HOW WORKING OUT AT THE GYM IS HELPING MY BODY

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A PERSONAL TRAINER NAMED RYAN FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS.  I HAVE BEEN GOING IN ONCE A WEEK FOR ONE HOUR SESSIONS.  I HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE CHANGES IN MY BODY.  I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT I HAVE MORE BODY CONTROL AND MORE BODY AWARENESS.  I CAN FINALLY FEEL WHERE MY BODY IS.  CAN YOU IMAGINE NOT FEELING WHERE YOUR BODY IS AT ALL TIMES,  THAT YOU ARE FLOATING ALL THE TIME.  THAT IS HOW I FELT WHEN I WAS NOT TETHERED TO MY SERVICE DOG GUSTO.  MOVING MY LEGS FELT IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES.  I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T GET TO WHERE I WANTED TO GO.  IT IS SO FRUSTRATING.  I WOULD GRAB THINGS THAT I WASN'T SUPPOSE TO GRAB BUT MY HANDS WOULD STILL GRAB THOSE THINGS.  MAKING PURPOSEFUL MOVEMENTS WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.  THIS WAS SO FRUSTRATING.  HAVING OUTBURSTS WERE THE WORSE.  I WOULD BE SCREAMING AT MYSELF TO STOP BUT THIS OUT OF CONTROL BODY HAD OTHER PLANS.  I WOULD FEEL ASHAMED OF MYSELF AFTERWARDS.   SUCH AWFUL FEELINGS AFTER A MELTDOWN OR OUTBURST.
I AM HAPPY I DON'T HAVE THOSE FEELINGS HARDLY ANYMORE.  I FEEL EMPOWERED WITH MY NOW CONTROLLED BODY.  I CAN NOW HELP MY MOM WITH CHORES.  WHAT AN AMAZING FEELING TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT AROUND THE HOUSE AND IN STORES.
I THINK ALL AUTISTICS SHOULD WORK OUT AND FIND THEIR BODIES.  I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY TRAINER RYAN FOR THE AWESOME WEEKLY WORKOUTS AND THE AWESOME MUSIC TO WORKOUT TO.

BRAYDEN AND HIS TRAINER RYAN

Brayden works out at a local gym through Active Souls Project 

A FATHER AND SON CROTCH LAKE TRIP

I HAD THE MOST AMAZING TIME WITH MY DAD AND PAPA.

I WENT BOATING IN MY PAPA'S NEW BOAT.  I TOOK OVER DRIVING AND SURPRISED MY PAPA.  I WENT CANOEING WITH MY DAD.

THE LAKE IS BEAUTIFUL. 

  I DID ALOT OF SWIMMING.  GUSTO KEPT BRINGING ME STICKS FOR ME TO THROW IN THE LAKE.  SO WE PLAYED ALOT OF CATCH.  HE KEPT ME ENTERTAINED.

I GOT TO WORK ON MY BUSHMAN SKILLS WITH MY DAD.  HE IS REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT NATURE AND BUSHMAN STUFF. 

  I REALLY ENJOYED OUR TIME TOGETHER.

MY TRIP TO CROTCH LAKE

THIS PAST WEEKEND I WENT TO CROTCH LAKE WITH MY FAMILY.

Gusto and I swimming at Crotch Lake

THIS IS MY SECOND TRIP TO CROTCH.  IT IS MAGNIFICENT.  IT IS SO PEACEFUL THERE.  IT IS SO CALMING TO BE AROUND NATURE.  MY BODY FEELS AT PEACE WHEN I AM IN NATURE.  MY FAMILY IS AMAZING AND I GOT TO MEET SOME MORE FAMILY THIS WEEKEND.  I WENT SWIMMING IN THE RAIN WHICH WAS COOL.

The Crotch Lake Family Camping Crew

 

I WENT SWIMMING IN THE RAPIDS AND YOUR REGULAR SWIMMING.  MY PARENTS ALLOWED ME TO HAVE INDEPENDENCE AT CROTCH.  AMAZING FEELING TO DO THINGS ON YOUR OWN.  I GOT TO SWIM IN THE RAPIDS AND WALK UP STREAM ON MY OWN.

 My Gusto and I

 Gusto was getting me to follow him back from the rapids.  I guess he was worried about me swimming in the rain.  I am lucky to have him.  

IT FELT AMAZING TO BE INDEPENDENT.  I REALLY TRY TO BE INDEPENDENT.  ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ADVISE TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT.
I LOVE THE NATURE.  I LOVE THE OUTDOORS.  THE BEST PART OF MY TRIP WAS BEING OUTSIDE IN NATURE.

My guard dog Gusto.

I ALSO LOVED SEEING MY FAMILY HAVING FUN LIKE SWIMMING, DANCING MOM AND SISTERS, JAY PLAYING THE HARMONICA, PAPA PLAYING THE GUITAR AND ALEXIS PLAYING THE HARMONICA.  IT WAS A FANTASTIC CAMPING TRIP.

My fabulous family.

SPEAKING IS HARD

SPEAKING IS HARD FOR ME.  I CAN'T SPEAK THE WORDS THAT ARE IN MY HEAD THROUGH MY MOUTH.  INSTEAD JIBBERISH AND STIM WORDS COME OUT.  I CAN SEE EVERYONE ELSE TALK WITH THEIR MOUTHS WITH NO DIFFICULTY.  I AM ENVIOUS.  I FEEL SO STUCK WITH WORDS ALL THE TIME.

CAN YOU IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH?  IT SEEMS LIKE A PRISON.

I TALK WITH MY HAND.  I SPELL LETTER BY LETTER.  IT IS TIME CONSUMING BUT I HAVE A VOICE.  I DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE FOR SEVEN YEARS.  I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY HAND VOICE.

MY MOM HAS BEEN PRACTICING WITH ME PRONOUNCING LETTERS AND WORDS.  I FEEL HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE ONE DAY THAT I COULD SPEAK WITH MY MOUTH THE WORDS THAT ARE IN MY HEAD.  I BELIEVE IN MYSELF.

THREE BEST FRIENDS

WOW THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST AMAZING WEEK EVER.  I HAD THE PLEASURE TO SPEND WITH TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.  MY MOM HAS PLANNED SOME PRETTY FANTASTIC ADVENTURES TO GO ON.

Ryan, Brayden & Fox

MY ONE BEST FRIEND FOX LIVES IN THE SAME CITY AS MYSELF.  MY OTHER BEST FRIEND RYAN LIVES IN TEXAS.  I NEVER MET RYAN IN PERSON BEFORE THIS WEEK.  WE SKYPE ONCE A WEEK FOR BEST FRIENDS BOOK CLUB.  MEETING RYAN IN PERSON HAS BEEN AMAZING.

Three Best Friends and their Families 

I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE TWO BEST FRIENDS.  I THINK IT IS FANTASTIC THAT RYAN'S FAMILY COULD VISIT US IN CANADA.  I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE TWO BEST FRIENDS.

I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH MY TWO BEST FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.  I GOT TO SPEND TIME OUT IN NATURE WITH MY TWO BEST FRIENDS.  I AM SO THANKFUL TO RYAN'S PARENTS FOR MAKING THIS DREAM TRIP A REALITY.  IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE WEEK WITH MY TWO BEST FRIENDS.

RPM FAMILY PICNIC

I HAD THE PLEASURE TO HAVE A PICNIC WITH MY TWO BEST FRIENDS AND TWO NEW FRIENDS.   I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING PHILIP'S BLOG FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.  HE MADE ME FEEL PROUD TO BE AUTISTIC.  I AM PROUD TO BE WHO I AM.  I ENJOY READING PHILIP'S BLOG.  I AM HAPPY I FINALLY GOT TO MEET HIM IN PERSON.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO TALK TO HIM.  I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE MADE A NEW FRIEND.

 

Philip, Fox, Ryan, Kaylie & Brayden

I ALSO GOT TO MEET KAYLIE.  I ENJOY READING HER BLOG AS WELL.  SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE TYPER.  I AM HAPPY TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH HER.

THE MOMS AND KIDS JOINED IN A CIRCLE OF FRIENDSHIP.  WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE CONVERSATIONS.  I THINK THAT WAS THE BEST OF THE DAY.

I FEEL SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE SPENT A DAY WITH AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.  WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE AMAZING MOMS AND DADS.

MY VIEW ON EDUCATING AUTISITICS

MY FRIEND FOX AND I WERE INVITED TO GIVE SPEECHES TO THE PEEL SCHOOL BOARD.  I WAS SUPER NERVOUS ABOUT TALKING IN FRONT OF EDUCATORS.  I DON’T LIKE BEING WATCHED AND JUDGED BUT THESE EDUCATORS SEEMED TO CARE FOR THEIR STUDENTS.  I HOPE THEY TOOK SOME OF MY WORDS HOME TODAY.

THANKS MOM FOR READING MY SPEECH.  I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSTANT ENCOURAGEMENT.  I LOVE YOU MOM.

HELLO MY NAME IS BRAYDEN.  I AM 9 YEARS OLD.  I AM NON VERBAL  AND I HAVE AUTISM.  I COMMUNICATE BY SPELLING EVERY WORD OUT, LETTER BY LETTER ON AN ALPHABET BOARD OR KEYBOARD.  I TRAVELLED TO TEXAS DECEMBER 2014 TO SEE SOMA AT HALO CAMP TO LEARN RAPID PROMPTING METHOD (RPM).  THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I COULD ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE MY THOUGHTS TO ANYONES.  THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING FOR ME AND FOR MY FAMILY.  YOU SEE I HAD BEEN SILENT FOR 7 YEARS.  I TRIED TO USE MY MOUTH TO SPEAK BUT THAT FAILED ME.  I TRIED TO USE PECS BUT THAT FAILED ME.  I TRIED TO USE PROLOQUO2GO AND THAT FAILED ME TOO.  I TRIED RPM WITH SUCCESS.

I AM HOMESCHOOLED BECAUSE SCHOOL FAILED TO PROVIDE ME A EQUAL EDUCATION LIKE I DESERVE LIKE ANY OTHER CANADIAN IN THIS COUNTRY.  I HAVE BEEN TO FOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS BOTH PUBLIC AND CATHOLIC BOARDS AND THEY WERE ALL THE SAME.  THEY WERE BOTH DISCRIMINATING AGAINST AUTISTICS ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE NON VERBAL.  I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT NOT ALL SCHOOLS ARE BAD.  I HAVE OBSERVED THAT A GOOD SCHOOL IS SOLELY DEPENDENT ON A FANTASTIC PRINCIPAL.  A PRINCIPAL SETS THE TONE FOR THE SCHOOL.  A SCHOOL SHOULD ADAPT TO THE STUDENT.  EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT IN THEIR LEARNING STYLES.  EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN EDUCATION.  THIS IS VITAL ESPECIALLY AUTISTICS.  THERE ARE A MAJORITY OF AUTISTICS THAT ARE THOUGHT TO BE NOT INTELLIGENT.  WHY IS IT PRESUMED THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SPEAK WITH YOUR MOUTH, HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING  YOUR BODY, HAVE A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT, HAVE A HARD TIME COMMUNICATING AND EXPRESSING YOURSELF THAT WE HAVE LOW INTELLIGENCE AND THAT WE DO NOT WANT FRIENDS.  

TAKE ME FOR EXAMPLE.  I KNOW MANY THINGS THAT MOST NINE YEAR OLDS DO NOT KNOW OR EVEN HIGH SCHOOLERS FOR THAT MATTER.  NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.  

CAN YOU IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?  

IF YOU COULDN’T SHOW HOW SMART YOU ACTUALLY ARE?

THAT YOU WERE TAUGHT THE SAME BORING THINGS FOR YEARS.  

ALONG WITH PEOPLE TALKING TO YOU LIKE YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE THAT IS BEING SPOKEN TO YOU.

TO HAVE PEOPLE ASSUME THAT WHAT YOUR BODY IS DOING IS WHAT YOU ACTUALLY MEAN.

THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR AUTISTICS EVERYDAY, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY SECOND OF THEIR LIVES.  THIS NEEDS TO STOP NOW.  THERE NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AUTISM WITH THE EXPERTS, THE AUTISTICS THEMSELVES. PEOPLE NEED TO BE OPEN MINDED ABOUT AUTISM.  START TALKING TO THE NON VERBAL AUTISTICS LIKE REAL HUMANS.  TEACH THEM INTERESTING THINGS.  THEY NEED THEIR MINDS TO BE FUELED WITH KNOWLEDGE.  ASSUME COMPETENCE LIKE THE REST OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASS.  THIS IS KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS.  ANOTHER KEY IS TO GET THEIR VOICE.  RAPID PROMPTING METHOD IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE IF YOU ARE AUTISTIC.  IT HELPS WITH FINE MOTOR AND SELF CONTROL.  IT ALSO HELPS THEM COMMUNICATE AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES THAT WORKS 100% OF THE TIME.  THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING OUR MONEY AND TIME TO GIVE AUTISTICS THEIR VOICE.  AUTISTICS NEED GREAT ADVOCATES TO HELP THEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

BRAYDEN

Here is Fox's speech.

Fox & Brayden after presenting their speeches this morning.

AUTISTICS ARE NOT LOST CHILDREN

I AM A BOY NOT AN ANIMAL!  I CAN NOT BE TRAINED LIKE AN ANIMAL.  I DO NOT DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE I AM STUPID OR BE TREATED LIKE A PERSON THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS.  THAT IS THE WAY I WAS TREATED IN INTENSIVE BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTION (IBI) THERAPY AND ABA THERAPY.  

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER WHEN I WAS THREE YEARS OLD.  I QUALIFIED FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDED IBI THERAPY BECAUSE I WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ON THE MODERATE TO SEVERE SIDE OF THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.  THIS WAS THE WORSE DECISION THE GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE MADE.  IT WAS PURE TORTURE TO SIT AND DO ABA  AND IBI DRILLS.  TO DO BABY WORK WHEN CLEARLY I WAS NOT A BABY.  I KNEW ALL THOSE MATERIALS WHEN I WAS A TODDLER.  

I HAVE A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT THAT PREVENTS ME FROM SHOWING PEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME THAT I AM SMART.  MOST AUTISTICS IF NOT ALL HAVE SOME FORM OF A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT.  THIS NEEDS TO BE MORE INVESTIGATED BY RESEARCHERS.  

WE NEED TO ASSUME THAT AUTISTICS ARE SMART AND TEACH THEM AGE APPROPRIATE ACADEMICS.  

I CAN REMEMBER SITTING IN IBI AND THINKING HOW THIS WAS SUCH TORTURE TO ENDURE AS A CHILD.  I KEPT THINKING I SHOULD BE EXPLORING THE WORLD AROUND ME, HAVING MY PARENTS READ AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO ME, GETTING AN EDUCATION LIKE MY SISTERS, HAVING FUN AND LOVING LIFE.  INSTEAD I WAS STUCK IN A ROOM DOING DRILLS ON PRESCHOOL WORK AND TOUCH MY NOSE.  I HAD NO WAY OF SHOWING HOW SMART I REALLY WAS.  I HAD NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE OR EXPRESS MYSELF.  IT WASN’T UNTIL MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME RAPID PROMPTING METHOD (RPM) THAT I FOUND MY TRUE VOICE.  I WAS FINALLY HAPPY ABOUT MY LIFE AND I WAS FINALLY BEING TAUGHT AGE APPROPRIATE AND ABOVE ACADEMICS.  

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR AUTISTICS.

1. LISTEN TO THE AUTISM EXPERTS.  THAT WOULD BE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH AUTISM EVERYDAY.  THE AUTISTICS.
2. TALK TO THEM LIKE YOU WOULD TO ANY OTHER PERSON.  THEY HEAR EVERYTHING  AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU SAY.  DO NOT INSULT THEM BY SPEAKING TO THEM LIKE THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE.
3. IT IS NOT THAT AUTISTICS CAN NOT FOLLOW DIRECTION, IT IS WE HAVE A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT.  OUR BODIES DO NOT ALWAYS WORK WITH OUR BRAINS.  THIS IS VITAL TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT AUTISTICS.  DOING IBI AND ABA DRILLS DO NOT HELP US ESPECIALLY FOR THE  MORE AFFECTED BY THE BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT AUTISTICS.  THEY NEED TO PRACTICE BUT IN AGE APPROPRIATE ACADEMICS AND AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES.
4. COMMUNICATION IS KEY!  AUTISTICS NEED A VOICE AND THEY DESERVE A VOICE JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.  RPM IN MY OPINION IS THE ONLY WAY TO GIVE AUTISTICS A VOICE.  IT IS PRESENTED FIRST AS TEACHING AGE APPROPRIATE ACADEMICS.  THE AUTISTIC IS ALWAYS TREATED WITH RESPECT IN REGARDS TO RPM.  THE AUTISTICS ARE ALWAYS TAUGHT NEW AND INTERESTING TOPICS.  THEY ARE THOUGHT TO BE INTELLIGENT WHICH THEY ARE.
5. AUTISTICS DESERVE AN EDUCATION WHICH IS NOT HAPPENING IN MOST CASES.
6. EMBRACE THE FLAPS.  AUTISTICS DO NOT LIKE TO STAND OUT.  WHY MUST WE FEEL ASHAMED THAT WE ARE DIFFERENT?
7. EXCEPT EVERYONE FOR WHO THEY ARE.

IN CONCLUSION, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE TREAT OUR AUTISTICS.  WE NEED TO START LISTENING TO THE EXPERTS, THE AUTISTICS.  WE NEED TO GIVE AUTISTICS A VOICE BY TEACHING THEM RAPID PROMPTING METHOD (RPM).

NO, WE ARE NOT LOST CHILDREN.  WE WILL NOT HAVE A HORRIBLE LIFE IF WE DO NOT HAVE IBI AND ABA THERAPY.  WE NEED SOMEONE TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE INTELLIGENT AND WE HAVE ABLE THINKING MINDS.  WE NEED PARENTS TO STOP PUTTING THEIR CHILDREN IN IBI AND ABA THERAPY.  I WANT PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND AUTISM THROUGH THEIR CHILD’S EYES.  AUTISM IS NOT A TRAGEDY.  I AM PROUD TO HAVE AUTISM.  IT MAKES ME THINK IN A UNIQUE WAY.  I SEE THE BEAUTIFUL  WORLD IN A WAY NOT  A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE.  LET’S STOP ABA AND IBI THERAPY AND LET’S START LETTING THESE CHILDREN EXPLORE THEIR WORLD LIKE ANY OTHER CHILD.  THAT IS THE BEST THING OR THERAPY ANY CHILD COULD HAVE.

BRAYDEN, 9 YEARS OLD

ONTARIO, CANADA

IN MY HEAD

IN MY HEAD

IN MY HEAD I AM THINKING.

I AM THINKING ABOUT MY LIFE BEFORE I FOUND MY VOICE.

BEFORE I COULD EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS.

BEFORE I COULD TALK ABOUT MY THOUGHTS.

BEFORE I COULD EXPRESS MY FEARS.

BEFORE I COULD FEEL APART OF THE WORLD.

BEFORE I COULD TALK ABOUT MY FAVOURITES.

BEFORE I COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT.

BEFORE I COULD TALK ABOUT INTERESTING THINGS.

BEFORE I HAD FANTASTIC FRIENDS.

BEFORE I COULD TELL MY MOM HOW MUCH I LOVE HER AND HOW THANKFUL I AM TO HAVE HER IN MY LIFE.

BEFORE I COULD TELL MY DAD HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM AND I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE THE BEST DAD EVER.

BEFORE I COULD TELL MY TWO SISTERS HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM AND HOW INCREDIBLE THEY ARE.

BEFORE I COULD TELL MY GRANDMA HOW MUCH I LOVE HER AND HOW THANKFUL I AM TO HAVE SUCH A INCREDIBLE GRANDMA LIKE HER.

BEFORE I COULD HAVE A OPINION AND TALK ABOUT IT.

BEFORE I COULD HAVE INCREDIBLE FRIENDS WHO I CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

I COULD NEVER DO ANY OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE I CANNOT SPEAK WITH MY MOUTH.  I DIDN’T HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY.  MY PARENTS TRIED MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP ME COMMUNICATE.  THE ONLY THING THAT WORKED WAS RPM (RAPID PROMPTING METHOD).  I FINALLY FOUND MY VOICE AND I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER.

MY FAMILY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOST FANTASTIC, MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOST INSPIRING, MOST PASSIONATE SOUL, MY MOM.  I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND FUN NEW YEAR.  YOU DESERVE NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN YOUR LIFE. YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRING WOMAN.  I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE SUCH A FANTASTIC MOM.  I LOVE  YOU SO MUCH.  SO MUCH THAT WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE AMOUNT OF LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU.  THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS LOVING AND BELIEVING IN ME.  I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.  YOU NEVER GAVE UP ON ME.  YOU NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING IN ME AND THAT THERE WAS MORE IN ME THAN I LET YOU SEE.  SO THAT MAKES YOU A WARRIOR MOM,  I AM HAPPY I HAVE A WARRIOR MOM LIKE YOU.  MY SISTERS ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL FOR THEM.  MY DAD IS LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING WIFE AND SOUL MATE.
I KNOW THAT LIFE HAS BEEN CHALLENGING SINCE YOU HAD ME AND DEALING WITH AUTISM.  YOU NEVER SHOW HOW DIFFICULT THINGS ARE.  YOU ALWAYS HAVE SUCH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT SITUATIONS AND ALWAYS HAVE GREAT ADVICE.  YOU ARE THE BEST MOM ANY KID COULD ASK FOR.  YOU HAVE THE MOST BRIGHTEST AND COLOURFUL COLOURS AROUND YOUR BODY.  I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.  I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING FAMILY.  THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR ME, MY SISTERS AND DAD.
I LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT.
LOVE YOUR ONLY SON
BRAYDEN
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT RPM

I CANNOT EXPRESS MYSELF USING MY MOUTH.  I HAVE SOME MOUTH WORDS BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT IS VOCAL STIMS.  IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BUT JIBBERISH COMES OUT INSTEAD.  THEREFORE, I SHOULD NOT BE PERSUMED THAT I HAVE LOW INTELLIGENCE BASED ON THE FACT THAT I CANNOT SPEAK WITH MY MOUTH.  I HAVE BEEN THOUGHT THAT I HAVE LOW INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE I CANNOT TALK WITH MY MOUTH BUT I DIDN’T HAVE A WAY TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW SMART I WAS UNTIL I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN I LEARNED RAPID PROMPTING METHOD (RPM).  NOW I CAN SHOW PEOPLE I AM SMART. 

I HAVE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT AGE APPROPRIATE ACADEMICS IN MY WHOLE SCHOOL CAREER UNTIL I STARTED RPM.  MY MOM TEACHES ME AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL I AM TAUGHT GRADE LEVEL WORK.  THE SCHOOL THIS YEAR IS TEACHING ME GRADE LEVEL WORK BECAUSE MY MOM ADVOCATED FOR ME.  I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THE SAME PRESCHOOL WORK FOR SIX YEARS.  HOW BORING IS THAT?  HOW SAD AND DEPRESSING IS THAT?  CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING TAUGHT THE SAME PRESCHOOL WORK FOR SIX YEARS IN A ROW?  PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR LETTERS, NUMBERS OR COLOURS.  IT IS SUCH A HORRIBLE LIFE WHEN YOU CANNOT EXPRESS YOURSELF AND CANNOT SHOW HOW SMART YOU ARE.  THAT WAS ME BEFORE RPM.  BUT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW THAT I RPM.  I AM BEING TAUGHT GRADE LEVEL ACADEMICS AT SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME.  MY MOM TEACHES ME ABOVE GRADE LEVEL ACADEMICS AT HOMESCHOOL.  I AM ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I THINK RPM SHOULD BE USED ON ANY AUTISTIC THAT CANNOT EXPRESS THEMSELVES OR FULLY COMMUNICATE THEMSELVES.  THIS WOULD INCLUDE SPEAKING, MINIMAL SPEAKING AND NON SPEAKING AUTISTICS.  I HAD NO FRIENDS UNTIL I MET ANOTHER RPMer.  I HAD NO WAY TO TALK TO PEOPLE.  I HAD NO MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS.  I WAS SAD I HAD NO ONE TO TALK TO AND NO FRIENDS.  IT WASN’T UNTIL I STARTED RPM THAT I STARTED HAVING FRIENDSHIPS.  I FOUND TRUE FRIENDS THAT I CAN TALK TO ABOUT AUTISM AND ANYTHING WE WANT.  WE ACCEPT EACH OTHER FOR WHO THE PERSON IS.  WE DON’T JUDGE EACH OTHER.  WE ARE PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER.  WE ALL HAVE THINGS IN COMMON.  WE ALL RPM.  

UNCONTROLLABLE BODY

I HAVE BEEN SKIING FOR TWO SEASONS.  I REALLY ENJOY SKIING.  I AM GREAT AT BALANCING MY BODY.  I CAN FEEL EVERY PART OF MY BODY.  IT IS SO INTERESTING TO BE ABLE TO FEEL EVERY BODY PART.  I CAN THEN TELL MY BODY PART WHAT TO DO.  THE ONLY THING IS MY BODY DOESN'T LISTEN TO ME MOST OF THE TIME.  IT IS SO EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO LIVE WITH THIS OUT OF CONTROL BODY.  I HATE THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY BODY.  I AM PERCEIVED TO NOT BE INTELLIGENT BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE I FLAP, MAKE VOCAL NOISES, MAKE LITTLE EYE CONTACT, I DON'T SPEAK WITH MY MOUTH OR LAUGH AT THE RIGHT TIME.  THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE A BRAIN AND BODY DISCONNECT.  IT IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND NOW THAT I RPM TO EXPRESS MYSELF.  I CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS RELATED TO AUTISM AND I CAN TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE REAL AUTISM.  AUTISTICS HAVE THINKING MINDS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.  I AM HUMAN TOO.  I JUST CAN'T TALK WITH MY MOUTH.

The Kithener Rangers Game

I WENT TO MY FIRST OHL GAME.  IT WAS THE KITCHENER RANGERS VS KINGSTON FRONTENACS.  I HAD A FANTASTIC TIME WITH MY DAD, MOM AND BIG SISTER HAILIE.   THE ATMOSPHERE WAS THE CROWDS CHEERING ON THE RANGERS WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM AND MUCH TEAM SPIRIT.  THE KITCHENER RANGERS WON DESPITE A GREAT EFFORT OF DEFENSE BY KINGSTON.  THE RANGERS PLAYED A GREAT GAME. I AM HAPPY I COULD ATTEND THE GAME WITH MY FAMILY.  I AM GOING TO PLAY HOCKEY NEXT YEAR.  I AM PRACTICING HOW TO SKATE WITH MY MOM.  I PLAN ON TO ATTEND ANOTHER OHL GAME AGAIN. MY GOAL IS TO JUMP THE WALL LIKE THE RANGERS DO AND TO ATTEND A NHL GAME.  NATURALLY I WILL CHEER FOR THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS AND DETROIT RED WINGS