Archive for August, 2009
Facilitated Communication: Sydney’s Story
Monday, August 31st, 2009 | Oddpod | 5 Comments
Although Sydney’s sounds and body speak the language of her personality, sometimes, not always reliably, the language of her feelings, Sydney Edmonds was without speech until late childhood. She then gained speech through typed communication. In her case, due to significant motor planning issues, hypotonia and the involuntary avoidance, diversion and retaliation responses of Exposure Anxiety, this typed communication was facilitated, meaning it involved physical support. The person Sydney could then express was so much vaster than what she could express in just sounds and movement. It was an exuberant, humorous, philosophical, spiritual and deep thinking artist and designer who went on to write her first poetry book by her teens, The Purple Tree. Documentary film maker, Melanie Levy went to film Sydney and her extraordinary story, the result of which is the film My Name is Sydney. Here is my interview with Melanie about the film and her time with Sydney Edmonds.
