#virtual speech therapy for adults

[artemisaccents]

Website: https://www.artemisaccents.com

Artemis Accents, led by Tausha Murray, a seasoned Speech and Language Pathologist, specializes in American English pronunciation training. Offering online sessions, the service is ideal for non-native English speakers, professionals in various fields, and individuals preparing for English proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS. Their personalized programs, ranging from 7 to 12 weeks, are designed to significantly improve pronunciation, aiding in career advancement and boosting confidence in English communication.

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[autball]

Part 5 of a 5 part series about the ways harmful practices are being made to sound more appealing and how to spot the differences between helpful and harmful approaches.

Communication support is a desperately needed thing for so many autistic people and their families. So unlike some of the other things I’ve posted about this week, this is 100% a worthy goal. Unfortunately, many places that claim they can offer it are not delivering. 

In some cases, they simply don’t have the education to properly support communication needs (I’m looking at you, ABA). Other times they do have the proper education (ie Speech Language Pathologists) but they will gatekeep certain methods of communication, either because they believe harmful myths about them or they haven’t been trained in that particular method. Also, not every SLP knows about Gestalt Language Processing, so even an otherwise great therapist could be missing some information.

So here are some questions to ask when trying to figure out if someone is truly capable of offering well-rounded, neuro-affirming communication support:

Are they more concerned with making the client easier to deal with for others, or are they focused on the client’s rights, needs, and wishes? (We’re looking for the second one.)

Do they address the client directly, or do they speak as if the client isn’t even in the room? (We’re looking for the first one.)

Do they see speech and language as a behavioral thing? (Verbal Behavior and PECS are dead giveaways - and we want a NO.) 

Do they understand that an inability to produce speech has no bearing on a person’s ability to think and feel? (YES✅)

Do they only push for speech, see speech as the end goal, or value speech above all other methods of communication? (NO✅)

Do they honor things like echolalia, pointing to objects, and bringing an adult over to something they want as valid communication? (YES✅)

Do they honor things like refusal to participate, crying, and meltdowns as valid communication? (YES✅)

Do they believe that things like pacifiers, AAC, or responding to “non-functional communication” discourages speech/“functional” communication? (NO✅)

Do they know about Gestalt Language Processing and believe it is a thing? (YES✅)

Do they require “pre-requisites” before they will try alternative communication methods? (NO✅)

Do they require the client to earn time on their AAC device or remove the device when they deem it a distraction, essentially taking away their voice? (NO✅)

Do they know who to send you to if they aren’t personally trained in an approach they think would be more helpful? (YES✅)

Obviously, trying to find someone local to you with all the green flags and no red ones is kind of like trying to find a unicorn for most people. But if you have a choice between two or more therapists, you can at least go with the one who has more right answers and be ready to advocate/educate when needed. 

If you literally have only one option available to you and it’s not a good one, you can either be ready to advocate at every turn or just choose not to use their services. Yeah, that’s allowed! Not every autistic person needs speech therapy, and not all communication support has to be directly administered by a professional. You as the parent or caregiver will play a huge role in supporting your person with their communication needs, and luckily there are online resources and virtual trainings that can help you do that.

P.S. What’s the difference between PECS and picture cards, you ask? PECS is a whole ABA-based program that uses a limited set of picture cards and should be avoided for several reasons. Meanwhile, plain old picture cards are something that can be made and used by anyone without any specific program.

P.P.S. Zero debates about the legitimacy of Spelling to Communicate (S2C) or Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) will be entertained (translation - it will be deleted so don’t waste your time).

[ariel-seagull-wings]

@themousefromfantasyland @the-blue-fairie @tamisdava2 @mask131 @professorlehnsherr-almashy @piterelizabethdevries @thealmightyemprex @amalthea9 @faintingheroine

Family members on my maternal side began to notice aspects of the Autism Spectrum in me between the ages of seven and nine, but they started talking to me about the subject after doing initial readings when I was a teenager. Having constantly heard from people my age and adults terms like “stupid” or “mad”, jokes asking “which scientist studies crazy people?” and comments that the fact that I spent a lot of time reading would make me become mentally ill and be hospitalized, the possibility of seeking a therapist and being diagnosed as neurodivergent was rejected by me when it was suggested. “Imagine my shock as a neurodivergent teenager when I first realized that using a broad vocabulary and eloquent speech doesn't make you less likely to be misinterpreted, but rather adds an entirely new layer of misinterpretation that I had never realized existed in the form of people thinking you’re being snobbish or condescending when you’re just trying to be specific.”

There was the fact that they were well-intentioned people recommending that I seek the diagnosis, but not positioning themselves as possible members of the spectrum, combined with the fact that I was desperate to fit in among the so-called “normal” people, to avoid the social stigma of “crazy” and surviving years of bullying, creating a situation in which I internalized self-hatred.

Over the years, involving myself in hobbies such as writing fanfiction and sharing reviews of films and TV shows, I began to create a community of virtual friends, many of whom have already been diagnosed with autism or are at least considering the possibility of being on the spectrum.

“As an autistic person, it's really nice to have someone to send information to. That’s one of the best things about social media.”

Furthermore, I started participating in courses and lectures on the spectrum organized by members of the Campus where I study.

I listened to stories of life experiences narrated by autistic people themselves, so diverse, and at the same time having so many similarities with my life.

It was different from the well-intentioned neurotypical acquaintances suggesting I seek help: these were people speaking for themselves, proudly positioning themselves as autistic.

After having faced a period of depression and anxiety caused by the political state of Brazil exacerbated by the COVID 19 Pandemic, mixed with a series of family communication problems, with the support of my grandmother, my friends from Campus, and the community of friends which I did virtually through fandoms on the internet, I decided to embrace the search for diagnosis.

An online acquaintance of mine once asked me if I ever felt emotionally lonely as an autistic person.

I answered yes, being the worst period of loneliness before the diagnosis, forcing me to mask my true feelings, misjudging myself and constantly suffering errors of judgment and mistreatment from others who wanted to force me to be “ normal".

It got to the point where I suffered suicidal ideation.

It is thanks to the diagnosis and weekly therapy that I now have words to say:

"I have my limits and I will not exceed them just to fit into your vague sense of 'normality'. I am not broken, society is broken, so not be accessible to people like us."

I take this opportunity to say that I am just an individual.

Being a spectrum, each autistic person is different, formed by family life, culture, society and access (or lack of access, in many cases) to the diagnosis and therapies in the places in which they grew up.

I leave here for reflection this translation of a post that I found and reblogged here on Tumblr (don't remember the original author, but still want to credit them):

“There are some autistic “traits” that people find really annoying, but which are inherently kind. Like explaining too much, many autistic people haven’t had certain things explained because “everyone knows it.”

So when an autistic person over-explains something, it's not because they think you're stupid, it's because they know what it's like for someone to assume you know something you don't and just never explain how or why.

It's kindness.

Autistic people aren't boring or stupid because of that. They are kind.”

Don't just settle for my story, try to hear the stories of other autistic people.

*Paragraphs between air quotes are quotes from other autistic people's posts I found here on Tumblr.

[selectivechaos]

severity of sm reduces with age

it’s easy to cite the age 22 as a ‘turning point’ as the BBC did in their article ‘i have a phobia of talking’. this indicates that after age 22 people who still have sm have no chance of getting better.

but the study they were citing actually states:

⚠️long post⚠️

“mean peak severity of SM occurred between 12 and 19 years old. Mean self-reported SM severity was still of significantly greater than ‘50%’ between ages 5 and 34, diminishing relatively linearly from the participants’ early 20s to a low level by around age 60. This demonstrates that SM can extend well into adulthood and that, for most but not all participants, virtual recovery was eventually forthcoming.

Most participants described partial recovery from SM (i.e. a turning point) between the ages of 17 and 26, with a mean age of partial recovery being around 22 years. That said, the oldest participant in this study who reported having experienced no remission at all was 46. Partial recovery is consistent with the findings of Remschmidt et al. (2001) who indicated partial but not complete recovery in a proportion of young adults who had had SM in childhood.

The reasons for partial recovery / the turning point included: change of circumstances such as leaving school or education, finding a life partner, starting work, leaving home, becoming pregnant (which one participant described as causing her to be more outspoken spontaneously) and having children. Alternatively, adults with SM made the conscious choice to persistently challenge or force themselves to speak, usually without any form of professional support. Some adults entered therapy (albeit psychodynamic or humanistic forms of therapy, or CBT) and/or took medication (the SSRNI, Venlaxafine, and SSRIs such as Sertraline were mentioned as significantly helping with disinhibiting speech). Detrimentally, some adults relied on alcohol, occasionally causing problems further down the line. Self-harm, as a coping mechanism, was also mentioned.

Few (three only) indicated spontaneous partial recovery without one or more of a significant change of circumstance, period of persistent self-challenge, period of therapeutic intervention and / or period of taking medication.

While for most participants there was a remission of symptoms eventually, there were also a subgroup of participants whose SM continued at a significantly higher level after age 34, diverging from the rest of the group. For these participants the severity of SM did not decrease, continuing at a high level into their 50s. This group of eighteen participants (the minority of participants) described having experienced emotional, physical and/or vicarious abuse (e.g. witnessing domestic violence) in their childhood home. There was no data after this age because the oldest participant who described this kind of experience was in their 50s.” pp. 101-2

(this being said, those with sm who have childhood trauma aren’t doomed to never get better; look at Maya Angelou’s story but be wary that this website has some misinformation such as that sm is nevessarily vaused by trauma; there’s no evidence for this).

This study shows that the majority of participants experience “remission of symptoms eventually” and that it’s usually due to one of three factors: change in life circumstances, persistent forcing themselves to speak (usually without having professional support), or therapy/medication. adults with sm are NOT doomed; to the contrary, the future looks bright 🌹🌹

source: carl sutton ‘selective mutism in adults: an exploratory study’ online questionnaires of a sample of 83 adults, who reported having SM when turning 18, no formal diagnosis required, and they were also invited to submit life stories. pp. 101-2

[onecalldoctor123]

Speech Therapy services at Home in Dubai | One Call Doctor, Dubai

In the bustling city of Dubai, where life moves at a fast pace, accessibility to essential healthcare services can sometimes be a challenge. For individuals grappling with speech disorders or impediments, the need for timely and effective therapy is paramount. However, with the demands of daily life, attending regular sessions at a clinic might not always be feasible. Recognizing this need, a pioneering initiative has emerged — “One Call Doctor: Speech Therapy Services at Home in Dubai”.

Speech therapy is a specialized field aimed at diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. These disorders can arise from various factors such as developmental delays, neurological conditions, stroke, or injury. The therapy process involves a range of techniques tailored to the individual’s needs, including exercises to improve articulation, language comprehension, voice modulation, and swallowing functions.

Traditionally, accessing speech therapy services involved scheduling appointments, commuting to clinics, and adhering to fixed session timings. However, “One Call Doctor” has revolutionized this approach by bringing therapy sessions directly to the comfort and convenience of one’s home. This innovative service eliminates the barriers of transportation, time constraints, and physical discomfort often associated with clinic visits. One call doctor provides best speech therapy services at home in Dubai.

The benefits of receiving speech therapy at home are manifold. Firstly, it offers a personalized and comfortable environment where individuals can feel relaxed and at ease, promoting better engagement and progress during sessions. Additionally, by conducting therapy in familiar surroundings, therapists can better assess and address specific challenges that may arise in the individual’s daily life.

Moreover, for families with busy schedules or individuals with mobility limitations, home-based therapy provides a practical solution. It eliminates the need for extensive travel, allowing for more flexibility in scheduling sessions according to one’s availability. This flexibility is particularly valuable in a dynamic city like Dubai, where time is a precious commodity.

“One Call Doctor” not only offers convenience but also ensures the highest quality of care. Their team comprises experienced and licensed speech therapists who employ evidence-based techniques and personalized treatment plans to cater to each client’s unique needs. Whether it’s improving speech clarity, enhancing language skills, or addressing swallowing difficulties, their therapists are equipped with the expertise and compassion to support individuals on their journey towards improved communication and quality of life.

Furthermore, the convenience of telehealth technology enhances the accessibility of speech therapy services. Through virtual platforms, individuals can access therapy sessions remotely, further breaking down geographical barriers and expanding access to vital healthcare services.

In a city as diverse and dynamic as Dubai, initiatives like “One Call Doctor” exemplify the spirit of innovation and inclusivity. By bringing speech therapy directly to homes, this service empowers individuals to overcome communication barriers and lead fulfilling lives. Whether it’s a child struggling with developmental delays or an adult recovering from a stroke, everyone deserves the opportunity to access high-quality healthcare conveniently and comfortably. One call doctor provides effective speech therapy services at home in Dubai, UAE.

In conclusion, “One Call Doctor: Speech Therapy Services at Home in Dubai” represents a significant step towards making essential healthcare services more accessible and user-friendly. By embracing innovation and prioritizing the needs of their clients, they are not just providing therapy; they are fostering empowerment, independence, and inclusion within the community. For more details visit our website : https://theonecalldoctor.com/services/speech-therapy/

[ronaldweissdental]

Achieve Your Dream Smile with Orthodontic Excellence at Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC

Introduction: In the bustling metropolis of New York City, where confidence is key and first impressions matter, your smile plays a pivotal role in shaping how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. At Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC, we understand the transformative power of a beautiful smile, which is why we offer comprehensive orthodontic services to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Join us as we delve into the world of orthodontics at Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC and discover how we can straighten your teeth and boost your confidence.

The Importance of Orthodontic Treatment: Orthodontic treatment goes beyond simply straightening teeth – it can also correct bite misalignments, improve oral function, and enhance overall facial aesthetics. Whether you're dealing with crowded teeth, gaps between teeth, or bite issues such as overbite, underbite, or crossbite, orthodontic treatment can help address these concerns and create a harmonious and balanced smile.

Comprehensive Orthodontic Solutions: At Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC, we offer a comprehensive range of orthodontic services tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient. From traditional braces to clear aligner therapy, our skilled orthodontists utilize advanced techniques and state-of-the-art technology to deliver customized treatment plans that achieve optimal results with efficiency and precision.

Traditional Braces: Traditional metal braces remain a highly effective and versatile orthodontic treatment option for correcting a wide range of dental issues. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces consist of brackets, wires, and elastic bands that work together to gradually shift teeth into their desired positions. While metal braces are more conspicuous than clear aligners, they offer unparalleled control and can effectively address even the most complex orthodontic cases.

Clear Aligner Therapy: For patients seeking a more discreet and convenient alternative to traditional braces, we offer clear aligner therapy, including popular brands such as Invisalign®. Clear aligners are custom-made, removable trays that gradually move teeth into alignment without the need for metal brackets or wires. They are virtually invisible when worn, allowing patients to straighten their teeth discreetly and comfortably.

Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment: Orthodontic treatment offers numerous benefits beyond just cosmetic improvement, including:

Straighter teeth and a more attractive smile

Improved oral health and hygiene

Enhanced chewing and speech function

Reduced risk of dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and TMJ disorders

Boosted self-confidence and self-esteem

The Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC Difference: At Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC, our orthodontic team is dedicated to providing exceptional care in a warm and welcoming environment. We understand that every patient is unique, which is why we take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and develop a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your lifestyle and goals. Whether you're an adult, teenager, or child, you can trust us to deliver orthodontic solutions that meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Conclusion: Don't let crooked or misaligned teeth hold you back from smiling with confidence. With orthodontic treatment at Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC, you can achieve a straighter, healthier, and more beautiful smile that leaves a lasting impression. Schedule your consultation with us today and take the first step towards transforming your smile and transforming your life. Your journey to orthodontic excellence begins here at Ronald D. Weiss Dental NYC.

[phonologix-1]

Breaking the Silence: Dispelling Society's Misconceptions about Adult Speech and Language Disorders

In the field of adult speech-language disorders, misconceptions of society can cast a shadow over the experiences of those who face these challenges. Today, let's shed light on these misconceptions and explore how we can work together to address and eradicate them, promoting a more inclusive and understanding society.

1. Misconception: Language disorders only affect children.

Address: Highlights the fact that speech and language disorders can persist into adulthood or manifest later in life. Emphasize the importance of recognizing and supporting adults facing these challenges.

2. Misconception: Adults with speech and language disorders are unintelligent.

Address: Challenge the stereotype that communication skills are tied to intelligence. Demonstrates the diverse strengths and abilities of people with speech and language disorders, emphasizing their unique intelligence and talents.

3. Misconception: Online speech therapy is not as effective as in-person therapy.

Address: Educates the public about the effectiveness and accessibility of online speech therapy. Highlight the convenience, personalization, and positive outcomes associated with virtual interventions, removing barriers to seeking help.

4. Misconception: Speech and language disorders are the result of laziness or lack of effort.

Address: Movement to understand the neurological and physiological aspects of speech and language disorders. Emphasize that these challenges do not reflect effort or willpower but are complex conditions that require specialized support and intervention.

5. Misconception: Adults with speech and language disorders do not want to communicate.

Address: Enhance the desire to communicate among people with speech and language disorders. Tell personal stories of resilience and determination, emphasizing that these people often encountered obstacles but still actively sought connection and connection.

6. Misconception: Speech therapy is only used to improve speech sounds.

Address: Expands understanding of speech therapy to include many different aspects of communication, including language comprehension, social communication and pragmatic skills. Introduces a comprehensive approach taken by speech therapists to improve overall communication skills.

7. Misconception: Adults with speech and language disorders are not capable of holding professional positions.

Address: Fight stereotypes about expertise by highlighting professionals who have successfully overcome speech pathology challenges. Demonstrates the diversity of careers and achievements of people with speech and language disorders.

Breaking the silence: Promoting understanding through education:

To combat these misconceptions, education is essential. In particular, online speech therapy plays an important role in reaching broader audiences and removing barriers to care. By promoting a more informed and empathetic society, we can create an environment where people with speech and language disorders feel seen, heard and supported.

As we embark on this journey of understanding, let us join together to challenge stereotypes, embrace diversity and create a society that values ​​and elevates the voice of every individual, regardless of their communication ability.

[clearaccent]

Navigating The World Of Adult Speech Therapists And Speech Therapy Training In California.

Adult speech therapy encompasses a dynamic range of services designed to address communication challenges specific to the adult population. Whether grappling with speech disorders, language difficulties, or cognitive-communication impairments post-stroke, adult speech therapists play a pivotal role in restoring and refining communication skills. This guide explores the nuances of adult speech therapy, emphasizing the tailored approaches that cater to the unique needs of adult clients.

Navigating Language And Speech Therapy Services.

California stands as a hub of innovation in language and speech therapy, offering a plethora of services for adults seeking to enhance their communication abilities. From articulation therapy to accent modification, this guide delves into the diverse offerings available, showcasing the expertise of language and speech therapist in addressing the multifaceted needs of their adult clients.

Specialized Training For Speech Therapists.

The journey to becoming a proficient speech therapist requires specialized training, and California provides a fertile ground for aspiring professionals. Explore the various speech therapy training programs available, ranging from academic degrees to hands-on clinical experiences. This guide offers insights into the educational pathways, certifications, and practical training that shape competent and compassionate speech therapists.

The Intersection Of Technology And Speech Therapy Training.

In the digital age, technology has become an integral part of speech therapy training. Discover how California's training programs integrate cutting-edge technologies, virtual simulations, and telepractice into their curriculum to prepare speech therapists for the evolving landscape of the profession.

Addressing Communication Challenges Holistically.

Language and speech therapy extend beyond addressing speech impediments; they encompass holistic approaches to communication challenges. This guide explores how speech therapists consider the broader context, including social and emotional aspects, in their interventions, fostering comprehensive and sustainable improvements in communication. 

Advocacy And Awareness In Speech Therapy. Advocacy is a crucial aspect of the speech therapy training California and this guide sheds light on how speech therapists advocate for their adult clients. From raising awareness about communication disorders to promoting inclusivity, speech therapists in California are actively contributing to a more informed and supportive community.

[therapygrove]

The Future of Therapy is here-VR

When it comes to caring for someone with autism spectrum disorder, especially an adolescent or adult, parents and caregivers shoulder the considerable burden of finding effective therapies that will promote positive behavioral change. Conventionally used exposure-based methods are often too expensive and not as tailored to individual needs as desired. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has been tested in recent studies aimed at improving police interaction skills in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder, giving us newfound hope about an improved way for our kids to learn life skills they can use now and into adulthood. This technology is not only revolutionary but also cost-effective – VR therapy presents a unique opportunity to offer specific therapeutic interventions based on customized scenarios without the need for endless hours outside a clinic!

Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to revolutionize occupational and speech therapy for those on the autism spectrum. VR presents a unique opportunity to provide individualized interventions that are tailored to a person's specific needs. It also eliminates the need for costly, time-consuming clinic visits while still offering an engaging, immersive experience.

[streetsimpletherapyinc]

Looking For High Quality Virtual Speech Therapy Services? In Ohio

Street Simple Therapy, Inc has got you covered! Our team of experienced and certified therapists provides personalized virtual sessions for children and adults. Book a session today and start improving your speech and communication skills from the comfort of your own home. For any further information visit: https://www.streetsimpletherapy.com

[nursingucgconferences]

Meet Prof. Frank Chindamo at the CME/CPD/CE accredited 11th World Nursing, Healthcare Management, and Patient Safety Conference on November 15-18, 2022 in San Francisco, USA

UCG Committee is happy to announce that Prof. Frank Chindamo will be presenting their speech on If Laughter is the Best Medicine, Why Not Try it as Medicine? at the CME/CPD/CE accredited 11th World Nursing, Healthcare Management, and Patient Safety Conference on November 15-18, 2022 in San Francisco, USA & enhance your knowledge on Nursing, Healthcare and patient safety.

At USC's Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Frank invented LaughMD, which is currently in use. Working with Certified Humor Professionals through the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, Frank is a licenced professional in humour therapy.

He started his media career in writing and production at SNL and Ghostbusters before becoming an adjunct professor in web video at schools like USC, UCLA, Pepperdine, and Chapman Universities. Frank later earned more than 30 prizes for creating comedic videos for HBO, Showtime, CBS, and other networks. Later, he introduced the world's first mobile comedy channel, which was covered by Forbes, the LA Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.

An innovative EdTech firm with long-term commercial and societal value and an emphasis on access and opportunity in education was launched by Professor Frank Chindamo under the domain name www.VirtualFilmSchool.org.

A market for sharing economy education exists at Virtual Film SchoolTM. It's a university that connects students with instructors at any time, from anywhere in the globe, using virtual reality. They began in the popular field of new media since, among all occupations, 75% of young people desire to be content creators. To draw in more students and increase money, they intend to rapidly expand its offerings in the arts and languages. VFS has completed 4 pilot programmes, closed 2 sales, and is seeing increasing pilot programme revenue. We have strategic alliances with Lenovo, EXedu.co, the UN, Amazon, and CAA.

Virtual Film:

What if a film school allowed applicants from anywhere in the world to enrol? And you could participate at any time, from anywhere? Put on a VR headset, and you can take lessons in a virtual setting from professors who have won awards for their work in cinema and video. There's no need to move to Los Angeles, pay for prohibitively expensive housing, or part with your finances, friends, and family. Your classes and learning path will be carefully curated by Virtual Film SchoolTM so that you can gain the most up-to-date knowledge about filmmaking from the most recent instructors, websites, applications, and resources. The next generation's higher education is provided via Virtual Film SchoolTM.

For many different brands, FLM has produced films and video series. Most recently, they created the online series with an average of 200,000 views each episode for Intel's new Pocket Avatars app and for Kingston Technologies to promote their new wireless data drive. Prior to that, they produced a video for eVite to advertise the company's new Paper eVites; this video received over 100,000 likes on Facebook. Additionally, they worked on the Radio Shack TV ads for the launch of their extravagant TV box. The FLM Roku channel evaluation is as follows: "The short films are ironic and eclectic. It seems like Netflix and Vine have fused into one platform."

Similar to their Lime.com series starring SNL's Victoria Jackson, FLM has also developed and produced four other animated videos or series for the Planet Green TV to promote their channel — and green living — to youngsters and adults. Additionally, they developed a pilot for the computer game CakeMania in which they gave the main character a backstory. They also developed a pilot for the Jump and Jacks indoor playground concept for kids.

He also owns Fun Little Movies, a leading creator of humorous online "Advertainment" movies. The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, CNN, USA Today, Forbes Magazine, and other publications have all praised our work and given us over 30 prizes.

For well-known companies including Petco, Walmart, Best Buy, Intel, Kingston Technologies, eVite, and others, FLM has produced films and television programmes.

FLM earned the Grand Prize at Mobile Content World, which included a Chevrolet Cruze. Additionally created the TED lecture video for Titanic and Avatar producer Jon Landau.

At Columbia College, Hollywood, he was previously the Curriculum Coordinator/Instructor for New Media. At USC, UCLA, Chapman University, and Emerson College, he also developed the courses and serves as an adjunct professor for the web video creation and monetization courses. Freddie Wong, who has made over a billion dollars, Bernie Su, and 5SecondFilms have all been among my students. He received the 2016 Dodge College Adjunct Professor of the Year award from Chapman University. The books YouTube Success in 5 Steps were co-written by him. Columbia University, New York, MFA. NYU, BFA.

This is the time of yours to showcase your talent in front of worldwide attendees. Contact us at

nursing@universeconferences.net

WhatsApp: +442033222718

Submit your Presentation here:

https://nursing.universeconferences.com/submit-abstract/

Avail Certifications by registering here: 

https://nursing.universeconferences.com/registration/

[balrajgis]

Speech Therapy Market Pegged for Robust Expansion by 2031 | Type, Application, Scope & Key Companies | Genesis Rehab Services, Speech Therapy Solutions, Inc., Reliant Rehabilitation

Global Speech Therapy Market report from Global Insight Services is the single authoritative source of intelligence on Speech Therapy Market. The report will provide you with analysis of impact of latest market disruptions such as Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19 on the market. Report provides qualitative analysis of the market using various frameworks such as Porters’ and PESTLE analysis. Report includes in-depth segmentation and market size data by categories, product types, applications, and geographies. Report also includes comprehensive analysis of key issues, trends and drivers, restraints and challenges, competitive landscape, as well as recent events such as M&A activities in the market.

Speech therapy is the treatment of communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Speech therapists work with patients to improve their ability to communicate effectively and to swallow safely. Speech therapy may be recommended for individuals who have difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, have trouble using speech to communicate, or have difficulty with swallowing.

Get Access to A Free Sample Copy of Our Latest Report – https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-sample/GIS22216/

Key Trends

Some key trends in speech therapy technology include the use of mobile apps, wearables, and virtual reality. These technologies can be used to help people with speech disorders to improve their communication skills.

Mobile apps can be used to provide speech therapy exercises and games. Some apps can also be used to track progress and provide feedback.

Key Drivers

There are a number of key drivers of the Speech Therapy market. Firstly, the rising prevalence of communication disorders is a key driver of market growth. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately one in every six people in the United States (US) aged 3 years or older has a communication disorder. This is equivalent to around 15% of the US population.

Market Segmentation

By Age Group

Children

Adults

 By Indication

Speech Disorders

Language Disorders

Apraxia

By Region

North AmericaThe U.S.

Get Customized Report as Per Your Requirement – https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-customization/GIS22216/

Key Players

Genesis Rehab Services

 Speech Therapy Solutions, Inc.

 Reliant Rehabilitation

 Kindred Healthcare, LLC

 Smart Speech Therapy LLC

BenchMark Physical Therapy Institute

With Global Insight Services, you receive:

10-year forecast to help you make strategic decisions

In-depth segmentation which can be customized as per your requirements

Free consultation with lead analyst of the report

Excel data pack included with all report purchases

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Ground breaking research and market player-centric solutions for the upcoming decade according to the present market scenario

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[binsofchaos]

99 Additional Bits of Unsolicited Advice

• That thing that made you weird as a kid could you make great as an adult — if you don’t lose it.

• If you have any doubt at all about being able to carry a load in one trip, do yourself a huge favor and make two trips.

• What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. At your funeral people will not recall what you did; they will only remember how you made them feel.

• Recipe for success: under-promise and over-deliver.

• It’s not an apology if it comes with an excuse. It is not a compliment if it comes with a request.

• Jesus, Superman, and Mother Teresa never made art. Only imperfect beings can make art because art begins in what is broken.

• If someone is trying to convince you it’s not a pyramid scheme, it’s a pyramid scheme.

• Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand. For the rest of your life you’ll use this knot more times than you would ever believe.

• If something fails where you thought it would fail, that is not a failure.

• Be governed not by the tyranny of the urgent but by the elevation of the important.• Leave a gate behind you the way you first found it.

• The greatest rewards come from working on something that nobody has a name for. If you possibly can, work where there are no words for what you do.

• A balcony or porch needs to be at least 6 feet (2m) deep or it won’t be used.

• Don’t create things to make ; make money so you can create things. The reward for good work is more work.

• In all things — except love — start with the exit strategy. Prepare for the ending. Almost anything is easier to get into than out of.

• Train employees well enough they could get another job, but treat them well enough so they never want to.

• Don’t aim to have others like you; aim to have them respect you.

• The foundation of maturity: Just because it’s not your fault doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility.

• A multitude of bad ideas is necessary for one good idea.

• Being wise means having more questions than answers.

• Compliment people behind their back. It’ll come back to you.

• Most overnight successes — in fact any significant successes — take at least 5 years. Budget your life accordingly.

• You are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

• Assume anyone asking for your account information for any reason is guilty of scamming you, unless proven innocent. The way to prove innocence is to call them back, or login to your account using numbers or a website that you provide, not them. Don’t release any identifying information while they are contacting you via phone, message or email. You must control the channel.

• Sustained outrage makes you stupid.

• Be strict with yourself and forgiving of others. The reverse is hell for everyone.• Your best response to an insult is “You’re probably right.” Often they are.

• The worst evils in history have always been committed by those who truly believed they were combating evil. Beware of combating evil.

• If you can avoid seeking approval of others, your power is limitless.

• When a child asks an endless string of “why?” questions, the smartest reply is, “I don’t know, what do you think?”

• To be wealthy, accumulate all those things that money can’t buy.

• Be the change you wish to see.

• When brainstorming, improvising, jamming with others, you’ll go much further and deeper if you build upon each contribution with a playful “yes — and” example instead of a deflating “no — but” reply.

• Work to become, not to acquire.

• Don’t loan money to a friend unless you are ready to make it a gift.

• On the way to a grand goal, celebrate the smallest victories as if each one were the final goal. No matter where it ends you are victorious.

• Calm is contagious.

• Even a foolish person can still be right about most things. Most conventional wisdom is true.

• Always cut away from yourself.

• Show me your calendar and I will tell you your priorities. Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you where you’re going.

• When hitchhiking, look like the person you want to pick you up.

• Contemplating the weaknesses of others is easy; contemplating the weaknesses in yourself is hard, but it pays a much higher reward.

• Worth repeating: measure twice, cut once.

• Your passion in life should fit you exactly; but your purpose in life should exceed you. Work for something much larger than yourself.

• If you can’t tell what you desperately need, it’s probably sleep.• When playing Monopoly, spend all you have to buy, barter, or trade for the Orange properties. Don’t bother with Utilities.

• If you borrow something, try to return it in better shape than you received it. Clean it, sharpen it, fill it up.

• Even in the tropics it gets colder at night than you think. Pack warmly.

• To quiet a crowd or a drunk, just whisper.

• Writing down one thing you are grateful for each day is the cheapest possible therapy ever.

• When someone tells you something is wrong, they’re usually right. When someone tells you how to fix it, they’re usually wrong.

• If you think you saw a mouse, you did. And, if there is one, there are more.

• Money is overrated. Truly new things rarely need an abundance of money. If that was so, billionaires would have a monopoly on inventing new things, and they don’t. Instead almost all breakthroughs are made by those who lack money, because they are forced to rely on their passion, persistence and ingenuity to figure out new ways. Being poor is an advantage in innovation.

• Ignore what others may be thinking of you, because they aren’t.

• Avoid hitting the snooze button. That’s just training you to oversleep.• Always say less than necessary.

• You are given the gift of life in order to discover what your gift *in* life is. You will complete your mission when you figure out what your mission is. This is not a paradox. This is the way.

• Don’t treat people as bad as they are. Treat them as good as you are.

• It is much easier to change how you think by changing your behavior, than it is to change your behavior by changing how you think. Act out the change you  seek.

• You can eat any dessert you want if you take only 3 bites.

• Each time you reach out to people, bring them a blessing; then they’ll be happy to see you when you bring them a problem.

• Bad things can happen fast, but almost all good things happen slowly.

• Don’t worry how or where you begin. As long as you keep moving, your success will be far from where you start.

• When you confront a stuck bolt or screw: righty tighty, lefty loosey.

• If you meet a jerk, overlook them. If you meet jerks everywhere everyday, look deeper into yourself.

• Dance with your hips.

• We are not bodies that temporarily have souls. We are souls that temporarily have bodies.

• You can reduce the annoyance of someone’s stupid belief by increasing your understanding of why they believe it.

• If your goal does not have a schedule, it is a dream.

• All the greatest gains in life — in wealth, relationships, or knowledge —come from the magic of compounding interest — amplifying small steady gains. All you need for abundance is to keep adding 1% more than you subtract on a regular basis.

• The greatest breakthroughs are missed because they look like hard work.

• People can’t remember more than 3 points from a speech.

• I have never met a person I admired who did not read more books than I did.

• The greatest teacher is called “doing”.

• Finite games are played to win or lose. Infinite games are played to keep the game going. Seek out infinite games because they yield infinite rewards.

• Everything is hard before it is easy. The day before something is a breakthrough, it’s a stupid idea.

• A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem.

• When you are stuck, sleep on it. Let your subconscious work for you.

• Your work will be endless, but your time is finite. You cannot limit the work so you must limit your time. Hours are the only thing you can manage.

• To succeed, get other people to pay you; to become wealthy, help other people to succeed.

• Children totally accept — and crave — family rules. “In our family we have a rule for X” is the only excuse a parent needs for setting a family policy. In fact, “I have a rule for X” is the only excuse you need for your own personal policies.

• All guns are loaded.

• Many backward steps are made by standing still.

• This is the best time ever to make something. None of the greatest, coolest creations 20 years from now have been invented yet. You are not late.

• No rain, no rainbow.

• Every person you meet knows an amazing lot about something you know virtually nothing about. Your job is to discover what it is, and it won’t be obvious.

• You don’t marry a person, you marry a family.

• Always give credit, take blame.

• Be frugal in all things, except in your passions splurge.

• When making something, always get a few extras — extra material, extra parts, extra space, extra finishes. The extras serve as backups for mistakes, reduce stress, and fill your inventory for the future. They are the cheapest insurance.

• Something does not need to be perfect to be wonderful. Especially weddings.

• Don’t let your email inbox become your to-do list.

• The best way to untangle a knotty tangle is not to “untie” the knots, but to keep pulling the loops apart wider and wider. Just make the mess as big, loose and open as possible. As you open up the knots they will unravel themselves. Works on cords, strings, hoses, yarns, or electronic cables.

• Be a good ancestor. Do something a future generation will thank you for. A simple thing is to plant a tree.

• To combat an adversary, become their friend.

• Take one simple thing — almost anything — but take it extremely seriously, as if it was the only thing in the world, or maybe the entire world is in it — and by taking it seriously you’ll light up the sky.

• History teaches us that in 100 years from now some of the assumptions you believed will turn out to be wrong. A good question to ask yourself today is “What might I be wrong about?”

• Be nice to your children because they are going to choose your nursing home.

[bluewatsons]

Michael John Carley, Autism-Schmautism...In the End, Darius McCollum was Poor and Black, Exceptional Parent Magazine (December 2018)

On October 5th, Darius McCollum, the autism world’s previously-unending sideshow, was sentenced to life inside a New York State psychiatric facility. No, he was not relegated back to Rikers island, or any other “normal” prison, as had been the case for the majority of his adult life. He was this time sent to the kind of place where our most dangerous, disturbed, and marginalized individuals are secretly warehoused to endure horror after horror without witness, until the unmarked, mass grave on Hart Island prematurely, and slowly consumes their trauma-ridden, dissociated selves. Darius’ remarkable story of rotating in and out of the prison system for 38 years came to a halt on the worst side of the turnstile. Autism-Schmautism: He is black and poor. We were fools to think this story would end in a restorative manner.

He almost made it. His brilliance, and the subsequent media coverage had all but ensured that he would not slip through the cracks like other poor, spectrum or non-spectrum African-Americans. Darius had a shot because he was noticed. But the final nail came, comic/tragically, from an African-American judge; one who justified ending Darius’ life because Asperger’s Syndrome, to her, is a “dangerous, mental disorder.” In the words of Darius’ lawyer, Sally Butler, “The sweetest guy in the world, never committed any violent acts, never hurt anyone, is going to be held in a hospital with people who slaughter people.”

Judge Ruth Shillingford hasn’t yet apologized with the standard, Kavanaugh-esque backtrack of, “Ok. Maybe I could have used a better choice of words.” But she will. Too many of us have this same “dangerous, mental disorder.” Darius drew a different kind of bigot.

The success rate on appeals is very low. He’s gone.

***

Darius McCollum, as most spectrumfolk know, couldn’t stop stealing subway trains and taking them on joyrides. His first arrest came when he was 15, and over close to the next four decades, he was caught and sentenced over 30 times.

But by his estimation, he was not caught thousands of times.

Like innumerable spectrum children, young Darius had a “thing” for trains. As a fellow spectrumite myself who works in the field, I’ve long thought it funny how the clinical world overthought our too common fascination with rail travel. The simple truth of why we love trains has not to do with the trains themselves…it’s the track. We don’t have to make any decisions about going left here, or right there, thanks to the track. We don’t have to read between the lines, or interpret a thing, as we would driving a car. The track has already determined our destination and our route. Furthermore, we have full control over the speed of the journey. For folks like us? That’s heaven.

How was this possible, though? How could one man, however Houdini-like, sneak into the driver’s seat so easily, time after time after time? Amidst our modern paranoia of mostly imagined terrorist threats looming around every corner—our FOX News hysteria—how did Darius manage so easily to take over the controls while we were the passengers? Well, Darius was brilliant. He not only knew the ins and outs of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) ten times better than any MTA employee, he knew the employee timetables, and how the MTA’s Human Resource department operated. He knew the trends, and the procedures, and he was also gregarious. Darius McCollum really is the sweetest guy you’ll ever meet. So when he’d arrive on the scene in a stolen uniform, and tell the scheduled driver “I just got a free day, man. Lemme help you out.” The uninformed, overworked and underpaid MTA employee usually said, “thanks, man,” and laid back on a welcomed break.

No passenger, it should be noted, was ever hurt when Darius was driving. Not one passenger was even aware that, driving their subway train or bus was someone other than a trained MTA employee. Lastly, Darius’ routes were always finished on time.

***

More than two decades would transpire thereafter that first arrest before we’d hear his name. For us, it all started with a Harper’s article from 2002—Jeff Tietz’s The Boy Who Loved Transit. In the opening paragraphs, Tietz introduced us not only to a train thief, but also a brilliant forger, who brought letters to crews “signed” by MTA managers, dictating that the crews allow “Mr. McCollum” to inspect their safety protocols. Tietz also showed us a concerned outsider, who always attended MTA workers’ union meetings and rallies. Finally, Tietz pointed out to us that Darius only attempted to steal these trains, buses, and equipment. After all, he returned everything he stole. Darius’ behavior originated not in contempt. He loved the MTA, and all its inner worlds.

But despite a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome, one that should have explained his lack of criminal intent, he got idiot judge after idiot judge—monsters of an unfair, impotent, racist, and arcane criminal justice system in New York. To them, Darius was too intelligent, too polite, and too “white sounding” (as one judge put it) to both have a disability and not have control over his actions.

I first met Darius around that time. He was out on parole but at high risk for going back. People put high hopes that my new organization, GRASP, could help. GRASP was the first real peer-run (i.e. run by people on the spectrum) organization in the autism world, and later grew to become the largest membership organization in the world for adults on the spectrum. That all said, we didn’t have much of a budget, and we weren’t a services organization—we had no contract with the city. The type of help that Darius needed wasn’t complicated, but it was intensive. He needed talk therapy with a shrink that really knew their Asperger’s, peer support, perhaps some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, some trauma-based therapy, a gym, and a Microsoft Excel class. He came to one GRASP support group meeting, but given his relative stardom, he had a hard time feeling like a part of the group. So he hung out in our office with me on several occasions. I’d work while he’d read. We’d talk. We’d go for walks. We got to know each other.

***

Everyone on the spectrum is different. On one end you might have someone non-verbal, who may never experience a reciprocated sexual relationship, or hold down a steady job for long. But this same individual could in fact be quite happy if surrounded by the right supports and attitudes; as measuring happiness by the capacity for speech is one of the infantile mistakes we used to make in the autism world. Why so stupid? Because on the other end of the spectrum you might have someone very verbal; maybe with an IQ of 180—we have all these famous people diagnosed in retrospect such as Einstein, Beethoven, Edison, Jefferson, Emily Dickinson, every famous mathematician…—whom everyone expects to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company someday. But because no one explained to them how the social world works, their loneliness intensified until they became a suicide statistic. You can’t dumb this stuff down. We’re complicated.

I hadn’t yet seen anyone whose level of “juice” resembled mine—More functional than most in many capacities, I present well. But I was also inundated with spectrumites who were/are way smarter than I. So while better than most at hiding my cluelessness, until then I had always felt somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, with no real parallel.

Darius McCollum was the first and only time I’ve ever sensed someone whose spectrum gifts and challenges instinctively reflected mine. Four months apart in age, diagnosed at virtually the same age, both only children, our internal makeup seemed identical. Darius didn’t present like me, but I knew that if you took away the experiences of being stabbed repeatedly with large scissors when he was in second grade, the horrific prison rapes and beatings, the lifelong trauma, the brilliance…and that if you then took away my educational opportunities, and blatant white privilege…he was my mirror. People thought I was talented—more talented than I really was—and so I got scholarships that allowed me to divide whatever intelligence I had into many different directions, thus creating a more well-rounded individual…than Darius, who had real intelligence that few wished to recognize, and who in lacking those opportunities directed everything he had to trains. I ended up with an Ivy League Masters degree. Darius didn’t graduate high school.

We may have gotten close—It felt that way; the ease was both inexplicable and beatifically jarring. But I’m not sure. It’s hard to tell when the relationship was never equal; for in addition to both our racial instincts, I was to be the mentor, and he the mentee.

***

By this time, everyone was writing about him. Whether it was the New York Times, the London Times, or every news station…By 2004 Darius had racked up an impressive media portfolio. There would be a play, and a documentary—interpretations of Darius’ life made by people that were not out to exploit him—Good people were always on his side. There was talk of a movie starring Julia Roberts…

However, my main mission with him was contrary. I wanted to try and get him to stop seeing dollar signs from imagined film deals, to stop being addicted to the media attention. In my opinion, this was his real challenge. For in addition to withstanding the temptation to steal more trains came the devaluation of what he would do with his life if he wasn’t stealing trains. It’s difficult enough for ANY ex-inmate to get excited about trying to start a new life…when you’re a convicted felon (very few jobs hire folks with prison records) with no job training, money, or education. Being black just decreases your chances even more. I began running interference to try to de-celebrity his life a little.

And just so you know, of course he would have been a perfect hire for the MTA. But they wouldn’t have him. We tried. We tried the MTA, we tried the MTA’s transit museum (where Darius could be a tour guide), we tried the transit authorities of other cities, we tried Amtrak… But Darius, in his “career,” had shamed these folks. He had shown that their security procedures were a joke, thus pissing off Homeland Security and driving their insurance rates through the roof. Later, the MTA would rebuff our criticisms and escalate the divide even further by demanding re-payment on any possible movie deals. In addition to Darius pinning them down, MTA officials dug themselves a deeper hole by reacting like the petty, insecure bureaucrats they might have always been.

(Speaking of Homeland Security: Darius, in his infinite kindness, had even welcomed a visit from them during one of his jail stints, asking nothing in return. And they, after absorbing much information and consultation that Darius was more than happy to give them, free of charge, about how easy it was to skirt the MTA��s procedures…gave him nothing in return. Again, we are discussing the sweetest, most childlike, least streetwise guy in the world. Today, he is still proud of that meeting as he feels he served his country.)

By then, many media outlets were calling me to reach Darius (who struggled to maintain a consistent phone number), and I was trying to rebuff them. That time would be Darius’ longest stint outside prison. And when he fell off the wagon per se, he did so repeatedly thereafter. Over the ensuing years he would get out and almost instantly get caught taking another car or bus for a joyride. In the absence of access to real supports when he would be out, being a celebrated train thief was the only life he could see. He might not have been wrong.

During those years he also made bad decisions, about people, money, and especially legal representation. Stephen C. Jackson, the celebrity lawyer who gained fame during the Tawana Brawley case, rushed to Darius’ side and filled him with promises of millions. But when Jackson (now deceased) quickly saw that the fame he sought wasn’t forthcoming, he then abandoned Darius without officially dropping his name as Darius’ representative. What this meant was that when Darius, on more than one occasion, would show up from his cell for sentencing or a hearing, that he sat alone in court. The judge would ask where his lawyer was, and Darius could provide no explanation. But because Darius, in the court’s mind, couldn’t represent himself (because of his Asperger’s, the courts deemed him incapable of the decision to switch lawyers), he was then sent back to jail for months, even years once, until a new hearing could be rescheduled. Herein, my power of attorney was worthless.

GRASP didn’t have the means to help, but larger organizations like Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America (ASA) could have. But neither organization would touch Darius McCollum with a ten-foot pole. The excuse was that they didn’t like the way Darius was using his Asperger’s as…an excuse, and that this made everyone on the spectrum look irresponsible. But to me, this was the excuse—to not have to acknowledge the punishments not fitting the crimes. If people really thought Darius deserved to be raped and beaten for taking subway trains on safe joyrides…I just couldn’t believe that. But I grew to believe that as a poor, black man, Darius for them was a lose-lose proposition. These orgs’ gutlessness did not have justification, but they did have explanation.

My prison visits felt more and more like spankings. I’d arrive, furious with him over the most recent arrest, and I’d lay into him. But at the end of the visit we would have worked it out. I once broke policy, and facilitated an interview with him for Caren Zucker and John Donvan’s book, In a Different Key (I trusted Caren, whom I knew from her days at Nightline when she produced some really fine autism coverage). I laughed in solidarity at the finished book, where they quoted my first words to Darius when I brought them to Rikers…in which I distinctively used an expletive. Donvan had inquired after the visit why I was so harsh with him, and rather than explain that neither Darius nor I came from finishing school, or that this was just the way we showed we cared, I answered in an acknowledgement that maybe it was wrong of me, but that “I visit him.” For at the time, no one else really was.

But then Sally Butler became Darius’ (seriously) pro bono lawyer. And he finally had a real chance…because he finally had a real hero.

***

Forget the nightmare center that Darius will go to (Kirby, or Mid-Island, according to an old colleague), our regular prisons are increasing in violence. Author, Shane Bauer, went undercover for Mother Jones as a $9 per hour Louisiana prison guard (an experience he recounts in his new book, American Prison) and took away a wealth of terrifying information. In a recent interview, Bauer stated that when he was being trained, he was instructed that the proper procedure for when prisoners were stabbing each other, was “to yell, ‘Stop fighting!’ and that’s it. We should not get in between them. We are not going to pay you (the guard) that much…if those fools want to cut each other, than happy cutting.”

And does anyone still think that you can go through long prison experiences without being raped? Are some people still capable of such denial? Unfortunately, yes. We are that naïve, or dumb, or complacent. And it’s mostly the law & order crowd—those who demand punishment, punishment, punishment, even when they acknowledge that punishment (even as a concept) really doesn’t work—that heartily approves of our “nudge nudge, wink wink” relationship with rape. We are complicit in this manner because we want to believe that we live in a society that does not condone rape. But it’s nonsense. We don’t just condone rape, we willingly use it as a coercive tool, and the proof doesn’t lie in drunken college parties. The proof of our societal need to never eliminate rape lies in our prison system.

“According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, around 80,000 women and men a year are sexually abused in American correctional facilities. That number is almost certainly subject to underreporting, through shame or a victim’s fear of retaliation...To tackle the problem, Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2003. The way to eliminate sexual assault, lawmakers determined, was to make Department of Justice funding for correctional facilities conditional on states’ adoption of zero-tolerance policies toward sexual abuse of inmates…But only two states — New Hampshire and New Jersey — have fully complied with the act…The Justice Department estimates that the total bill to society for prison rape and sexual abuse is as high as $51.9 billion per year, including the costs of victims’ compensation and increased recidivism. If states refuse to implement the law when the fiscal benefit is so obvious, something larger is at stake…Compliance does not even cost that much. The Justice Department (also) estimates that full nationwide compliance would cost $468.5 million per year.”

— “Why We Let Prison Rape Go On”

Bozelko, Chandra. The New York Times. April 17, 2015

***

This past year, after 38 years of in and out, it was time to roll the dice. Darius’ health had been deteriorating—He has gained tremendous weight and is experiencing rapid hearing loss. His brilliance has become less accessible, having slowly drowned in accumulated trauma.

In January, Sally scored a major victory: she got the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office to finally admit that Darius was not a criminal. But because of how the court still contextualizes non-apparent disabilities, Darius, in order to become relatively free, would have to plead not responsible by mental defect. And there was a big risk herein. As Sally wrote: “If Darius is determined to be dangerous, he will be confined in a truly horrific locked facility for the criminally insane perhaps for life.” But if the judge were to determine that he was not dangerous, he would be “civilly committed for intense treatment with the goal of returning to society with services available to him.”

In talks at the time with the Puerto Rican government on an autism consulting contract, I began looking into a side project of building a treatment center on the island, one that would use Darius as a pilot for low-risk, non-violent offenders with diagnosed non-apparent disabilities. Everyone’s been saying “there’s no proper care available,” even though what Darius needs is not brain surgery, and since no one else was doing it…I dreamt of him taking that Excel class, going to trauma-based therapies, and helping to repair houses in Puerto Rico’s still-reeling infrastructure, one with no transit system—Yes! There would be an ocean between Darius and temptation, if not also a warm, loving populace that would welcome him. The courts would save a ton of taxpayer money and stop enduring the bad public relations. Sally forewarned that getting the powers that be to allow him to receive his treatment outside state lines would be the challenge, but I was confident. It seemed a no-brainer.

I wasn’t alone. We all figured the odds were good. Who in God’s name would sentence this good-natured child to more torture?

But again, Sally and I being white, we forgot that Darius was black.

***

I’m guessing that at best, only 3% of the people that read this article will be African-American. It’s not that I don’t have black readers. As a white writer, I’m confident I have more than most. But for African-Americans, I would imagine that this material, like any material about Darius, reads like the box score of a game African-Americans already saw, participated in from start to finish, and in which their team got its ass kicked. There’s nothing to be learned, and only more heartache to be gained from reading. Maybe as some “militants” might say, everything really is about race. Maybe everything isn’t about Darius’ autism, nor fiscal variations (I especially have professed in the past that everything revolves around economics)…I’m white, so I can’t go there completely, but I could argue that maybe the Judge Kavanaugh hearings weren’t about women if, as a New York Times article reports, 53% of white women were in favor of his confirmation. Maybe the wonderful #MeToo movement will at some point have to address the buried complaints that many men of color, in corporate settings, have about the sexual harassment they’ve endured from many white, female supervisors. Maybe the LGBTQ community will someday acknowledge that a stereotype exists of them all being wealthy liberals—when most are actually poor (and therein, contain many people of color). Maybe the #MeToo heroes can see that while they risked their career track to report harassing bosses, that when this occurs to women of color in factories (that I’ve worked in), that for her and her family that woman doesn’t risk a delay in promotion, she risks homelessness. Maybe even our nation’s bipartisan era isn’t about Trump, but is still about Obama? After all, one look at the farcical complaints many Republicans had about Obama during his tenure, when compared to their silence regarding Trump’s unending list of proven lies? This nation’s divide isn’t about Republicans and Democrats at all…And then there’s Judge Shillingford, pictured on Google images at many NAACP functions, who simply may have seen a Darius we never saw; one who didn’t have the intelligence we knew of, or the indisputably kind nature. Maybe she saw a person who was incapable of a productive life given the right supports…because of his skin color. Maybe she knew better.

Having raised white children in predominantly black, Brooklyn neighborhoods, I can confess to you that every once in a while, a fellow white would let slip their belief that we were throwing our kids’ safety under a bus to prove our liberalness. The truth was the opposite—Because of the trust we’d extended by living there my boys were protected by those communities. The black on black shit is what will astound you.

(“Sidebar, your honor?” An old contact of mine works closely to [but not in] the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. Not to go spy-novel herein, but this “source” felt that Shillingford will not be reprimanded for this ruling or her language. She may actually be rewarded. My contact’s theory is that the Shillingford’s “shortcomings” regarding her knowledge and feelings about developmental disabilities, are well known by the Brooklyn DA, Eric Gonzalez. Shillingford may have been set up to take the bullet for a DA’s office that has wanted this ending for Darius all along. And this would make sense; for Gonzalez’s office seems intent on preserving a progressive aura; yet in the case of Darius McCollum has never negotiated in good faith.)

Whether you are African-American, Spanish, on the spectrum, LGBTQ, or Muslim…any minority will always feel doubt about their way of doing things, even if that way is brilliant. And any majority will have supreme confidence in their way of doing things, even if their way is so dumb it’s beyond repair. Unless we are all educated otherwise, that’s simply how majorities and minorities think.

***

I can’t compartmentalize Darius McCollum as the screwup twin brother who couldn’t stop breaking my heart, or as the African-American who only had a chance in our dreams. Darius will perhaps best be categorized as the human being who consciously made us face our capacity for cowardice and inaction. For I could cry at will, in gratitude, for the fact that I was raised on this one notion: If in the course of your job, you have to turn a blind eye to a giant injustice? Then it is time to look for another job. These days, this concept feels more than lost. Judge Shillingford cowardly stated in her sentencing that her “hands (were) tied.” Bull. The judge is a bigot, perhaps twice over (though I can’t make that call). Because she is both a female and an African-American, and I am a white male, I will grant that she had it harder than me—I’d bet a limb on it. But the end result matters too.

I know I’m angry. And in my anger, I erroneously feel it’s my duty to look upon her, and maybe Gonzalez, as garbage human beings. But I think the real duty for us all is to acknowledge that they are not alone.

[soulvomit]

Want to know something annoying as fuck that happens in conversations with my mom? We’ve been to therapy several times over it, it’s unfixable, because she sees it only as my problem to fix and we wouldn’t have this problem if I didn’t talk so much? The first thing is that she corrects every word out of my mouth as I’m saying it. Basically... when we speak, she talks over me, then re-arranges my words to her liking.

Well... not every time, but practically everything I say is subject to severe nitpicking. This has gone on all of my life, where she would correct my grammar or ask me to reword something I was saying in a particular way. I feel like I have two whole ways I interact and speak: with everyone else, vs with my mom. I have to totally switch to a specific mode of interaction that literally nobody else in my life requires, just to interact with one person. When I’m talking to her, I feel this... pressure, that there are specific things she wants to hear, and like she gets mad when she doesn’t hear them.  Then there’s the way I have to clarify everything and back everything up. I’d come home with a story from school when I was a kid and get cross-examined about it.  (Both of my parents raised me to interact with adults. They figured they were teaching me to survive, that I’d deal with the adult world a lot longer than I’d deal with other children. But my mom was the worst at it. My dad was the patient one who would actually teach instead of get mad that I didn’t already know.) Basically, I had to speak not only like an adult, but also, like everything was a dissertation defense or legal deposition. My mom would actually correct my speech into the pattern she wanted it to resemble, make me speak it back to her, and make me cite sources.

Do you know how it’s common for people to say something then realize that’s not what they meant at all, so they backtrack and try to correct themselves? And that’s REALLY common in a NORMAL CONVERSATION? “Wait, no, that’s not quite what I mean. Let me explain.” Like... the very first thing that slips out is often something that needs to be refined and clarified or sometimes we need to circle back to an idea and build on it a little more. I think this is really common. I think it’s also really common that conversations are meant to be an exploration and allowed to have a certain amount of... flowingness... to them.   But in order to actually have this kind of conversation, you have to let the person finish their sentence and have to let them clarify their stance.  Here’s the problem with my mom. First off, I’m anxious in all of my communications with her, so I often sputter or fuck things up. I’m not always necessarily the clearest when I’m talking to her. There is an immense pressure to get every single utterance right with her that I don’t experience in any other setting. So sometimes I spit things out and then have to backtrack about what I REALLY mean.  This is the biggest problem. She reacts - the VERY MOMENT that words come out of my mouth. Her reactivity goes off generally by the 5th or 6th word, often before I’ve even finished a sentence. Then she gets angry if I have anything more to say after she reacts. That’s her cue to take over the conversation and dominate it and if I don’t play along, she gets mad. Here’s what makes me so pissed about it and how we get into this no-win fuckfest shitstorm over this. What if the thing she immediately reacts to, is not the point I was trying to make? Or it’s something I really need to clarify... or I realize that it didn’t sound, in my head, the way it sounds coming out, and that I need to “fix” it? I don’t get to. Imagine if the assumption she is making, is something that’s potentially damning or humiliating. She reacts to what she thinks I’m saying before I’ve even had a chance to actually say it. She RUNS AWAY with it and begins reacting and then gives me a long lecture based on what she thinks I was trying to say. She gets mad at me for trying to clarify my actual point because “YOU SHOULD HAVE ONLY SAID WHAT YOU INTENDED TO SAY FROM THE BEGINNING” or even “YOU’RE LYING/YOU JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE.” Or she accuses me of manipulating. She actually gets so angry that if it were anyone else I would assume they’re about to be violent. She’s not going to be, though, she just has poor emotional regulation.  She GETS MAD at me for not having a fully formed thesis right off the bat. Then she gets mad at me when I DO try to clarify my stance. And here’s the problem, my ego also gets involved: I can’t walk away with her actually believing I believe something as stupid as what she’s assuming I said. In fact, I don’t usually disagree with the things she’s saying, it’s often what I was actually going to say but didn’t get the chance to say, but did we have to go about this in this manner? Especially when she’s going to hold against me what she thinks I was going to say? POSSIBLY FOREVER? Because she does that. She never lets stuff go that gets in her craw - she will obsess forever about what she thinks I’m saying, if it’s something that set her off - so there’s always this pressure to get EVERY SINGLE INTERACTION *RIGHT.*  I don’t get a chance to ever correct myself or clarify what I’m saying, because she reacts the moment words come out of my mouth. She gets mad at the thing she thinks i”m saying. Then I end up in this thing where i end up yelling over her so that I don’t walk away leaving the impression that I actually believe the stupid thing that she heard me say, because I’d never gotten the chance to clarify my stance. (I don’t get into this situation with very many other people. Seriously, even with the dealings I’ve had on Tumblr. I get way way way more chances to either clarify or walk back with other people. Also, I’m not under as much pressure in my communications with virtually any other person so I don’t fuck up my speech as much with them.) And I often get more and more flustered and confused and my word brain just shuts down and it becomes HARDER to clarify myself and she’s yelling and I’m locking up in my head and eventually we are yelling over each other and slamming out of the room. 

We’ve been to therapy for this. We have been trying to fix this problem since I was a teenager.  In fact, my interactions with my parents are a big reason I used to think I was autistic, 

I don’t think it’s fixable, because she doesn’t think that listening to someone finish their sentence or allowing anyone else to make their point, is something she’s required to do with anyone. She is very rigid in hierarchic thinking, she only actually listens when it’s someone above her in some way, she has next to no self-awareness of her own behavior or how she comes off (which she is *almost* aware of), and she doesn’t think that she has to observe the same conversational rules with younger people that is considered polite with older people.  This is some kind of wiring in her brain.  And in fact when I was growing up, she complained all the time that I never talked to her about anything, she never knew about anything that went on with me at school, and she was jealous and resentful of the relationship I had with my dad because my dad (being the more nurturing parent) was the one I talked to about stuff. It seemed like... “I’m here all the time, I do all the work, then he waltzes in and it’s like I’ve done nothing.” Which is a common stay-at-home mom complaint about when the kids are really excited to see dad but mom is too tired from all the busy work to be Fun Mom. (And my mom would bring up this narrative whenever our issues came up, she has so many social narratives and tropes memorized to use as self-defense in conversations.) But the thing is, my relationship with my mom was quantity and not quality, and my relationship with my dad was quality and not quantity.  And it’s exactly because of how my mom interacted with me when I was younger, vs how my dad interacted with me. 

[thestraggletag]

It is shameful here in America the lack of guidance and resources for students in special education during this pandemic. He has not received occupational or speech therapy since March which the school is suppose to provide. He has no one on one aide for his virtual classes, and this fall is starting middle school with all new teachers, and yet they have not had his evaluation or IEP meeting. , cause the school says the are having trouble getting faculty all together virtually during school hour

Part 2 Special education students are just being forgotten, or shoved into regular virtual classes with no additional assistance. I'm so disappointed in the schools here in America.

Here people, but specially children, with disabilities have been hit hard by the pandemic too, an afterthought usually when it came to drafting regulations regarding who gets to be able to work and what constitutes “necessity” in terms of medical treatment or auxiliary work. Here it’s the same. I have a couple of kids whose families pay for aides that usually were in class with them and now connect remotely through Google meet and it’s not the same thing at all. Kids who, like you say, need one-on-one therapy and it’s, simply put, not a priority. Hope the teachers he gets are as understanding as possible. As a teacher I often try to do my best while at the same time not even remotely prepared regarding how to handle kids with specific disabilities. At this point there seems to be little we can do except wait for the vaccine and hope people take the necessary precautions so things can begin to open up, including these basic services for children and disabled adults.