Tag Archives: nonverbal

A Song for the Autistic Soul

Posted on by

As the start of the school year quickly approaches, my mind is turning toward my little autistic friends at Harmony. Here’s a poem I wrote that gives you a glimpse into their world.

A SONG FOR THE AUTISTIC SOUL
©Tami Brumbaugh

The words struggle to pass your lips
But remain locked inside,
Prisoners behind a pearly white gate.
Thoughts pile up
Tripping over themselves
Forcefully jammed into cardboard boxes in your mind.
Shoved aside and collecting dust
Unopened
Unappreciated
When you just want to be Understood.

If only I could lure the words to my ears
Tempting them with a wide smile
Releasing them from their stronghold
So I could listen and respond.
Instead, silence.
My eyes are blank,
No spark of understanding.
Wanting to relate, but clueless.

I slide a PECs book in front of you
Laminated pictures Velcroed to worn pages
I know it isn’t enough
But it’s a start.
You shuffle through the pictures
Searching for what you crave.

Sometimes you find the picture
Apple
Cheese
Toy car
At last our minds graze each other
The tips of our thoughts connecting.
I honor your request.
You smile
Temporarily content
And my soul soars.

Other times, there is no adequate picture.
Nothing illustrates your desire.
You keep flipping through pages
Over and over and over.
Stuck in the motion.
The pounding in your brain intensifying
As the words hurl themselves on closed doors
Begging for relief
Aching for a response
You can’t reveal your thoughts and I can’t relate.
Shapeless screams erupt from deep within your turmoil.
How did they break through the barrier
When words cannot?
You slam the book to the floor
Blood boiling
And my soul sinks.

I wrap you in my arms, holding your heart to mine,
trying to impart peace
I rock you and whisper affirmations of safety
One day it soothes your frustration, relaxing muscles
The next, it aggravates you more, causing arms to flail.

I sing to you, hoping to distract.
You hum back, pitch perfect note for note.
I vary the tune
You match it with ease, rich tones unbound to words,
Incomplete syllables that speak volumes.
Will music be the key that sets you free?
Full words still snag on sharp white guards
But the pressure is siphoned.
Hope brims as our eyes meet.
For now we will savor our moment of connection
And sing a new song.

Lessons learned in the Autism Room: There’s Always Something to Sing About

Posted on by

Our Autism Room is brimming with interesting sounds. Many of our students enter our room at three years of age and leave when they are ready for kindergarten. They often start out as nonverbal, so you might assume the room is quiet. Not so.

Most of the time, you hear adult voices modeling words and young voices trying to talk. Each student receives one-on-one personalized training, so with eighteen people, it can get loud. Sometimes you hear screams of frustration (from the kids, not the adults—though our patience is also tested). Occasionally, you hear singing (from the kids AND the adults). Maybe it’s because of my years as a music teacher, but hearing little ones sing brightens my day.

There is one small boy in particular whose singing makes me smile. He hasn’t started talking yet, but that doesn’t stop him from sharing the song in his heart. Sometimes he hums. Other times he uses sounds like “duh-gah duh-gah” to fit the tune. His singing is contagious and I often join in. I’ve found that both of us feel better afterwards.

What does he sing about? I’m not always sure, but sometimes I recognize the song. His favorites include You Are My Sunshine, We Are the Champions, Here I Come to Worship, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I’m guessing many of his tunes are originals that he composed.

He reminds me that there is always a reason to sing. We all have challenges and go through hard times. If we focus on the bad, we can easily become depressed. But if we look for the good, we will find something to sing about. Our grateful attitude will seep out through a song or a smile and spread to others. Why add complaining to a noisy room, when we can be singing?

So keep singing, sweet boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if music opens the door to your vocabulary. Either way, thank you for reminding me (and now others) that there is always something to sing about.