Facilitated Communication: Sydney’s Story
Monday, August 31st, 2009 | Oddpod
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.
5 Comments to Facilitated Communication: Sydney’s Story
Hello Dona,
Thank you for this very interesting interview.
I would be eager to learn more about Melanie Levy’s film and Sydney’s book, but I haven’t been able to find out more about them on the Internet. Could you please direct me to some sources about them ?
If you contact Sydney or her mum, Lisa through this email Letterboards@yahoo.com I’m sure they can give you that info.
warmly,
Donna *)
Donna and Melanie what a wonderful interview and explanation. Thank you so much for describing things with such clarity. Thank you Melanie for producing the documentary to initiate the conversation and Thank You Donna for once again saying things in such a way that we all can understand, a little better, what it might be like to live with autism.
I would love to share information about the film with anyone who is interested. My contact information is available at my website http://www.whistlefilms.com
Please do get in touch if you are interested in viewing!
My Sincerest Thanks – Melanie
I am interested in seeing the film. I am married
to an autistic person.
September 2, 2009