Embracing Chaos

RealVoices is the sound of wonderful things developing. It began as a four person group of friends last spring. Today it is a group of five or six and the day  is 10 to 3pm.  We love to have each other to learn with, and to talk to.  We love hearing each others ideas. We focus on our ideas We get to forget our bodies.  

The Andes mountains are yearning to speak. How you hear them really is the question. 

The real business of RealVoices is finding every real voice, and delivering it. Not everyone will see the person behind the disrupted  movement, but there are those who do.

Fortunately there are the ones who do.

OWEN’S DRAFTS

Owen and I thought it would be useful for readers to see some of his process.

Like any other writer, Owen begins his work with a rough draft where the main goal is just to keep the words coming. There are lots of insurance movements, so spelling mistakes. Owen often uses repeat letters for emphasis, as well. But he is pretty conservative about his final drafts. All his words are always his own, and any edits as well. (Mom might think she can guess where it’s going, but no!) To edit we set the tablet side by side with the keyboard. Owen touches the laptop screen to get the general vicinity and fine tunes with laborious use of the cursor. As a one fingered writer, to capitalize he hits “caps lock” – so he does all his caps at one time.

Original draft Dec 13

the realvoiced fakk sesssion  realvoicves is the sound ooooof wonderful things developing. it began as a fourrrr person group of friends last sprinfg. today. it is a group of five or six and the day  is 10 to 3pm.  we love to have each other to learn with, and to talkto.  we love hearing each others ideas. we forcus on our ideas we get to forget our bodies. the andes mountains are yearning to speak .how you even.  hear. them really is the question. 

the realbuusiness of real voices is finding every real voice, and delivering it. not everyone will see the perssson behind t

Owen’s Dec 18 edit

the RealVoices Fall Session

RealVoices is the sound of wonderful things developing. It began as a four person group of friends last spring. Today it is a group of five or six and the day is 10 to 3pm. We love to have each other to learn with, and to talk to. We love hearing each others ideas. We forcus on our ideas We get to forget our bodies.

The andes mountains are yearning to speak .how you even. hear. them really is the question.

the realbuusiness of real voices is finding every real voice, and delivering it. not everyone will see the perssson behind the dysrupted movement, bbut

Owen’s Dec 21 edit

the RealVoices Fall Session  

RealVoices is the sound of wonderful things developing. It began as a four person group of friends last spring. Today it is a group of five or six and the day  is 10 to 3pm.  We love to have each other to learn with, and to talk to.  We love hearing each others ideas. We forcus on our ideas We get to forget our bodies.  

The Andes mountains are yearning to speak. How you hear them really is the question. 

the realbuusiness of real voices is finding every real voice, and delivering it. not everyone will see the perssson behind the dysrupted  movement, bbut there arde thosee who do. to 

What is Supported Communication?

“Supported Communication” means resisting the typer’s forward movements, which stabilizes and focuses their efforts to make the controlled movements necessary to spell out their thoughts. Writing, for those with disrupted or dysregulated movement is hard, requiring a lot of patience, effort, and time. Many individuals experience movement dysregulation, those with autism and cerebral palsy among many other illnesses that affect ability of the brain to control the nervous system.

Correctly practiced, supporting communication never involves directing the communicator’s hand, nor guessing, or “helping” – it is just resistive pressure. The tablet/laptop  or letter board remains stationary. If it is unclear whether the communicator’s movement is purposeful or non-purposeful that is dysregulated, or being influenced by the support, the support will come back to a neutral position to allow the communicator to start over again on a path toward a desired letter.

For more information about supported communication, check out the website and contact info at realvoicesphilly.com.