Typers
Facilitated Communication: Tracy Thresher & John Smyth at 2011 ICI Summer Institute
Supported typers Tracy Thresher, co-star of the documentary Wretches & Jabberers, and John Smyth use supported typing to have a conversation at Syracuse University’s 2011 Institute of Communication and Inclusion Summer Institute: Connection, Communication, and Creativity. A true example of Facilitated Communication in action! This is the first time Tracy and John had an opportunity…
Read MoreTodd Washburne: Joining the Real World as an Adult Typer
I was raised as being retarded because I could not communicate. My frustration level was off the charts throughout my school years. The many times I got in trouble were driving me crazy and I couldn’t even be a tattletale so I was teased a lot. However, I did learn stuff like speed reading and…
Read MoreAutistic Typer’s Poetry Reviewed by Bestselling Author Don Mann
John Smyth is a nonverbal autistic who, until recently, had no ability to communicate with anyone – parents, doctors, educators, siblings. As with many similarly afflicted individuals, John, a highly intelligent young man, was diagnosed as having a 3 year old’s mind and warehoused by his local school system in “life-skills” training until he was…
Read MoreThe Ember, a poem by John Smyth
The Ember by John Smyth When all I could lamely autistically do was open my mouth and make sounds that made no sense and behave in ways that were inconsistent with what a normal person would think or do, my autism looked as if it was what defined me and was all I might ever…
Read MoreFor Non-verbal Autistics and Others with Disabilities, Frederick Douglass’ Fight for Equality Continues Today
Frederick Douglass, the former slave who became one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement, was a well-known social reformer, orator, writer, and statesman. He was most known for his powerful, incisive antislavery speeches and writing. He stood as a living counter-example to slaveholders’ arguments that slaves did not have the intellectual capacity to function…
Read MoreThe Ember – Words & Music by Autistic Typer John Smyth
The Ember was written by supported typer John Smyth as an English class extra-credit assignment. His original poem was typed by him (all of the words are his, with about 5 verbal suggestions for better clarity from his dad.) John wrote / typed the original keyboard arrangement with the help of Vickie Stohl, his music…
Read MoreChammi Rajapatirana
Typing for over a decade, Chammi Rajapatirana is currently living in Sri Lanka where he and his mom, the only FC trainers in the area, are helping others learn the method. Chammi is also co-founder/co-president of the E.A.S.E. Foundation, which aims to help people with disabilities in leading productive, stimulating lives, particularly through effective…
Read MoreTim Chan
Watch Video of Tim Chan’s FC Typing Progress Tim Chan is an 18 year old Australian with autism and very little speech. As a result of Facilitated Communication Training provided by Dr Rosemary Crossley, he first began typing several years ago at age nine. Initially, Tim needed wrist support from a communication partner– and…
Read MoreSue Rubin, Independen Typer
Sue Rubin is a 34 year-old woman with autism who was considered mentally retarded as a child. At the age of thirteen, Sue learned to express herself through the use of a computer keyboard. Facilitated Communication / supported typing revealed that Sue was in fact highly intelligent. Sue went on to study history, specializing in…
Read MoreKayla Takaguchi
Watch Kayla’s Voice: Empowering People with Autism More and more people are discovering the value of Facilitated Communication. In this video you will watch as Kayla Takeuchi, a non-speaking adolescent with autism, presents her keynote address at Syracuse University’s Facilitated Communication Institute in July 2009. You will also hear from professionals in the field,…
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