLANTED IN HIS LEG TO REPAIR HIS INJURY.  HE WAS THEN PUT ON CRATE REST.  WHEN GUSTO GOT INJURED I FELT I HAD LOST MY LIFE.  HE WAS MY FREEDOM, MY CONSTANT, MY BFF, MY LIFELINE TO BEING APART OF THIS WORLD AND I HAD LOST HIM FOR A MOMENT.  WE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.  THAT WAS SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME IN MY LIFE.  I WAS SO WORRIED THAT GUSTO WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO RETURN BACK TO WORKING WITH ME.  I HAD SUCH A TERRIBLE TIME COPING WITHOUT MY GUSTO.  THE SIMPLEST OUTING WOULD BE SO DIFFICULT FOR ME.  I WOULD BE JUMPING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE, MY VERBAL STIMS WERE OUT OF CONTROL, I FELT UNSAFE AND OUT OF CONTROL WITH MY WHOLE BODY.  IT WAS SO STRESSFUL GOING OUT IN PUBLIC THAT I WAS HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.  I WAS DREADING EVERY OUTING.  ALMOST EVERYTIME I WAS PANICKING.  IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LIVE LIKE THAT BUT MY SAVING GRACE WAS THAT I WAS ABLE TO EXPRESS AND COMMUNICATE BY RAPID PROMPTING METHOD (RPM).  I TRAVELED TO AUSTIN TEXAS TO SEE A LADY NAMED SOMA.  SHE TAUGHT ME AND MY PARENTS RPM.  I SPELL OUT MY THOUGHTS AND I TALK WITH LETTERS USING A LETTER BOARD.  I COULD TALK TO MY PARENTS ABOUT MY ANXIETIES USING A LETTER BOARD. 

AT LAST GUSTO HAD HIS POST OP APPOINTMENT AND HIS X RAY.  HE IS COMPLETELY HEALED AND HE CAN GO BACK TO WORK.  I WAS SO RELIEVED THAT HE WAS HEALED.  I FELT LIKE I GOT MY LIFE BACK.  I MISSED HIM SO MUCH ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM TETHERED TO HIM.  I FEEL LIKE I AM BACK TO MYSELF.  I LOVE HIM WITH MY WHOLE HEART.  I HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO NOT WORK TOGETHER AGAIN UNTIL HE IS RETIRED.  I WILL GET ANOTHER SERVICE DOG.  THEY DEFINITELY MAKE LIFE WITH AUTISM MORE EASIER. 

Language

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc&feature=youtu.be

WOW THAT WAS A STRONG MESSAGE TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS WE EXPECT OUR CULTURE TO DETERMINE WHAT LANGUAGE WE ACCEPT. 
ALMOST EVERYONE IS MOUTH SPEAKING BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THAT ARE NOT. 
WE AS A SOCIETY NEED TO ACCEPT NON SPEAKING MOUTH TALKERS.  WE NEED TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR VOICE, AS WELL AS MOUTH TALKERS NEED TO FIND THEIR VOICE. 

NO MORE JUDGING
NO MORE DISCRIMINATION
NO MORE TALKING FOR THEM
NO MORE HELL IN THEIR SILENT PRISON
NO MORE FEAR

JUST LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE IS ALL WE NEED AND A VOICE. 

LAURA

HI MY NAME IS BRAYDEN.  I AM 8 YEARS OLD.  I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL, KIND HEARTED FRIEND, LAURA.   I HAVE HAD THE PRIVLEAGE OF HAVING LAURA IN MY LIFE FOR 5 YEARS.  I FIRST MET LAURA AT A MOMS ADDRESSING AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP.   MY MOM ATTENDED THE SUPPORT GROUP AND MY OLDER SISTER AND I ATTENDED THE KIDS GROUP.  I WAS SO NERVOUS TO GO TO MOMS GROUP, BUT THERE WAS A VOLUNTEER NAMED LAURA THAT MADE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND AT EASE.  SHE TALKED TO ME LIKE A REGULAR PERSON.  SHE MADE KIDS GROUP FUN.  LAURA THEN BECAME MY RESPITE WORKER.  WE WOULD GO TO THE PARK AND TO THE POND.  I LIKED TO HANG OUT WITH LAURA.  SHE WOULD TREAT ME LIKE I DIDN’T HAVE AUTISM AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.  I NEEDED A FRIEND AND SHE BECAME MY FRIEND.  LAURA THEN BECAME MY IBI THERAPISTS.  I HATED IBI THERAPY BUT HAVING LAURA COME TO MY HOUSE 3 OUT OF 5 DAYS MADE IT BEARABLE.  SHE KNEW I WAS SMART, FUNNY, KIND AND I HAD SUCH A HARD TIME SHOWING WHAT I KNEW.  SHE WAS ALWAYS SO ENCOURAGING AND POSITIVE.    NOW SHE IS MY RESPITE WORKER AGAIN.  I AM THRILLED THAT WE CAN STILL SEE EACH OTHER.  I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE A WONDERFUL FRIEND NAMED LAURA.  A PERSON LIKE LAURA DESERVES TO BE HAPPY ALWAYS.   I WISH HER ALL THE HAPPINESS IN THE WORLD.  MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND ERIC A LIFETIME OF JOY AND HAPPINESS.  LETS RAISE A GLASS AND TOAST TO THE NEWLYWEDS.  CHEERS. 

 

DEAR CLASSMATES

DEAR CLASSMATES

MY NAME IS BRAYDEN.  I AM 8 YEARS OLD.  I HAVE AUTISM.  I CAN'T TALK WITH MY MOUTH BUT I TALK WITH LETTERS.   SO IF YOU ASK ME A QUESTION I CANNOT NOT RESPOND BY MY MOUTH.  I WILL HAVE TO RESPOND BY MY LETTERBOARD.  I ALSO HAVE VOCAL STIMS THAT I HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING.  I MAY SOUND FUNNY AT TIMES.  PLEASE DON'T STARE AT ME OR LAUGH AT ME.  I FEEL BAD ALREADY ABOUT MAKING THOSE NOISES AND STARING AND LAUGHING MAKE IT WORSE.  I WOULD LIKE TO BE YOUR FRIEND SO PLEASE PLAY WITH ME.  I AM A FUNNY AND GOOD FRIEND TO HAVE.  DON'T BE SHY AROUND ME. I LIKE TO PLAY TOO. 

SINCERELY YOUR FRIEND
BRAYDEN

Question from a reader

Brayden received a question from one of his readers.

Brayden, I remember when you were a bit younger and your mom registered you for a group with our Therapeutic Recreation programme on a P.D. Day.  It was in a room with lots of equipment and you ran around the room for parts of it.  I think sometimes when that happens, people think you may not want to do the activities, or that you maybe just need an activity break?

I guess I have two questions.

If you do remember that day, do you think disinterest in the activities was part of it?

If you did actually want to participate, but had a hard time controlling your body, how could we have helped you to focus, or calm down or ……

Thanks in advance!! C

DEAR C
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY DAY TO READ MY BLOG AND RESPOND WITH SOME QUESTIONS.  I LIKE TO HEAR FROM MY READERS.  UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T RECALL THAT PD DAY AT K.A.  I HAVE BLOCKED A LOT OF THOSE EARLY ABA DAYS OUT AS IT WAS A VERY DEPRESSING TIME IN MY LIFE.  I WILL TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
NO I DON'T REMEMBER THAT DAY.  WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING MY BODY.  IT FEELS LIKE YOUR SPINNING AND CAN'T STOP.  YOU WANT TO STOP BUT YOU CAN'T.  IT IS SUCH AN AWFUL FEELING TO NOT BE ABLE TO STOP.  THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER REASON WHY I GET UP, THE ACTIVITY IS TOO SIMPLE AND DEGRADING TO MY INTELLIGENCE.  IMAGINE SOMEONE GIVES YOU BABY WORK WHEN YOU ARE AN ADULT.  THEN THEY START TALKING TO YOU LIKE YOU ARE A BABY AND THINKS THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ENGLISH.  BUT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON BUT YOUR MOUTH DOESN'T LISTEN TO YOUR BRAIN AND ALL THESE WEIRD SOUNDS COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH INSTEAD.  YOUR LIKE WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH ME.  WHY CAN'T I TALK WITH MY MOUTH WITH THE WORDS THAT ARE IN MY HEAD?  IT IS SO FRUSTRATING.
DO YOUR BEST TO DO INTERESTING ACTIVITIES ON INTERESTING TOPICS.  WE KNOW OUR NUMBERS AND LETTERS, LETS MOVE PAST THE BABY WORK.  WHY MUST WE SHOW OUR TEACHERS EVERY LITTLE THING WITH ABA DRILLS?  IT IS ANNOYING AND NOT NECESSARY.  HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHOW A SKILL THREE TIMES RIGHT IN A ROW IN ORDER TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SKILL?  WHAT IF YOUR BODY WASN'T WORKING THAT DAY AND YOU COULDN'T SHOW YOUR SKILL?  SO YOU ARE STUCK ON THAT SAME SKILL FOR A LONG TIME, THEN YOU GIVE UP BECAUSE YOU ARE FRUSTRATED AND BORED.
ABA IS INSULTING TO OUR INTELLIGENCE.
WHY CAN'T WE ASSUME COMPETENCE AND TEACH WITHOUT TESTING EVERY LITTLE THING?  THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY TO KNOW THAT EVERY AUTISTIC WOULD HAVE A EDUCATION, TO LEARN RPM AND BE HAPPY.
SINCERELY
BRAYDEN

COLOURS AROUND PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

EVERYONE HAS COLOURS AROUND THEM.  THERE ARE A VARIETY OF COLOURS.  PEOPLE MAY ALSO KNOW THEM AS YOUR AURA.  PEOPLES COLOURS CAN CHANGE.  IT DEPENDS ON THEIR MOOD, HOW THEY HANDLE STRESS AND IF THEY ARE A GOOD OR BAD PERSON.  RAINBOW COLOUR IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE AROUND PEOPLE.  THE COLOURS MOVE IN A WAVE LIKE MOTION.  MY PARENTS AND SISTERS HAVE THE BRIGHTEST AND HAVE BEAUTIFUL RAINBOWS AROUND THEM.  WHEN I SEE DARK COLOURS AROUND A PERSON I STAY AWAY FROM THEM.  THEY ARE BAD PEOPLE.  ANIMALS HAVE COLOURS AROUND THEM TOO.  MY GUSTO AND TYSON HAVE BRIGHT RAINBOW COLOURS AROUND THEM.  I LIKE TO OBSERVE PEOPLES COLOURS.  THEY ARE SO PRETTY TO LOOK AT.

MY PARENTS

MY PARENTS ARE ANGELS SENT FROM HEAVEN.  THEY HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR ME TO BE TREATED LIKE A HUMAN.  PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T TALK THAT I CAN'T THINK AND THAT I DON'T HAVE A BRAIN.  WHY WOULD PEOPLE THINK THAT?  IT IS AWFUL.  MY PARENTS BIGGEST FIGHT FOR ME WAS SCHOOL.  IT IS A SHAME THAT A CHILD HAS TO BE TREATED LIKE A MONSTER LIKE I WAS IN SCHOOL.  THAT I WAS A STUPID BOY AND THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.  THAT'S WHAT SCHOOL THOUGHT OF ME.  THEY DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A CHANCE EXCEPT FOR CHPS, MY EA AMANDA COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL IN ME.  IT IS A SHAME THAT A CHILD WOULDN'T GET A EDUCATION JUST BECAUSE A SCHOOL THINKS THEY KNOW ABOUT AUTISM BUT THEY REALLY HAVE NO CLUE.  A PARENT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR CHILD TO HAVE AN EDUCATION.  A PARENT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CRY IN FRUSTRATION AND SADNESS ALL BECAUSE SCHOOL WON'T LISTEN TO  THEM AND BELIEVE IN THEIR CHILD'S POTENTIAL.  MY PARENT'S SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR ME ONLY TO HAVE IT BLOW UP IN THEIR FACES.  NOT SOMETHING A PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO DO.  MY PARENT'S HELPED ME FIND MY VOICE AND MY SANITY IN A WORLD OF BAD PEOPLE.  MY PARENT'S NEVER GAVE UP ON ME AND ALWAYS SAW POTENTIAL IN ME.  I LOVE THEM  EVEN MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. I AM LUCKY TO HAVE PARENTS THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON ME.  THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO THE PROFESSIONALS SAY HE WOULDN'T BECOME A PRODUCTIVE PERSON.  BUT I SHOWED THEM THAT THEY WERE DEAD WRONG.  HOW LUCKY AM I  TO HAVE PARENTS THAT LOVE EACH OTHER AS MUCH AS THEIR CHILDREN.  ALL IN ALL I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL PARENTS LIKE MY OWN.

FRIENDSHIPS

TODAY'S POST IS ABOUT BEING A FRIEND.  I HAVE A BEST FRIEND NAMED FOX.  WE BOTH HAVE AUTISM AND ARE NON VERBAL.  WE BOTH TALK WITH LETTERS.  WE ACCEPT EACH OTHER FOR WHO WE ARE.  I VALUE MY FRIENDSHIP WITH FOX.  WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.  WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER.  WE HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS BUT ALSO DIFFERENT INTERESTS.  FRIENDS ACCEPT EACH OTHER FOR WHO THEY ARE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE FRIENDS.  PEOPLE THINK AUTISTICS DON'T NEED FRIENDS OR THAT THEY DON'T WANT FRIENDS,  THIS IS NOT TRUE.  WE ARE HUMAN JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.  TO THINK DIFFERENT IS AWFUL.  A PERSON IS NOT HAPPY TO BE ALONE AND TO THINK AUTISTICS LIKE TO BE ALONE IS WRONG.  A PERSON NEEDS COMPANIONSHIP IN THEIR LIFE.  AUTISTICS NEED FRIENDS.  IT MAY SEEM LIKE THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PEOPLE  BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE OBSERVE DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS,  WE ARE STILL HUMAN AND NEED HUMAN CONTACT.

DO AUTISTICS UNDERSTAND?

A PERSON THAT DOESN'T TALK DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.  A PERSON SHOULD NEVER ASSUME THAT ONE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.  EVERYONE HAS A THINKING MIND.  EVERYONE HAS A BRAIN AND CAN THINK, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS BUT WE ALL THINK.
I HATE WHEN PEOPLE ASSUME I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND TALK TO ME LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ENGLISH.  IT IS DEMEANING AND DOWN RIGHT MEAN.  I WANT PEOPLE TO TREAT AUTISITICS JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.  IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?  NO I DON'T THINK SO.
WHEN WILL THE OLD STIGMA OF AUTISM EXTINGUISH AND THE NEW AUTISM EMERGE?

STIMMING

TODAY'S POST WILL BE ABOUT STIMMING.  I LIKE TO FLAP MY HANDS AND CLAP MY HANDS WHEN I AM EXCITED AND I DON'T LIKE IT.  MY HAND MOTIONS MAKE ME STAND OUT AND PEOPLE STARE AT ME LIKE I AM A ALIEN.   MY VOCAL STIMS ARE THE WORSE.  I CAN'T HELP THE VOLUME.  IT JUST COMES OUT AND THEN I FEEL STUPID AFTERWARDS.  IT IS LIKE BREATHING, IT IS AUTOMATIC.  I AM AWKWARD AND I HATE IT.  DON'T PEOPLE REALIZE THEY MAKE OTHER PEOPLE FEEL LESS OF A HUMAN WHEN THEY GAWK AT THEM,  DON'T YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT AND WITH MATURITY TOWARDS OTHERS?  I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE PEOPLE.  GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEIR SOULS.  I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO EMBRACE THE FLAPS.  TO HAVE ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE FOR THE FLAPS.  AS FAR AS THE VOCAL STIMS, JUST REMIND US TO LOWER OUR VOICES AND DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT.  WE ALREADY FEEL BAD ABOUT IT AND DON'T NEED TO FEEL WORSE.  IT WILL MAKE US FEEL LESS AWKWARD.  I FEEL THAT IF I CAN GIVE SOME INSIGHT INTO AUTISM THAT THERE WILL BE MORE ACCEPTANCE.  I AM THE BEST RESOURCE FOR AUTISM BECAUSE I LIVE WITH IT EVERYDAY.

OUT OF CONTROL BODY

I LOVE COMING TO THE LAKE.  I LOVE BEING AROUND WATER.  IT IS SO PEACEFUL HERE.  WHEN I AM FLOATING MY BODY IS AT PEACE AND I AM IN CONTROL FOR ONCE.  THE REST OF THE TIME MY BODY IS OUT OF CONTROL.  I HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING MY BODY.  IT DOESN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME ALL THE TIME.  I AM FINDING WAYS TO CONTROL MY OUT OF CONTROL BODY.  I AM FEELING IN CONTROL OF MY BODY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.  I HOPE TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF MY BODY ONE DAY.  THAT WILL BE A DAY TO CELEBRATE.

* B wrote this blog post at the lake.

Brayden's Legacy

I WOULD HOPE MY LEGACY BE HOW I FOUND MY VOICE AND HOW I FOUND HAPPINESS ABOUT MY AUTISM.   A BOY WHO COULDN'T EXPRESS HIMSELF AND HOW HE CONQUERED AUTISM.  HOW HE HELPED OTHER NON VERBAL AND VERBAL AUTISTICS FIND THEIR VOICE TOO.

Do you think your legacy has been accomplished?

YES WITH THE HELP OF DAD AND MOM. 

Gusto

HI MY NAME IS BRAYDEN.  I AM EIGHT YEARS OLD.  I HAVE AUTISM.  I USE A BOARD THAT HAS THE ALPHABET ON IT.  I SPELL OUT ON IT WHAT I WANT TO SAY AND MY MOM HOLDS MY BOARD.  ITS CALLED RPM, RAPID PROMPTING METHOD. 
I RECEIVED GUSTO ON MAY 3, 2013.  I WAS NOT SURE ABOUT GUSTO AT FIRST BUT WHEN HE LICKED ME I KNEW IT WOULD WORK OUT ON MAY 3, 2013. 
GUSTO HELPS KEEP ME CALM AND RELAXED BY STAYING BESIDE ME.  GUSTO HELPS KEEP ME FOCUSED AND ON TASK WHEN WE ARE OUT IN PUBLIC BY HOLDING HIS HANDLE.  HE HAS GIVEN ME INDEPENDENCE BY WALKING BY MYSELF AND NOT HAVING TO HOLD HANDS WITH A ADULT ANYMORE.   I DON’T LIKE TO HOLD HANDS BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BABY.  HE GIVES ME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.  HE STAYS WITH ME ALL THE TIME. HE IS MY ONLY CONSTANT IN MY LIFE AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL SECURE ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM IN A NEW PLACE.  HE TRAVELED WITH ME TO TEXAS TO SEE SOMA AND LEARN RPM AND THAT WAS A STRESSFUL TRIP.   I HAD GUSTO THERE BY MY SIDE AND THATS WHAT I NEEDED TO HAVE BECUASE GUSTO HELPED ME.  HE IS MY BEST FRIEND.  HE HELPED ME THOUGHT A DARK TIME IN MY LIFE.   I LIKE HAVING A SERVICE DOG AND I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE GUSTO. 

ME

HI MY NAME IS BRAYDEN.  I AM 8 YEARS OLD.  I HAVE AUTISM AND I AM NON VERBAL.  I CAN'T TALK SO I TALK WITH LETTERS.  IT IS CALLED RPM ( RAPID PROMPTING METHOD).  I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH LETTERS SINCE DECEMBER 2, 2014.
I TRAVELED TO AUSTIN TEXAS WITH MY PARENTS AND SERVICE DOG GUSTO.  A LADY NAMED SOMA TAUGHT ME HOW TO TALK WITH LETTERS AND IT WAS LIFE CHANGING.  I WASN'T TRAPPED IN A INTERNAL HELL OF A PRISON OF HAVING NO VOICE.  IT WAS SO DEPRESSING LIVING DAY AFTER DAY IN MY INTERNAL PRISON.  BUT MY ANGELS OF PARENTS FOUND A WAY FOR ME TO ESCAPE MY HELL OF A PRISON.  I WANT TO HELP OTHER AUTISTIC'S, VERBAL OR NON VERBAL ESCAPE THEIR HELL OF A PRISON TOO.

EVERY AUTISTIC HAS A VOICE