A genuine plea from a non-speaker

By Mark Eati

There are individuals who still think it is not healthy to support those without a verbal voice using communication methodologies such as STeP (Supported Typing Program), RPM (Rapid Prompting Method), S2C (Spelling to communicate), etc.

This has a lot of implications to those who are fully thinking inside yet do not have a way to express. It leads to deep sadness, stress, anxieties, frustrations, and a whole slew of emotional and physical health challenges.

When someone who has not had a voice, who has not had a way to express for many years, begins to first communicate, they take time to learn how to regulate their thoughts and emotions, similar to a baby or toddler first learning to speak. Those who are nonspeaking and have sensory motor and other neurological conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia can take time to fully learn the keyboard, and also communicate and converse, without getting stressed and fatigued. Please do not stop trying.

I personally experienced repeated trauma as people kept questioning how I typed, why I needed supports typing, without considering that I am intelligent and gifted. Multiple individuals and organizations presumed competence in me and my sibling giving us a new life. We made remarkable progress since we started to express ourselves. Thank you for your continued support and assurance.

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