It’s been a while since I have blogged and I hope you are all spreading our message about communication.  My life recently has been filled with many adventures.  I have been planting seeds for the growing and the idea is that you will all flower what you are learning in new places.

I have recently been to sunny Florida where I schmoozed with families who are starting out on their journey.  Navigating educational systems is hard enough and then when you throw communication into the pot it can be messy.  I think being in Florida reminded me of how Vermont services looked many years ago.  It seems we need more flowering in that part of the country.

I was also in New York this past weekend and although our turn out was small it felt nice to see and talk with new faces.  I wanted to see a room full of people.  It was my hope to be interactive with my words so that they would carry on.  I think we still accomplished that, but on a smaller scale.
A really close to home event was Larry and I charming staff at my agency.  It was a breath of fresh air talking to old and new staff.  I hope they took with them the idea of competence and to feel the real truths about why they are in this field.  Soon it will be second nature for them to see the work they are doing and to grow into people who are respectfully brilliant in there approaches with those they are working with.

I will be seeing you all again soon.  Spring is upon us and is a perfect ground for growing communication oriented people who find value in competence.

Yes this is our political fight, like the current atmosphere in Washington, slicing up the other guy is common place but like all American voters moving to the ballots we must fight for what is right and we have the right to voice our opinions and express ourselves.

I think Larry is the likely candidate for president and I will be his running mate on the platform presumption of competence and freedom of expression.

That is mighty Tracy with his words of wisdom.

The theater also had a lovely cafe where we were treated to conversation and scrumptious burgers the way Larry and I like them, big and loaded with extras.  Not good for dieters but mighty tasty.  The event was a wonderful experience and having my mom, dad, and brother there only added to its wondrous feeling.  Mom even talked to the audience.

This makes me think that we should do more local events to connect and build our community knowledge of the presumption of competence.

Photo credit: David Garten

I will talk to you all soon.  Right now I need to meditate and reflect on my own path so I can gather my own strength to march on.

Atlanta is the perfect place to put two Green Mountain men on the podium to show folks how it feels to be looked upon in the fishbowl that life becomes if the environment is not a natural fit. I like to look upon gorgeous fish swimming about. To have good provisions and the care of professionals who meticulously tend to the needs of marine life for the enjoyment of others helps to educate. To have the opportunity to see the aquarium excellently providing respect to the natural needs of creatures leads me to reflect on my life.

To be in environments with Harvey reminds me of the life I desire; that is to say he communicates well with an interest, respectful of my communication. The main thing he does is closely monitor my natural body rhythms, helping me to stay regulated while providing me the communication support that is life sustaining to this big time man of typing to shift world views. I like to go to big cities educating others on the presumption of competence. Communication is a natural need for all people to thrive.  To have Harvey is like moving from a little fishbowl to a posh aquarium.

- Tracy and Larry presented at the 2011 TASH Conference in Atlanta, GA, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, where “Wretches & Jabberers” was honored with the TASH Media Award.

Communication is now our next right as intelligent Americans with significant disabilities that we need to push to protect. My self advocating friends and I plan to put our stories together and send them to our legislators emphasizing the importance of communication supports. Join the blitz by sending politicians your communication stories. I will soon see my fans in Ohio.

Supporting the Right to Communicate for people with Significant Disabilities

Good morning. I am Tracy Thresher from Barre, Vermont. I would like to talk to you about the Washington County Facilitated Communication (FC) Task Force. The group formed in 2008. We are a group of individuals who type to communicate. We advocate for people with communication challenges, for Quality of Life initiatives and for increased public awareness.

How would you feel if you had no voice? It is the hardest part of dealing with life, in the way people make the assumption that we do not have intelligence. Our group works to do outreach and advocacy for ourselves and others. As my idol Anne MacDonald said “Not being able to speak is not the same as not having anything to say.” Understanding Anne’s statement paired with knowing communication is the right of all is necessary. Having the support of people like Master Trainer, Harvey Lavoy, is the primary reason I have the communication needed to be successful. I urge our legislators to make communication a priority for all. Thank you.

Tracy: Fantastic friend, Scott, is joining the Intelligence Parade. Of course, he has been on the mission of educating locally but now he is going world-wide to spread his pebbles of great intelligence.

Scott: My desire is to be a part of this important mission. I have had to be in the face of misunderstanding my entire life. Tracy is an inspiration to me; we are pals who are starting to join forces so we can blow a hole in misconceptions. I am excited to be part of something bigger and know that I can help others like me.

Tracy: Scott has been involved on the mission of planting kernels of justice in the local high school which I graduated from. The education went both ways; Scott taught as much, if not more, than he learned. Now is our time to break down the walls in all schools.

Scott: My high school experiences were ok but mostly staff did not know how to support my communication. I found myself without trained staff and we often did filler stuff, like passing the time with puzzles, when I could have been doing more productive learning. I think my experience turned positive when we had trained staff but usually they did not stay long. I think the man Tracy can attest to this. So, what we need are well trained people who can respect our weirdness because we can’t always tell you how we need to be supported. When I graduated I felt free and I have people in my life who understand me, like Harvey, Rachel and now Kati, much needed new support person who has not run away yet. I type to you to show my intelligence and hope to make new friends on this Parade of Intelligence. Tracy is heading up the parade but I am right beside him.

Tracy: Although things have not become ideal for students with communication challenges in Vermont; it is in the consciousness of educators that supporting communication is the key to unlocking intelligence. Puzzles are not education! It is our mission to educate the educational system to help students who use alternative modes of communication. I will give the platform to Scott for his wrap up thoughts; I am positive you will hear from him in future advocacy projects.

Scott: World platforms allow us to instill the first hand insights for better understanding of who we strive to be. I wish to join forces with Larry and Tracy and all other partners to give our voices power where once there was vulnerability. This is my life’s mission to break down the walls of misconception.