When I was 9 years old, I started communicating with support using a keyboard. Prior to that I had no way to share my thoughts, fear, pain, or wishes. When I started to use this method, there was so much excitement for me and my family. When the teachers and therapists heard that I was communicating at home, they couldn’t believe it. In fact, they refused to believe it. So for many years it was only at home that I had the opportunity to communicate. When I got into high school, I had a teacher who believed in FC, but wasn’t allowed to use it at school.
I am sure you are wondering why so many people question FC. When I was first learning it, there was very little controversy. But as time went on, some things started to happen. As people were finally given a method to communicate, they started sharing their stories. Their stories made some people look bad. When a person who has been silent is finally able to communicate, they feel so excited to share. What they don’t know is if they share something about being hurt by antoher person, that other person may get into trouble. Since most people who are abusive do their deeds in secret, there is no way to find the truth. The solution for many in this world is to take away the tool that would allow that person to communicate instead of looking at the truth. It seems that whenever people try to study FC, they go about trying to disprove it. For some reason, people seem to be afraid of what some folks have to say who have been silent. I don’t understand it, but I have lived it. We are left to sort out our feelings alone in silence. I was so sure I would be given more opportunities when I started to share my thoughts, but it was not accepted. When we would show the teachers what I was saying at home, they were angry because it wouldn’t be possible for someone with my intellect to say those things. If typical people’s voices are taken from them, they would be outraged. But for some reason, if a person who is silent for years starts to communicate, they are expected to say only nice things. If we feel so excited that our behaviors change, then we are a behavior problem. If you could imagine what it was like to be in a silent body, and could find a way to share some of your basic thoughts, you would be ecstatic. For many of us without voices, we also have physical limitations, so our freedom to show what we want and need is limited.
It helps so much to have others believe in us and have us share our own solutions. If you have doubt about someone’s intellect, they can work their entire lives trying to prove to you they are capable. If you don’t have belief in their ability, you are the one holding back their voice. It starts with you.
Check in again and I will explain how it works for me.
Karly
