Amanda Video Response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc

WOW!!  What an amazing video...very powerful!  As I watched the video I thought what a beautiful voice...Amanda's humming was very soothing and sounded like a song!  I got the impression that she enjoyed music...I guess that is perhaps why she  made all those sounds with the many objects she touched...she rubbed, she scratched, she crumpled, she jiggled etc. 

I thought that it was interesting that Amanda stood in front of a window during the recording of this video.  Windows are often been used as metaphors.... which is why it made me think how lucky those who viewed this video...including myself... were to get an opportunity to look into 'her world' and learn how those living with disabilities are just like you and me...they have thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.    

'Presumed competency'....these words are very interesting.  I guess for many people seeing Amanda, they would have no idea just how intellectually deep her thinking is unless you had the opportunity to chat with her.  There were many things that Amanda said that resonated with me, but I especially loved her comment about our language and hers...how "failure to learn your language is seen as a deficit...failure to learn my language is so natural...causes people to tend to officially describe people like us as mysterious and puzzling."

Her choice of words is very interesting and...sadly I think that her comment is not too far from the truth.  However, luckily for us...assistive technology has given Amanda a voice...a powerful voice. Together, assistive technology and Amanda are providing people with a better understanding of a person living with autism.   It is educating many people who had preconceived ideas about what Amanda was capable of.  AT has enabled her to demonstrate her knowledge and skills and convey her emotions.  Most importantly, AT has given Amanda the platform needed to hopefully help change the misconceptions about persons with disabilities and begin to break down walls that have become barriers within our society when it comes to viewing persons with disabilities. 

Seeing the many ways AT is being used to give voices to those who, in the past, were silenced,  makes me think about my brother Kenny.  He is special needs.  Like Amanda, he is non-verbal.  Over the years Kenny has used a variety of modalities to communicate with family and friends including gestures, vocalizations and pointing.  However, I have always wondered many, many things. 

Growing up in a family of 6 kids........I often wondered what Kenny's voice would sound like...would he sound like my Dad or my brother Todd or my brother Darren...would his voice be deep or would it be high ....I often wondered what he wanted to say, especially when the entire family sat around the table eating or around the camp fire chit-chatting in the summer :)  ...I wondered what comments he would make about important issues happening in today's society? 

On occasion, I have dreams where my brother has a voice.  It is very deep but quite and calming.  I love those dreams!  Perhaps someday he will be given the appropriate tool he needs so that he will be able to express himself...and I would finally get to hear his perspective...his voice!  That would be very cool!  Perhaps I will gain a better understanding of an AT tool that could open the door to 'his world' so that he can share with me some of the answers to my 'wonderings' I have always had.