Autistic teen finds voice

[historic salve]

ABC News article

... Two years ago, working with pictures and symbols on a computer keyboard, she started typing and spelling out words. The computer became her voice.

"All of a sudden these words started to pour out of her, and it was an exciting moment because we didn't realize she had all these words," said speech pathologist Barbara Nash. "It was one of those moments in my career that I'll never forget."

...

Carly writes about her frustrations with her siblings, how she understands their jokes and asks when can she go on a date.

"We were stunned," Carly's father Arthur Fleischmann said. "We realized inside was an articulate, intelligent, emotive person that we had never met. This was unbelievable because it opened up a whole new way of looking at her." ...

© source where applicable

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4311223&page=1

[Heartablaze]

This is awesome! I'm so happy for her; I didn't know that the medium would change how articulate a person with autism could be. I wonder why it is this way for Carly, but very happy too!

[Nicholas]

I love these types of stories. I think that to a certain extent, people who are mentally disabled are trapped. Many of them are probably just as intelligent and sensitive as any of us, but simply cannot express it. To a certain degree, I understand how autism and related problems can interfere with the ability to express your thoughts, but I can only imagine how difficult it must be for people with more severe problems. I can only imagine how it would feel to be unable to express myself, my mind trapped.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Very fascinating.

[MarcusAndreas]

Good for her!

[Silver Hand]

I think that to a certain extent, people who are mentally disabled are trapped. Many of them are probably just as intelligent and sensitive as any of us, but simply cannot express it.

It may be somewhat of a cliche to say that "God just makes us all a bit different," but what we as humans see as a disability and a burden can be just another expression of God's creative glory. Mentally challenged people may not be able to function in a way that would fit our definition of "whole" or "well-adjusted," but for whatever reason, their Creator chose to limit them in one respect--and blessing them in another. I wholeheartedly believe disabled people are gifted in ways that may not be immediately apparent. God creates to bring glory to Himself, and this story is one such example.

I myself am another. While I'm not mentally challenged, I do have the physical disability of Cerebral Palsy. I lack the ability to walk, and have significant difficulties getting around the way an able-bodied person might. However, it's all about adaptation. I still delight in finding ways to do things for myself that seem impossible. That can also get me in a pickle sometimes

Ironically, when I was younger (and more self-conscious) part of me looked down on the mentally challenged. Maybe because my peers automatically assumed that I was too. Kids are cruel. But then I realized the hypocrisy of that. Here I was, in a wheelchair, trying to convince people I was as normal as everyone else, my body just was a bit quirky. Frankly, the story mentioned in this post proves that the mentally challenged have just as much value, they just process the world and/or relate on a different level. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. And I'm thankful for a Christian mother who made sure I knew that about myself as well as everyone else.

I know that with any disability or struggle, Satan revels in it. He will make life as hard as he possibly can. But what he means for evil God means for good.

[sushigurl]

I watched a TV show about Carly, and she really is quiet facisnating. She talked about how she felt normal on the inside, but how her body wouldnt let her be. If anyone has a chance to check out her blog, etc. Please do!

[TruthWorthy]

I just seen a news report on Guide dogs who are taught how to read in order to help Autistic children learn how to communicate.
The dogs are taught around 90 commands from cue cards written in English, that read "sit", "speak", etc.
I'm not amazed that dogs can respond to verbal visual cues in this way. I think it might be useful in cases where speech isn't possible but I'm a little bit doubtful of the encouragement this would give to sufferers. I mean, is the dog meant to be an example?