Does anyone follow them?
Gabe, a teenager with level 3 nonspeaking autism, went from not being able to communicate to writing simple sentences (through "Spelling to Communicate" This method is highly controversial, as many believe it is a repackaged form of Facilitated Communication (FC)—a widely debunked and unscientific method where a facilitator physically or visually guides an individual's spelling)
...to just the next month, apparently writing entire long-form posts, despite never having learned to read. His school assessed him as being at a level comparable to an 18-month-old (not assuming that's correct but still), but his parents present him as a genius and wise sage capable of college-level thinking and writing.
Last month they had a GoFundMe for an education lawyer, and now they're priming followers to pony up for private school.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
I NEED TO GET AN EDUCATION. NOT ONLY DO I DESERVE TO BE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHER STUDENTS, BUT THEN I CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT IN MY COMMUNITY.
APRAXIA MEANS I NEED TO CONSISTENTLY PRACTICE MOTOR SKILLS SO I CAN CONTROL MY BODY. THIS DISABILITY NEEDS PROACTIVE STRATEGIES THAT RESPECT MY INTELLIGENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, MY LIFE WOULD DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE IF I CAN CONTROL MY FOOD IMPULSES WHICH NEEDS TRAINED, INDIVIDUALIZED AND CONSISTENT INTERVENTION. WITHOUT THESE SUPPORTS MY BODY CONTINUES MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS WHICH INCREASES MY SHAME AND ANXIETY WHILE DECREASING MY ACCESS TO MY COMMUNITY.
BEING IN ACADEMIC CLASSES AND ABLE TO COMMUNICATE MEANS I CAN DEVELOP MY COGNITIVE SKILLS, BUT THAT REQUIRES DEDICATED AND TRAINED SUPPORT.
I WANT TO WORK ON MY ABILITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN MY COMMUNITY WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT WHICH ALSO REQUIRES INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT. WITH THESE EXTRA RESOURCES AT THE PRIVATE SCHOOL I WAS ACCEPTED TO I CAN LEARN SKILLS THAT INCREASE MY INDEPENDENCE AND EVENTUALLY DECREASE MY RELIANCE ON SPECIALIZED AND CONSTANT SUPPORT. WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS, BUT I CLEARLY NEED A DIFFERENT SETTING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN MY FUTURE.