That intelligent typing teen would like to be working in self-advocacy. Thad may not realize he is on the right path to fulfill his dream. Autumn typed that her goal is to type more independently. Having expressive typing to write goals is your first step; keep plugging along.

It was great to see long-time friend Gigi who is guru to Thad. My typed responses to Thad and Autumn follow:

Thad asked about having me as a mentor. I typed “You betcha Thad. I now mentor students and would be happy to work with you.”

Autumn asked about how she could become more independent in her typing. I typed “Harvey can show you Autumn. With patience and hard work and lots of practice you can do it.”

I think the students in Jericho, Vermont rock the inclusion movement. They understand the difference between tolerance and acceptance. Thad and Autumn have much to teach, so tune in Jericho.

Following are the voices of my typing buddies:

Kris: “The movie was heartbreaking at times for me, but important to see the contrast. Institutional life doesn’t allow personable characteristics to show. Working outside of the institution, in the community builds a person’s quality of life, allowing relationships to be built and equality to manifest.”

Scott:

“I really had a great sense of relief that I was raised in a family with love and a mother who is my rock. I am graciously pleased that quality of life is a big part of our supports. I love that we can have a voice and know others are listening.”

Kris, Scott and I rock the self-advocacy movement as members of the Washington County Communication Alliance. Our mission statement is: “The Communication Alliance is a group of self-advocates who have communication challenges and type to express ourselves. We advocate for an individual’s right to communicate, for Quality of Life initiatives and for increased public awareness and education.” We are also members of Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA). Let’s come together to rock the Inclusion Movement. The time is now my fans and allies.

The main thing that diminishes my quality of life is the way some people think I need to have things in routines. Let’s say meals for example, I think people get stuck in their support like serving me the same old meal. I need to have lots of variety in my life just like the food choices need to be varied. Got inclusion? That applies to diversity in communities making room to move our plane of intelligence from plateaus to pinnacles of sharper intelligence.

It is because of inclusive environments that wretches like me have communication. The tipping point has come with people like me demanding proper support to be heard.

Let’s be positive in our leading the inclusion movement as the great leader Dr. King did in his day.

We also have dreams, more like yours than not.

The sun took a rest behind the clouds. So what if sun wants to sleep; Larry and Tracy’s wit brought sunny smiles to the sun seekers. The Autism Society Inland Empire Communication Conference at the University of Redlands was a beautiful way to top off our sundae which California slim ladies likely request only at fat conscious yogurt shops. This Green Mountain Man prefers loaded with chunky hunks of yum from Vermont’s Ben & Jerry’s. Larry and I felt like Hollywood actors. Yogurt and ice cream do appear an odd combination but Larry and I felt the power of what our movie has done to open our world and that is a beautiful world of Inclusion. Thirty years ago the beautiful teens looked at me with passing glances of dismissiveness. Now all my charm is shining through to show the inner beauty of my wisdom and kind spirit. Tracy and Larry should make a new flavor for our fans to enjoy on a visit to Ben & Jerry’s. I am looking for fan ideas. Let’s hear it.

* * *

About Henry: Henry is an Autistic self-advocate who communicates using AAC (augmentative and alternative communication). He was denied the right to attend his neighborhood school. Henry is steadfast in his determination that all students must be presumed competent and have equal access to education with appropriate supports in their communities. Thousands of friends and advocates have written to show support for the rights of Henry, and others like him. Below is Tracy’s proclamation.

“I stand with Henry in his demand to see the intelligent mind within. I met Henry in my quest to change the World’s view of disability to recognizing that there is intelligence in all people, if only the Presumption of Competence is the paramount pulse coursing through the veins of educators. I stand with Henry because in Henry I see true grit. Henry is an amazingly resilient young activist. In my mind he is a leader taking down old barriers of discrimination, shifting our culture to one of seeing and believing in ability, rather than judging based on unreliable assessments. I stand on the platform of the typing train with you my pal.”

My name is Tracy Thresher. I grew up in Barre, Vermont. As a child, I struggled with no reliable way to communicate. I now live out my dream of traveling to other states to educate others on movement and communication differences. Primarily, I advocate to promote the Presumption of Competence. I have had great opportunities to advance in my career thanks to Harvey who is the Communication Specialist at Community Developmental Services which is part of Washington County Mental Health Services. Together, we have traveled to educate in the United States. In 2009, while filming the documentary “Wretches and Jabberers”, we traveled to Finland, Sri Lanka and Japan to join forces with other activists who are living on the periphery of society. Quietly ignored autism as a rule feels as though society as a whole is not interested in knowing we are intelligent.

I have been using supported typing since I met Bill and then Alan who worked for Washington County Mental Health. I was in my early twenties. Harvey came on board once Alan moved to Maine. I was 23. I am now 45.

My case manager, Rachel, is a great communication partner and well organized. Having her in my life is more important than I can express. She has been with me for nearly ten years. A fiery passion for helping people describes Rachel.

Without the diligent organized support of well-trained communication partner, Jeanette, I could not stand before you today. Thanks to my team of communication partners I have opportunities to educate others. I have moved from working at the back of the store, feeling like I had no future, to now being respected for my activism and my work as a Communication Consultant. I serve on the State of Vermont Autism Advisory and Planning Committee, the Vermont Communication Task Force, and the Washington County Communication Alliance. I am standing before you tonight with respect for the difficult work you face with making critical life altering decisions which affect the most vulnerable Vermonters. The little state of Vermont should serve as a leader in equity for their progress with their policies such as the Respectful Language Law and expansion of health insurance coverage for autism therapies .

My communication is paramount to my well-being and is key to my being an active citizen. I take my right to vote seriously and pay close attention to politics. I may appear to be a man shrouded by a cloak of incompetence but if you will take the time to listen to my typing you will understand I am intelligent.

The Presumption of Competence is the message I hope you take away today.

While in Arizona, I also had the opportunity to visit a progressive communication school. I loved my trip to the Assuming Competence Today (ACT) School. It was my turn to lap up top shelf pitchers of Presumption of Competence, cleansing my mind of withered old memories of seriously inept hard knock schools that Larry and I survived. It is like cooling mountain pure spring water to be in the presence of wonderfully out-of-the-box thinkers like the parents and educators that Larry and I met at ACT. My mind soared like a liberated eagle to think my hard-knock-lacking-in-communication-filled-with-idle-time so-called education is now my way to draw from the well of justice. My mission is for my life to be a beacon of light to parents and children. The thing is the kids are my beam of light leading me to the oasis I sought as a lonely misunderstood boy.