Brothers with autism learn to communicate for the first time

Stacy Mason is a social worker with two sons, Trevor, 24, and Tyler, 22. Both have autism. Also called Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), autism presents in many ways but is most often referred to as a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.  

 

Stacy’s sons are non-speaking but not “non-verbal.” Trevor and Tyler have been unable to communicate since birth. But that’s beginning to change. 

 

“We’ve found that their language is intact,” says Stacy. “They never had the motor skills to share their thoughts, dreams, and desires with us.” 

 

Discovery

一年多前，Stacy學習了“拼寫交流”，這是一種增強或輔助交流方法。“作為一名家長培訓師，我正在與一個使用它的家庭一起工作。他們知道我有兩個不會說話的兒子，他們與我分享了他們學到的東西，“斯泰西說。

 

Over the years, Stacy had tried many ways to help her sons communicate, from dietary interventions to various out-of-the-box treatments. Nothing helped until she tried Spelling to Communicate. 

 

“拼寫交流技術含量非常低，”Stacy說。“你從信板開始。我鼓勵我的兒子們利用他們的粗大運動技能指著黑板拼寫單詞。幾個月後，特雷弗和泰勒開始與母親交流。 

 

“我非常驚訝。我的兒子們對政治和全球變暖有意見，想投票。他們與我們分享了他們想去巴塞羅那，“斯泰西說。“所以，我們去巴塞羅那度假！” 

 

每次她的兒子告訴她一些新的事情時，史黛西都會哭。“都出來了...20年來他們一直想向我們傳達的東西。擁有這個真是天賦異稟。 

 

Stacy says some things were very profound, like her sons telling how much they appreciated all the work she had done to advocate for them. “And then there were some things I didn’t want to hear,” she chuckled. “Like, ‘Can you knock before coming into my room?'” 

Progress

Soon, Trevor and Tyler progressed from spelling on the letter board to typing on a Bluetooth keyboard that works with a text-to-speech app. Trevor and Tyler will eventually be able to type on their own. “It takes a lot of practice and is tricky,” added Stacy. “You need to help them along but not influence their responses.” 

 

Stacy’s sons are now participating by spelling in poetry and book clubs. They even share their thoughts with their doctors.  

 

“我很高興與LIFEPlan的成員分享這些資訊。能夠溝通改變了我的生活，“特雷弗說。

 

史黛西說，泰勒表示他剛開始拼寫時很沮喪。他被鎖在自己裡面，但現在報告說他的抑鬱症已經消失了。他在溝通之前掙扎的絕望和無助得到了緩解。

 

泰勒說：「自從我開始拼寫以來，所有好事都發生在我身上。我很高興更多的人在讀完這個故事後會知道拼寫交流。

Spelling to Communicate Documentary

The Spelling to Communicate approach is featured in a new documentary, “SPELLERS.” Actor Jenny McCarthy-Walhberg and her husband Donnie serve as the executive producers. They are parents to a son who has autism.

“SPELLERS”指出，我們可能低估了超過5000萬人的能力。這部紀錄片已被選入電影節，並正在全球放映。從 4 月 20 日開始，公眾可以在線私下篩選拼寫者。

“My sons hope to become leaders in the spelling to communicate movement. I am currently training to become a practitioner to teach others,” said Stacy. “There’s so much catching up to do. Spelling to Communicate has allowed us to know our children for the first time.” 

 

LIFEPlan CCO不認可拼寫交流作為替代溝通方式，也不對人們是否應該參加這種或任何其他治療做出任何聲明。分享LIFEPlan成員的故事是為了表彰許多支持人們與IDD一起旅行的組織。