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Home > Personal Stories > Personal Writings of AAC Users

Writings from AAC Users

Anne Abbott — York University Speech made March 10, 2009. "People like me, who use Augmentative Alternative Communication, are frequently, and wrongly, silenced. ... It takes patience and some intuition to start communicating with an AAC user. You have to be good at looking for cues in body language and facial expressions." http://anne-abbott.blogspot.com/2009/03/york-university-speech.html

Kenny Affonce — Teen breaks out of long silence with help of computer facilitator. South Coast [Massachusetts] Today, July 1995. http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/07-95/07-03-95/0703affonce.HTML. Thumbs Up to Kenny Affonce. The Communicator, a publication of the Autism National Committee, 14:2, Fall 2005, p. 6. (With photo): http://www.autcom.org/pdf/AutomNLFall2005.pdf

Richard Attfield — My Half of the Tide. Facilitated Communication Digest 6:2, Mar 1998.
http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=100
An Interview with autistic FC pioneer: Richard Attfield, by Donna Williams. American Chronicle, July 4, 2007. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?amp;articleID=331153; also available at: http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/06/30/an-interview-with-autistic-fcpioneer-and-author-richard-attfield/

A. M. Baggs — Autism, Speech, and Assistive Technology. Autism Information Library at autistics.org, 2000. "With a keyboard to type on, I feel a lot more free than I do talking or being expected to talk when I can't communicate adequately that way." http://www.autistics.org/library/spchasst.html. The Validity of Autistic Opinions. Autism Information Library at autistics.org, 2000. "I recently read part of a book which was written by an 'expert' on autism. The author mentioned the autobiographical accounts and essays by autistic people, saying that they might not be a good source of information about what concerns professionals about autism ... There are several problems with these statements." http://www.autistics.org/library/autopin.html
How to Suppress Disabled Peoples's Writing http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org/?p-287
In My Language (links to video) http://balastexistenz.autistics.org/?p=287
Autistic Aug Comm Users http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org.?page_id=143

Heathar-Ashley Barrett — A student at the University of Bolton in Manchester, UK, Heathar has just published some of her work in the recently published book Words Unspoken (see Joshua Harris for more info). "I really feel that I do very much belong in great places of fine learning such as University." Visit Heathar's website at http://www.heatharashley.com.

Roy Bedward — If You Could Live Inside My Skin (poem); State Institution Stories; writings about the difference FC has made to his life. http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_roy.htm Roy's poem Please Listen To My Heart was published in the first issue of Glimpse (2007). We can't give you a direct link, but the poem is on Page 16.

Steven M. Best — "The more pain and losses you experience in life, the more important it is that you have an external focus," Best said. "Writing has been that for me." http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

Larry Bissonnette of Vermont — Artist, writer, and subject of video "My Classic Life as an Artist: A Portrait of Larry Bissonnette" communicates by typing with facilitation. http://www.myclassiclifefilm.com Being Laptopped into World of Personal Expression: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=101 Beyond Questions and Answers: Free Expression Through Art and Words: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42&articleID=103 Sharing Stories http://www.ccids.umaine.edu/resources/fcmaine/fcs96e.html See also Learning About Independent Typing from People Working to Achieve It Right to Communicate, Facilitated Communication http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_Larry_Bissonnette.htm

Lucy Blackman — Author, Lucy's Story: Autism and Other Adventures. Reviewed by Christi Kasa-Hendrickson, Facilitated Communication Institute http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=221

Hope Block — "My name is Hope Block and this is about my life. I am a woman with autism ... I use a computer to say what's on my mind." Advocates in Action: Personal Stories of Celebration and other Videos of Interest. http://advocatesinaction.org/movies/HopeB.htm

Andrew Bloomfield. — "What everyone yearns for: Really good support to communicate" in Bridges Over Barriers newsletter, April 2008, p. 5 available at http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/BOB-4-2008-p.pdf; and In My Mind: Thoughts and Words of Andrew Bloomfield, 2000-2006. The book includes poetry and other writings. "Connecting is my purpose in life, / It is why we are here ..." http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/InMyMind-order.pdf.

Snoopi Botten. — Being Noticed for Who You Are: Six Steps for Augmented Communicators, Proceedings of the Biennial Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators, 2005, pg. 12-13. "When communicating with anyone, it’s important to remember that your communication device is only an aid." http://www.shoutaac.org/Proceedings2005.doc. Snoopi was also involved in making the video "If I Had A Voca" now on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJi_Si_jTHk. Visit his website at http://www.pastorsnoopi.com/

Nicholas Brady — http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_Nick_Brady.htm

Elizabeth Breen — Autistic Poet "... it's not easy being me. It is very hard you see. There is so much going on." http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/october-16-2009/autistic-poet/4595/

Jamie Burke — Video: "Inside the Edge: A Journey to Using Speech through Typing http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_jamie.htm The School of My Dreams http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36

Zachary Brix — A Letter from Zachary Brix http://www.ccids.umaine.edu/FACTSFC/articles/Zach.html

David Chapple — Communication Partners: A User's Perspective by David Chapple. "Let me start with one of the biggest problems I encounter – people not having the patience or giving me the time to talk!" http://www.aacinstitute.org/AACConsumerNet/AroundTheWaterCooler/2009February.html

Nadia Clarke — With and Without. A poem about life with a voice and without (bottom of Page 5). http://www.1voice.info/resources/2008+spring.pdf

Elana Connor — Why Retards Are Sad in This World. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=107

Rick Creech, 2004 Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer. "One of my dreams is for an AAC device that would be a seamless part of me. I mean I would have access to it twenty-four seven. It should be as easy as wearing a wristwatch." http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/PrentkeLecture/2004/RickCreech.html

Robert Cutler — Taking Charge of My Life, by Robert Cutler, a self-advocate and past president of the Autism National Committee (Autcom) who gives a moving and straightforward account of his life: "I am autistic. My life has been hell because nobody truly understands autism. I want to tell you, behaviorism almost destroyed my mind and soul. ... FC has become my tool to talk about my life." http://www.mnip-net.org/ddlead.nsf/0/1ca94b71e364e379852569b3007645aa?OpenDocument
"Ask Rob", Column, http://www.autcom.org/newsletter.html.

Ian Drummond, Birger Sellen, Dietmar Zoeller, Sue Rubin — Not Comprehending Is Not All The Time; Not Comprehending Is Not The Same As Not Thinking, Douglas Biklen. This article originally appeared in Vol. 4 No. 2 (Feb. 1996) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [pp. 5-8]. Includes writings of Birger Sellin, Ian Drummond, Dietmar Zoller, and Sue Rubin. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=236 "I Don't Want To Be Inside Me Any More." Review, with excerpts, by Annegret Schubert. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=85

David Eastham — Silent Words: Forever Friends Eastham, M. (1992). Silent words (Ottawa: Oliver Pate) is a mother's account of how her son learned to communicate with facilitation and to become an independent typist. Forever Friends is a collection of previously unpublished works by the late David Eastham. http://books.google.com/books?id=nrhFOwAACAAJ&dq=Silent+Words:+Forever+Friends.

Gus Estrella, 1997 Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer. "I can think of few things more dehumanizing and even demeaning than selecting canned sentences from a list ...The living waters of life are contained in the sparkling stream of language as it gushes forth from our tongues, or in my case, my fingers. Yes, I have become a blabber finger." http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/PrentkeLecture/1997/GusEstrella.html

Jon Feucht, 2003 Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer. "I know many parents and educators who are so happy to have their child be able to just express their needs. I think people who do this are doing a great disservice to their child; because there is so much more to life and communication than just expressing needs." http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/PrentkeLecture/2003/JonFeucht.html

Tyler Fihe — Interview with Tyler Fihe, a young man with autism who communicates by typing and saying his words as he types them. http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_tyler.htm.
Newspaper article includes interview with Santa Cruz resident Tyler Fihe: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2003/February/09/local/stories/01local.htm.
Relentless Activism: Excerpts from Letters and Speeches by Tyler Fihe. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=120&articleID=26   Quotes: "They are always saying that they provide training in self-advocacy, but how can people speak out for themselves if they have no means of communicating?" (from a letter to Senator Bruce McPherson, April 20, 2000); "Only 9 years ago did I begin to learn to communicate through typing and it dramatically changed my life. Before typing I could not tell anyone what I felt or thought. I was so isolated I thought I would go crazy." (from a presentation at San Andreas Regional Board, May 14, 2000); "My body is always firing off movements and sounds from my mouth that I can’t control. They come and go and I just have to let them out." (from a speech to a graduate speech therapy class, San Jose State University, October 22, 2000); "Where I felt the most welcomed by a teacher was when they spoke directly to me thinking I understood everything said and not just talking to my aide as if I wasn’t there." (from a presentation at U.C. Santa Cruz, June 29, 2002).

Carly Fleischmann — From Carly's website Carly's Voice: Changing the world of autism, "I am not able to talk out of my mouth, however I have found another way to communicate by spelling on my computer. And YES – I can type on my own." Samples of Carly's writings, links to news stories, photos. http://carlysvoice.com/.

Alberto Frugone — Independence: What It Is, How To Reach It. Article about starting with facilitated communication training and working to type independently to communicate. "I did not use words in my mind to form a concept and so I didn't conceive the possibility to translate a thought into written words on a sheet of paper." http://www.geocities.com/acujames/frugone1.htm

Peyton Goddard — Website for the Cuyamaca College Valedictorian for 2002 who learned to communicate in 1997 by "Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC), a method where technology and applied resistance enables purposeful movement and communication through a computer. For the first time she gained a reliable method for interaction with society." Site includes numerous writings, presentations, order information for her video "Helium Hearts". http://www.peytongoddard.com

Personal statement of the importance of implementing FC: http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_peyton.htm

'Quietly Changing Worrisome World': Questions for Peyton Goddard. Interview with questions and answers. "Quieter persons are often great listeners ... I'm pining for dawn of a voice for all." http://voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/02/02/education/featured_stories/89qapeyton020208.txt

Mathias Gottstein and Oleg Matushevich — See Matushevich

Thiandi Grooff — Thiandi Grooff is a woman who lives in the Netherlands and who uses FC. "This website is all about my life and the events and changes that have shaped it." http://www.thiandigrooff.nl Two sections are in English: NRC januari 2005 and Helphand. http://www.thiandigrooff.nl/andereschrijfsels/indexandereschrijfsels.htm

Eve Hanf-Enos. — Taming the Untameable (poem): http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=112

Jeremy Haines — Jeremy's Talk
http://www.zygo-usa.com/chatter/2002/chatmay.html

Joshua Harris — Joshua lives in the UK and attends Yeshiva with support from facilitators. He has published two DVDs and most recently a book, Words Unspoken. More information on Joshua and his accomplishments may be found on his website Joshua's Planet (http://www.joshuasplanet.com/index.html). We hope to publish some of his work here in the near future.

Lucy Harrison — Making Their Way: Despite Critics, Autistic Youths Still Typing, ABC News, January 20, 2003 Followup interviews with Lucy Harrison, Jeff Powell, and Ben Lehr who were interviewed first in 1992. http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/2003/1-03/ABC1-20-03.html

Jaison Hart — of Louisville, CO; writings and art by Hart, who uses facilitated communication techniques to communicate and to create (quotes, artwork, poems, fictional and autobiographical writing): http://www.innerpeace-nomatterwhat.com/jaison.html. How My Life is Like Helen Keller, and poems, at http://donna.jdowning.com/index.htm (click on the "We Speak" button).

Stephen W. Hawking — My Experience with ALS. "I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many. . . . One's voice is very important. If you have a slurred voice, people are likely to treat you as mentally deficient: Does he take sugar?" http://www.hawking.org.uk/disable/dindex.html Website for Profesor Stephen W. Hawking, world renowned physicist, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. http://www.hawking.org.uk/

Dennis Hollman — Community Interactions: AAC and Being a Church Member, Proceedings of the Biennial Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators, 2005, pg. 38-41. "I’ve also joined a congregation that has grown accustomed to interacting with an AAC user like myself, and it was the greatest thing I could possibly have done." http://www.shoutaac.org/Proceedings2005.doc

Mike Hoover — Having a Voice at http://donna.jdowning.com/index.htm (click on the "We Speak" button).

Kathie Hormby — "Before the AAC, I was a bored TV watcher. It has opened the world for me." http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

Ppinder Hundal — 'now you know me think more': A Journey with Autism using Facilitated Communication Techniques" by Ppinder Hundal with Pauline Lukey, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, UK (2003). http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/1-84310-144-0 Pauline Lukey first met Ppinder Hundal when Ppinder was eight years old and had no formal way of communicating. Beginning with the use of sign language, moving on to assisted typing and finally to Ppinder's current desire to learn to read and write, the authors recount their remarkable journey from Ppinder's first signs to her ability now to discuss her medication with her carers and converse, via laptop, with her autistic friends. This honest and moving account demonstrates the remarkable effects of facilitated communication and highlights that communication is a skill that everyone is entitled to enjoy.

Chris Huntingdon — Two You Tube videos: "How does myTobii work?. this time i will explain u how mytobii works." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6wO0Q_hrM8&feature=channel_page and "Hi Youtube users. this time i show u how i write my emails." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQE34JwiZZc

John Jameson. — Four Poems.
http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=113

David Jayne — "My children have no memory of my voice. All of their recollections are of a computer- generated voice," he said. "Having the ability to tell my children I love them is beyond words." http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

Harriet McBryde Johnson — Not Another Peep Out of You. Personal account of a hospital emergency in which medical personnel were not listening: "Even without a voice, I made them attend. I made them understand. What silenced me was not voicelessness, but being in a place where what I said and what I wanted didn't matter." http://www.mouthmag.com/issues/79/notapeep.htm

Julie M. Jones — "I never really 'feel' my disability when I am on my computer using my Dragon NaturallySpeaking." http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

Christian Kaspar — http://www.ifc.ch/fc_nutzer/feuer%20Ound%20wasser.htm (website in German)

Helen Keller — Correspondence and Writings (accessible at website of American Foundation for the Blind). Website includes a selection of writings and speeches from the Helen Keller Archival Collection at the American Foundation for the Blind from 1901-1966 and covering topics such as advocacy, education, faith, elections, war, the senses, women's issues, legislation, and more.
On Optimism: http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=1&TopicID=193&SubTopicID=22&DocumentID=1208
A Chant of Darkness: http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=1&TopicID=193&SubTopicID=22&DocumentID=1188

Chris Klein — Blogsite: Clay Vessel Inc. "The Scoop"; "AAC develops a person's communication skills. AAC enhances a person's education. AAC gives a person a whole new life." Blog entries on Time to Build Community; School Support; Is Home Schooling the Answer; The Need to Feel Wanted; Dreaming Big; Vocabulary, Speed, and Social Impact; and more. http://clayvesselinc.blogspot.com/

Sharisa Kochmeister — Blog: http://sharisa-kochmeister.blogspot.com/ FC and Me: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=114; I Deserve to Be Heard: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42; Reflections on a Year of Turmoil and Growth: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=116; Excerpts from Shattering Walls: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42&articleID=117; Who I Am and Why I'm Here, Changing How People Think, What Is Autism? Being a Child with Autism, Being a Grown-Up with Autism, The Gifts of my Autism, Helping Us Communicate, and FC (poem), all at http://donna.jdowning.com/index.htm (click on the "We Speak" button). See also Learning About Independent Typing From People Working to Achieve It

Ben Lehr — Making Their Way: Despite Critics, Autistic Youths Still Typing, ABC News, January 20, 2003 Followup interviews with Lucy Harrison, Jeff Powell, and Ben Lehr who were interviewed first in 1992. http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/2003/1-03/ABC1-20-03.html

Sarah Lever — The Importance of Augmentative and Alternative Communication to a Non-Verbal Person: A Look at my Life http://www.ttac.odu.edu/SHAV/SarahLeverPresentationSHAV2006.pdf What Does Leadership Mean for an AAC User? Proceedings of the Biennial Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators, 2007, Page 52-55. "The world needs our voices because no one else knows what we have to give and what we need in order to give." http://www.shoutaac.org/PEC2007FINAL.pdf

Lisa — "You have to understand that there are so many other silent ones that are still trapped." http://www.unh.edu/Archives/dAC/lisa.html

Schlomo Lowinger — Personal writing about not being able to talk, getting a voice through FC and text of article A Voice on Shabbos: Empowering Jewish Communication Aid Users http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_shlomo.htm

Beth Anne Luciani — College Life and AAC: Just Do It (webcast) "Since I am unable to speak, I have used some form of a DynaVox since 1994. I use a switch behind my head to select words and letters from the display, and then I can speak what I type ... College was always a dream of mine. I am living that dream and I couldn’t be happier." Video with complete transcript in "Notes" section. http://mcn.ed.psu.edu/dbm/bal_cal

Eugene Marcus — This site has links to various writings including Eugene Marcus http://www.shevin.org/links-marcus.html How FC Users and their Professional Supporters Can Define and Defend Success in Facilitated Communication: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=125 On Almost Becoming a Person: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42&articleID=127 Helping Facilitated Communication Speakers Make Friends (co-author): http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=130

Alan Martin — "From the time that I got my first communication aid, about 11 years ago, I determined to fill the gaps in my education." "For the last eight years, I have been offering inclusive Contemporary Dance Workshops and Disability Issues/Awareness Training and Presentations ..." "Dance, I believe, is the ultimate way of communicating. Emotions, feelings, moods, even telling stories." http://www.mouseonthemove.co.uk/aac.html

Oleg Matushevich and Mathias Gottstein — Comments, introduction, photos and text of discussion while preparing a presentation. http://www.communi-care.org/html/communities_olma_en.htm

Anne McDonald — Anne McDonald's Institution Page, The Right to Communicate, Fourteen Years in an Institution. http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dealcc/Anne2.htm "If you want to know more about my story, read the book I wrote with Rosemary Crossley - Annie's Coming Out, published by Penguin - or chase up the movie Annie's Coming Out (Test of Love in the U.S.)"

Noelene Morgan — Choco. (poem) http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=132

John Morris-Dadson — John started using FC when he was nine years old. His poem "The Beach" appears in the Bridges Over Barriers newsletter, April 2008, p. 8 (http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/BOB-4-2008-p.pdf).

Beth Moulam — Website: Beth Moulam and AAC (Augmentative and alternative communication). "... I have created this site to share my personal views and opinions, my news and information about being a communication aid user." Includes blog, presentations, information on AAC, AT (assistive technology), presentations, contacts and links. http://www.bethmoulam.com/

Chris Mueller-Medlicott and Laura Spray — performers in the Community Inclusive Theatre Group's production of The Song that Greens the Earth. Mueller-Medlicott is one of the playwrights as well. Radical listening, radical touch by Byron Woods The Independent Weekly, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC. November 16, 2005 http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A25612. An hour-long documentary on the theatre group's work has been made by Durham, NC filmmaker Kenny Dalsheimer. Further information and a clip from the film: http://southerndocumentaryfund.org/projects/a-new-kind-of-listening.

Tito Mukhopadhyay — Breaking the Silence...CBS covered the story of Tito (same story covered by People Magazine in December 2002), and his mother who helped to unlock her son's ability to communicate. January 15, 2003 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/14/60II/main536416.shtml
Tito's writings, http://www.halo-soma.org/about_writings.php?sess_id-f65750274f271032364d952a313615c4

David Newton — Me and Lanny http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=140

Sarah Nettleton — FC Was the Key http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=139

Christopher Nolan — Under the Eye of the Clock. About using facilitated communication with cerebral palsy. ISBN: 1559705124 (paperback, 176 pages, Arcade Publishing 2000); ISBN: 1850897875 (audio cassette, 1994) http://books.google.com/books?id=gtL4Wb1uTCIC&dq=Nolan+Under+the+eye+of+the+clock&psp=1

India Ochs — Securing a Voice in This World, Words+ 2008 Outstanding Consumer Lecture. Presentation on her work with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights and the importance of activism against human rights injustice, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Conference, Montreal, Canada, August, 2008. "... whether we are advocating for ourselves or for others, each time we take a step towards ensuring a right, we are ensuring that right for everyone." http://www.words-plus.com/india_ochs.pdf

Robert O'Gurek, 2007 Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer. "I feel if more people who use augmentative communication devices volunteer in their community, it would bring a positive reaction among the public towards augmentative communicators and the disability community." http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/PrentkeLecture/2007/RobertO%27Gurek.html

Tom Page — Author of book Caught Between Two Worlds: My Autistic Dilemma, uses FC to communicate. http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_tom.htm

Scott Palm &mdash The Therapeutic Value of One Augmented Communicator Helping Another Augmented Communicator is Without Parallel, Proceedings of the Biennial Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators, 2007, pg. 70-74. "Some times a speech-language pathologist can try everything and anything, and nothing works until that person sees somebody else using a device. Then it clicks in his or her mind that they can do it too." http://www.shoutaac.org/PEC2007FINAL.pdf

Quinn Partridge http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_Quinn_Partridge.htm

Chris Patton — "I am" (poem) at http://donna.jdowning.com/index.htm (click on the "We Speak" button).

Nick Pentzell — How Things Have Changed: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=141

Missy Perrot — Personal Stories http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_missy.htm

Martin Pistorius &mdash From the age of 12 to 26, Martin was frozen in his body, unable to move or speak. But just look at him now ... "I kept going by living in my head, sometimes to such an extent that I became oblivious to my surroundings." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1248617/From-age-12-26-Martin-frozen-body-unable-speak-But-just-look-.html#ixzz0en8I8OwB

Jeffrey Powell, Jr. — Making Their Way: Despite Critics, Autistic Youths Still Typing, ABC News, January 20, 2003 Followup interviews with Lucy Harrison, Jeff Powell, and Ben Lehr who were interviewed first in 1992. http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/2003/1-03/ABC1-20-03.html
Letter of Introduction. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=143
Poems: In Jupiter's Realm Waiting, Quiet by the Edge of Dreams, and The Masts of Far Reaches Won. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=134

Tracy Rackensperger, 2006 Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer. — Growing Up with AAC: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/GrowingUpAAC.htm "Individuals who need augmentative communication technology should access it as early as possible. The general public needs to know how augmentative communication enables people to achieve at their highest level." http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/PrentkeLecture/2006/TracyRackensperger.html

Sandra Radisch http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_sandra.htm
Protect Our Voices: An Important Lesson About Facilitated Communication by Sandra Radisch http://www.autcom.org/pdf/AutcomNLWinter2006.pdf

Chandi Rajapatirana (aka Chammi in early writings) — Always. (poem) http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=135 On Being Mute http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=144 Thoughts on Facilitated Communication http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=146

Michael B. Reed — Advocate and active campaigner for access to AAC, literacy instruction, equal education; his websites include personal writings and video in addition to AAC information and instruction. http://michael-reed.me.uk/. His page at The Diana Award Channel website has videos on AAC and advocacy, including "Equality Without Words?", "AAC Role Models and the Right to Meet One", AAC awareness talks, making AAC materials, and more. http://www.radiowaves.co.uk/r/mbr

Michael Regos — Website: Up Down Syndrome! An extra chromosome makes you better than average, not worse. Writings, account of his early adventures in facilitated communication. http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dealcc/Regoswel.htm

Barb Rentenbach — author of the book Synergy. "I am Barb Rentenbach, and my other defining label is autism — the severe kind, if I may be so bold. For decades, I bumped around ignorantly in this vexatious arcade of blaring impersonal voices, erratic assaults of color and light, indefinable loneliness, and relentless confusion. Eventually, I let down my bulwark and discovered clarity, purpose, meaning, confidence, independence, and friendship." http://www.barbrentenbach.com

Heather Rossignol — Knowing and Longing. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=148

Ben Rossignol — FC Must Not Be Hunted: http://www.ccids.umaine.edu/resources/fcmaine/sharing.html. A Message from Ben: http:/www.ccids.umaine.edu/resources/fcmaine/bena94.html.

Sue Rubin — http://www.sue-rubin.org Living and Thoroughly Enjoying Life in Spite of Autism. Website of emmy-nominated screenplay writer ("Autism Is A World"), disabilities advocate, and college student Sue Rubin provides insight into her life with autism and her use of facilitated communication. Texts of conference presentations, personal writings, academic writings, publications.
In the Footsteps of Cesar Chavez: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=154
Killing Autism is a Constant Battle: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=156
On Doing One's Homework: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=157
A Recipe for Success: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42&articleID=159

Peter Rowe — is an artist in Queensland, Australia. His website, http://peter-rowe.info has his bio, art, poetry, music, information on facilitated communication, and more.

Nick Russi — The Hindrance People (poem): http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=162

D.J. Savarese — "I Have a Dream ..." Speech http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories_DJ_Savarese.htm
Collection of writings: Note to Dad, Letter To My Former Teachers, Daring to Be Brave (poem), Prairie Dogs (poem), Excerpt from American Hero term paper. "Until I freed myself through writing, people thought I had no mind. Freeing kids who are estimated as retarded is my hope for the future." http://www.reasonable-people.com/writings.html

Jenn Seybert — Personal Stories: Jenn Seybert http://sanys.org/regions/Centralgropnewsletternovember2006.pdf
Making It Happen http://www.sanys.org?SDStoryFolder/Makingithappen.txt
The Jenn and Gene Comedy Hour http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42&articleID=164

Jeff Seeger — I Dreamed of Being Normal (poem): http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=163

Birger Sellen — see Ian Drummond
I Don't Want to be Inside Me Anymore. Review, with excerpts, by Annegret Schubert. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=85

Brett Shaw — Autism (poem): http://rescare.com/news/success_stories/2008/caregivers.cfm (at the bottom of the article).

Bac Shelton — Out and About Using a Communication Aid at a 7-11, at an Emergency Room, and on a Date, Proceedings of the Biennial Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators, 2005, pg. 29-30. "Whenever Fay and I go out to a restaurant or something, people always ask us about our communication device. The same thing over and over in which we do not mind asking their questions." http://www.shoutaac.org/Proceedings2005.doc

Ruth Sienkiewicz-Mercer — "All the residents at Belchertown suffered from overcrowding, lack of proper staffing, and indifference from what little staff there was. But the Infirmary was in many ways the institution's chamber of horrors. It was here that I would spend the next thirteen years of my life." "As long as these people considered my brain useless and my facial expressions and sounds meaningless, I was doomed to remain 'voiceless' ... Theresa figured out what none of the staff would decipher for several years: that I raised my eyes to say yes." From I Raise My Eyes to Say Yes by Ruth Sienkiewicz-Mercer and Stephen B. Kaplan (paperback), (1989), New York: Avon Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=AoN4AAAACAAJ&dq=I+Raise+My+Eyes+to+Say+Yes. Summary on-line at http://home.att.net/~ysinger/ruth.htm

Joel Smith — Alternatives to Speech and Real-time Communication by Joel Smith. Highly insightful and instructive presentation by person with autism on using real-time speech (responding to other people quickly) and using alternative methods; reasons for using alternatives; prejudice and ignorance; reactions by general public, professionals and other people with autism; internet resources. http://www.geocities.com/growingjoel/autreat/alternatives.doc

Sean Sokler — a recent graduate of George Mason University in Virginia, Sean has been using facilitated communication since he was in the fifth grade. He's given us permission to post some of his college work: http://everyonecommunicates.org/seansokler/. He also has a personal website at http://mason.gmu.edu/~ssokler/ and a blog at http://seansshoutouts.blogspot.com/.

Laura Spray — Poetry: http://www.haikuloop.com/poetry.html Information about the poet and about facilitated communication, which she uses: http://www.haikuloop.com/aboutHL.html Radical Listening, Radical Touch by Byron Woods The Independent Weekly, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC. November 16, 2005 http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A25612. Also see Chris Mueller-Medlicott

Joseph Stern — My Juliet http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories.htm

Sarah Stup — a young writer with two books published so far and another in the works. Visit her beautiful website at http://www.sarahstup.com/

Tracy Thresher — Sharing Stories: http://www.ccids.umaine.edu/resources/fcmaine/fcf95d.html
Real Supports: What Works, What Doesn't, "Possiblities" http://www.autcom.org/pdf/AutcomNLFall2006.pdf

Jim Tierney — Respect (poem): http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=165

Dan Treacy — I Don't Feel Defeated, AutCom newsletter http://www.autcom.org/articles%5CDefeated.html

Will Turnbull — Poems: Testing My Will and Untitled. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=136

J. Kevin Vasey — "When I was in high school, I thought that I had an interesting career ahead as a writer or an artist. But I have been sentenced to working in a laundry for many years. I’m limited to what support people are able and willing to do with me." The quote comes from Kevin's article "Opportunities Missed" which appeared in the Bridges Over Barriers Newsletter, April 2008. (Available at "http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/BOB-4-2008-p.pdf", page 4.) He has published a book, The Road Trip: Life with Autism, by Gloria Pearson-Vasey and J. Kevin Vasey (Ottawa: Novalis, 2005). ISBN 2-89507-603-0.

Lisa Welcome — Bright Songs of Energy (poem). http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=166

Ian Wetherbee — http://ianwetherbee.com Columns, stories, essays and poetry, blog, resume. Fascinating text of seven interviews with people who know Ian (family, friends, teachers, fellow students) with added comments by Ian (see About Ian section) regarding his communication. Chapters of book written by Wyn (father) and Ian (son) Wetherbee are posted in the blog starting with March 2006. The View from Huntington College: The Diviners, Five Hundred Pound Adventures, A Day on Wheels, Honest Gratitude http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=168 The View from Huntington College - II, Mar.00, Facilitated Communication Digest http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36&articleID=169

David Whitenett — "'Recently, my supervisor expressed relief that he could read my documentation much easier than most of the program staff. That made me feel proud of that accomplishment,' said Whitenett." http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

Bob Williams — Disability activist, previously Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in Health and Human Services (HHS) and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy in the Office for Planning and Evaluation under HHS Secretary Donna Shalala). Speaking Freely. "Historically, the ability of speech has been closely associated with the capacity for language and intelligence as well. Individuals with speech disabilities therefore typically have been assumed to have limited intelligence, and to lack both the ability and right to express ourselves." http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=247

Franklin Wilson of Illinois — Developing Successful Schooling Experiences for FC Users: An Interview with Franklin and Pat Wilson, Paula Kluth, Syracuse University. http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=204

Wally Wojtowicz Jr. — SHARING STORIES http://www.ccids.umaine.edu/fcmaine/fcw96e.html
My Three Worlds (excerpts from his forthcoming book, presented at the AutCom Conference, September, 2005) Beginning FC at age 25 opened doors for me that were closed as a younger person. I became able to undo most of the misconceptions that I had formulated in my mind about your world when I could ask questions about what I didn't understand. AutoCom Newsletter. http://www.autcom.org/pdf/AutcomNLSpring2006.pdf
Teaching the Non-verbal Autistic Student (summarized by Gail Gillingham Wylie)
http://www.autismconsultingservice.com/new_page_11.htm
"Heart Savants" Video with text "I remember wondering at that time who made the day and the night, the rain, thunder, snow, the wind, cold, heat of summer ... I did not have any way to ask these questions because I had no way to communicate my concerns." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inRak4jGgmE

Erin Brady Worsham — "That night, two rays of hope began to pierce the darkness of my soul. The first was a certainty that no one could predict the number of my days in this world, and the second was the realization that I could still make something of my life!" http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

David Yates — Dare to Discover (poem): http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39&articleID=170

Dietmar Zoeller — see Ian Drummond

A Foot in Both Worlds: A Collection of Personal Accounts from Speakers, Their Families, Friends and Facilitators, Edited by Mary Lapos. No longer available from the AutCom bookstore, but excerpts are available at http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=347.

Accounts of or by FCT users in Australia: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dealcc/Fcbbk4.htm

Articles by FC Users in the Facilitated Communication Newsletter; 39 articles and poems written by 23 different authors http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36

AT and AAC Profiles on the AT/AAC enABLES website. Video clips and personal accounts by over 25 people who use AAC, links to more sites with profiles of over 100 people who use AAC. http://depts.washington.edu/enables/profiles/profiles_at_aac.htm

Autism: Getting the Truth Out. Site designed to "expose more of the ugly realities of living with autism." Stark black and white photos highlight the poignant and compelling writings by individuals with autism about the real harsh realities of their lives. Long list of links "Some Voices of Autism", sources and credits. http://www.gettingthetruthout.org/links001.html [When we last checked, this site was undergoing renovation but promises to be back.]

Beneath the Surface: Creative Expressions of Augmented Communicators, edited by Michael B. Williams and Carole Jane Krezman, ISAAC Press, 2000. http://www.isaac-online.org

Breaking the Barriers. Personal comments and writings by people who use AAC and FC to communicate. http://www.tash.org/breaking-the-barriers/stories.htm

Bridges over Barriers "is a group that has been created by us as we grow as communicators." Poetry, insights, and articles by individuals who type to communicate and by their family, friends, communication assistants, and others. http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/Bridges-2007.html

Facilitated Communication Case Studies: See Us Smart! by Charlene Brandl (Chapter 10 is available online). This book provides case studies of different children, some with autism, others with Down syndrome, who demonstrate the effectiveness of facilitated communication. This method has helped these youngsters communicate with their parents, teachers, and peers. The youngsters clearly demonstrate why they want people to "See Us Smart!" http://www.robbiedeanpress.com/readingroom/rr007.htm#Contents Available also from AutCom bookstore http://iodserver.unh.edu/iodbookstore/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=43.

Impacts of Severe Communication Disabilities on Individuals. Many quotes by individual AAC users on the importance of communication to life: "Without a doubt, my inability to speak has been the single most devastating aspect of my handicap. If I were granted one wish and one wish only, I would not hesitate for an instant to request that I be able to talk, if only for one day, or even one hour." "Speech is the most important thing we have. It makes us a person and not a thing. No one should ever have to be a "thing." "Speechlessness is not a loss of life but a loss of access to life ..." http://www.augcominc.com/whatsnew/impacts.html

Learning About Independent Typing From People Working To Achieve It, Douglas Biklen, Facilitated Communication Institute. "Lucy Harrison (age 17), Larry Bissonnette (age 36) and Sharisa Kochmeister (age 15) all use facilitated communication as their means of expression. They are all working on and achieving independent typing." http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30&articleID=238

Making Their Way: Despite Critics, Autistic Youths Still Typing ABC News, January 20, 2003 Text of followup interviews with Lucy Harrison, Jeff Powell, and Ben Lehr who were interviewed first in 1992. http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/2003/1-03/ABC1-20-03.html

Many Methods, One Goal: To Communicate Writing Collection. International collection of over 60 stories, poems, essays, videos by people who use AAC; many describe the ways in which the authors communicate without speech and point out the importance of access to alternatives for communicating. International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), International AAC Awareness Month, October 2009. http://www.aacawareness.org/2009stories.htm

Many Stories, One Voice Story Collection. Collection of over 100 stories, essays, and poems written by people who use AAC; includes personal essays and creative stories with characters who use AAC. International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), International AAC Awareness Month, August 2008. http://www.aacawareness.org/collectiontoc.html

Mind Muscle by Erin Brady Worsham. MDA Quest, Vol. 11, No. 3. Personal stories of six AAC users. www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q113mindmuscle.html

Proceedings of the Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators. This site has proceedings from 2001, 2005, and 2007, including full text of presentations by AAC users with an employment focus. http://www.shoutaac.org/pastpecconferences.htm

Ray Kopp's Links (Syracuse, New York) AAC and FC links: links to personal stories of FC users. http://web.syr.edu/~rjkopp/data/autlinkaugfc.html

Sharing Our Wisdom: A Collection of Presentations by People within the Autism Spectrum edited by Gail Gillingham and Sandra McClennan (Autism National Committee, 2003) available from AutCom bookstore http://iodserver.unh.edu/iodbookstore/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=2. Writings by the following people with autism who communicate by typing are collected in this book: Kenny Affonce, Dare to Dream a Little Dream; Jamie Burke, Life's a Beach; Robert W. Cutler, When We Were Young, Pulling the Plug on Aversives; Tyler Fihe, Understanding Autism; Maegan Stoddard Garcia, An Inner Voice Set Free; David Goodman, Things that Bother Me; Mike Hoover, To Be a Good Helper, Using Communication Devices; Sharisa Joy Kochmeister, To Have a Voice; Nick Pentzall, 3 Presentations; Sandra Radisch, Sandra: The Sometimes Invisible Woman; Chammi Rajapatirana, I Have Words Now, Waiting to Live; Sue Rubin, FC: The Key to Success; Jenn Seybert, Inclusion ... Finally!; Dan Treacy, Presentable, Facts for Caregivers 101; Ian Wetherbee, Realities of Autism; Wally Wojtowicz, Jr., The Essence of Facilitated Communication.

Speaking Up and Spelling It Out: Personal Essays on Augmentative and Alternative Communication edited by Melanie Fried-Oken and Hank A. Bersani, Jr. (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co, 2000). "This is a book for people who use AAC and for those who live, work, recreate, or go to school with AAC users." Twenty-eight diverse individuals who use AAC, from teens to senior citizens, give first-person accounts of how living with AAC has affected them. Chapter cross-reference by topic is very helpful: What is AAC? Vocabulary and Storytelling, The Role of Technology and Alternative Access, Principles of Assessment, AAC Intervention, AAC and Developmental Disabilities, Language Learning and Literacy, Educational Inclusion of AAC Users, AAC for Adults with Acquired Physical Disabilities, AAC for Adults with Severe Aphasia, Employment and AAC, AAC in Intensive and Acute Care Settings, Personal Care Attendants, Family- Centered Issues, Self-Determination and AAC, Public Policy and AAC, Multicultural Issues and AAC, Professional AAC Training. Janice Staehely, The Communication Dance; Gregory M. Haslett, Sand and Sea; Gus Estrella, Confessions of a Blabber Finger; Peg L. Johnson, If I do Say So Myself!; J. Brown, Nobody Knows Me but Me, Myself, and I – the Three of Us; Tara M. McMillen, Communication My Way; Solomon Vulf Rakhman, One Life, Two Countries; Sharon P. Price, My Early Life and Education; Gregory M. Haslett, To Play Music; Spencer Houston, Reflections on a Kayak Expedition in Scotland; Toby Churchill, The AAC Manufacturer's Tale; Laurence C. Thomson and Terry M. Thompson, Partners with a View; William L. Rush, Liberating Myself; David Chapple, Empowerment; Arthur Honeyman, Reaching for the Stars and Almost Touching Them; Peg L. Johnson, Others Say So, Too; Arthur Honeyman, butt look: a different perspective; Gail M. Grandy, How I Communicate; Sharon Jodock-King and Alan R. King, Our Lives, Our Community, Our Caregivers; Chris Featherly, Life with Cerebral Palsy; Thomas J. Boumans, Down Memory Lane; Mike Ward, How I Got Here; Jim Prentice, With Communication, Anything Is Possible; Rick Hohn, Making People Laugh and Cry; Alan R. King, I almost Died, but Somehow I Lived; Michael B. Williams, Just an Independent Guy Who Leads a Busy Life; Gordon W. Cardona, Spaghetti Talk; Bob Williams, More than an Exception to the Rule; Arthur Honeyman, Father Warrior of a CP Warrior. http://books.google.com/books?id=RGoCAAAACAAJ&dq=speaking+up+and+spelling+it+out.

Watch Our Words, a group of FC typers and facilitators in Colorado. In-home and large group trainings are conducted by FC typers with the help of their facilitators. http://donna.jdowning.com/index.htm

Waves of Words: Augmented Communicators Read and Write, edited by Karen A. Erickson, David A. Koppenhaver, and David E. Yoder, ISAAC Press, 2002. http://www.isaac-online.org

AutCom (Autism National Committee) Bookstore. Numerous books by or about people who use augmentative communication and facilitated communication training are available. http://iodserver.unh.edu/iodbookstore/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=2

Facilitated Communication Institute
FC Digest articles: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=30
Personal Writing: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=36
Poetry: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=39
Presentations: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=42
Videotapes, documentaries: http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=51

Facilitated Communication Training: An Annotated Bibliography by Chris Borthwick. Books and Monographs – Accounts of or by people who use FCT http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dealcc/Fcbbk4.htm

ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication). http://www.isaac-online.org

Non-Autism Books of Interest - Facilitated Communication http://www.autism-resources.com/generaltopics/fc.html

Autism Books - Facilitated Communication http://www.autism-resources.com/nonfictiontopics/fc.html

Selected Readings Related to Augmentative and Facilitated Communication http://www.tash.org/IRR/communication/comm_living_fcreadings.html

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