Re: [TIME SENSITIVE] ASHA Policy Statement on RPM
My name is Thomas Pruyn and I am a nonspeaking autistic who uses spelling to communicate.
I am Ryan McMahon and I am a nonspeaking autistic who uses spelling to communicate.
Like many other nonspeaking autistics, I, Ian Nordling, have found my voice by spelling on a letterboard to communicate.
Tom: We are a group of young adults who have undergone various tests, interventions, techniques and methods all trying to fix something that was purportedly broken.
Ian: The many other therapies fall short as they do not necessarily meet the basic need for meaningful communication. Do not limit my expression to a handful of pictures or icons. I have so much more to share.
Ryan: When one experiences apraxia, which is the difficulty connecting brain and body and executing purposeful motor, and is given tests using or requiring fine motor skills to measure intellectual ability he will undoubtedly fail. How valid can the results be?
Tom: My life is different because my body is wired differently than yours. However, my brain is bright. I have emotions and a thirst for knowledge, relationships, and to lead a life that is fulfilling.
Ian: Our story is not unique to us. We are a group of friends but more pertinent to the proposal, we are nonspeaking people who need a letterboard to communicate.
Tom: Being able to express ourselves reliably requires a letterboard and a trained communication and regulation partner.
Ryan: We deserve to have a voice. Stopping proper research through an attempt to discredit methods that use letterboards means people like me must speak louder than ever.
Tom: We write to you to implore you to consider the extremely negative impact of this proposal. Using the letterboard has allowed me to show my intelligence, to participate in the activities that guys my age enjoy like family game nights and intellectual conversations, and more importantly, to share my needs, wants, and dreams.
Ian: Like most people, I just need the basics to live. I need communication to live a life of autonomy. It is as important as food and water.
Ryan: It is most important to realize that this proposal promotes exclusion.
Tom: We ask you to reject the proposal and stand by those with motor, sensory, and communication differences. Include us. Accept us. Hear us.
Sincerely,
Ian Nordling, Thomas Pruyn, and Ryan McMahon
