Desires Oracle

 by Ruhi Khanna

I find the game of love,

Less then any accomplishment,

I find the appeal of love,

Calling some to abandon hope.

I find the reign of pure time,

Negative to hilly rocky roads,

I find the stillness of haste,

Makes the cage tighter.

I find the withered roses,

Say the tale of rancid games,

I find the leaning of mind,

Tames the adventure spirit.

I find the kindness of expression

Elevates the humble heart,

I find the lasting noise,

Fills me with gratitude.

Waves

 By Kaavish Kapoor

“Every wave only gains size by playing in the shallows. Any potential obstacle seems to make the wave stronger. Similarly, people become more resilient with hardship. "

A Letter to Damar Hamlin from Brielle Stewart

 By Brielle Stewart

 

Dear Damar, 

I am fifteen years old and have non-speaking autism. I am also a huge Bills fan. I was lovingly raised in the shadow of the stadium where I learned to type to communicate. The Bills have always inspired me. They are often overlooked or underestimated. That is what it is like when you can't speak. Damar, I was watching on TV when you got hurt. I began begging Jesus for your life to be spared. When you woke up it was a wondrous answer to prayers. When you wrote your first words I understood how you felt. I cannot speak, but my words reveal I am in here. I have a nationwide circle of friends who type to talk too. We meet quietly on Zoom every Thursday to chat about books. I try to make them all Bills fans. My friends are like the Bills, they never quit. I wish you so many healthy strong days ahead.

Signed

A Silent Fan,

Brielle Stewart

Motor Loops by J. Haynes

 

Spellers, families, and allies, whether you know the term or not we all are impacted by motor loops. A motor loop is an activity that was learned by the body for various reasons like a preferred task often from childhood, a response that happened while in fight or flight mode, or an overly practiced task like going to the bathroom. In those circumstances, neuronal connections formed to allow it to become easily repeated even when not desired.  Maybe you know how it started, maybe you don't but regardless they are there and can impact our lives in various ways. How can we stop them? I'm going to give you some helpful tips. 

• Know that your speller wants to stop the loop.
• Collaborate with your speller on how to approach the loop breaking.
• Be realistic with your goals
• Small steps towards your goal are still great accomplishments
• Be confident in your ability to do it no matter how long it takes. Presume competence in the body.
• Remember to give yourself grace
• Collaborate with an experienced practitioner, if possible
• Have a first step in mind.
• Frustration breeds failure, it will not be easy.
• There are tools, like lock boxes and controls on iPads, that can help
• Use positive self-talk
• Redirect to something purposeful and age appropriate. 

I hope some of these tips can help get you started.  Everyone's experiences will be different and that's okay. Apraxia is a spectrum that is unique to each of us. You can do whatever you set your mind to.