This article originally appeared in Vol. 4 No. 1 (Nov., 1995) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [p. 1].

SEPT. 13, 1995

QUESTION: DESCRIBE A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST OR EXPERIENCE THAT HAS SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU.

I AM VERY INTERESTED IN MENTAL RETARDATION AND AUTISM. MY INTEREST STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT UNTIL I WAS THIRTEEN I WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE AN IQ OF 24. I AM PRESENTLY A SENIOR AT WHITTIER HIGH SCHOOL WITH A GPA OF 3.85. CLEARLY SOMETHING IS AMISS. WHAT EXACTLY IS MENTAL RETARDATION AND HOW IS IT MEASURED, ESPECIALLY IN PEOPLE WITH AUTISM LIKE ME?

ADMITTEDLY BEFORE I STARTED USING FACILITATED COMMUNICATION I WAS RETARDED. I HAD NO THOUGHTS, COULDN'T SPEAK, READ, WRITE, OR POINT TO PICTURES OR LETTERS. HOWEVER, AFTER LEARNING HOW TO TYPE WITH SOMEONE SUPPORTING MY WRIST AND ARM, I AMAZINGLY BEGAN TO THINK AND LEARN. I STILL CANNOT SPEAK OR TYPE TOTALLY INDEPENDENTLY BUT I CERTAINLY CAN THINK, READ AND LEARN. AS I PRACTICE TYPING WITH LESS SUPPORT I NOW NEED ONLY A VERY LIGHT INTERMITTENT TOUCH AT THE TOP OF MY SHOULDER AND HOPE TO BE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT SOON. NOW WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT MENTAL RETARDATION? COULD I HAVE GAINED 100 POINTS IN MY IQ IN FOUR YEARS? PERHAPS I NEVER WAS RETARDED BUT THE INFORMATION IN MY BRAIN WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE. PERHAPS AS INFORMATION ENTERED MY BRAIN IT WAS NOT PROCESSED BUT ONLY STORED.

UNFORTUNATELY PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE NOT LOOKING AT THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE THE PREMISE IS TOO SHOCKING TO EVEN THINK ABOUT. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ALL OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ALL THE CARETAKING FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION? WE WOULD HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE OUR SOCIETY AND FIND A WAY TO REACH ALL THESE PEOPLE, EDUCATE THEM, AND SUPPORT THEM. SADLY SOCIETY IS NOT READY FOR SUCH A CHALLENGE. I, HOWEVER, WILL CONTINUE TO FORCE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT ME AND TRY TO RECONCILE THEIR DEFINITION OF MENTAL RETARDATION W