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.