<![CDATA[MOUTH TO HAND LEARNING CENTER

<![CDATA[MOUTH TO HAND LEARNING CENTER - Extrovert]]>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:41:48 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Bad Things]]>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:03:03 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/bad-thingsI am worried that there are so many bad things happening lately. I am the last person to complain, really, but it feels like there has been one thing after another. My Dad got sick with vertigo a few months ago, and then my Mom and I were in two car accidents. One was, we were rear ended when we were sitting at a traffic light. The second was, a tree fell on us.

Then there are all the bad things happening here at M2H: Alex is sick. Being sick is horrible. There are a lot of other sick people too. Then there were Grandpa Wally and Grandma Carol’s falls.

I don’t know why so many stinking things are happening. I know we all yelled at Judy about keeping her faith. I am laughing because we all dished it out - we have to be able to take it. It’s not as easy as it sounds!

P.s. Judy just pointed out that there is one good thing to hold on to. The Yankees swept the Red Sox in the wildcard playoff series.

And…at least I’m not a Mets fan.

]]><![CDATA[Technology Dreams]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:20:34 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/technology-dreamsLast night I watched Judy talk on Zoom. She discussed her search for technology to help us talk by ourselves. We need to be able to talk by ourselves to make everyone believe in us. No one entrenched in the old way of thinking believes we are the ones doing the talking. I am tired of people saying I am not the one doing the speaking. I shouldn’t have to prove myself over and over.

I love the idea of the glasses. I wear sunglasses no problem, so they won’t be an issue. I absolutely believe that I can use the eye tracking. I am praying that it works for us, because if it does, everything will change. I am going to a board of ed meeting in my district and telling them to shove it. I will be able to talk all day every day and my Mom will tell me to shut up. I will be able to live my dreams of getting my diploma and going to college.

I am so happy because I feel confident that I will be able to use it. I feel like the future is much brighter. I can’t wait for the device to come.

]]><![CDATA[History Is Now]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 19:18:00 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/history-is-nowI really want to appear in more media. We are in an era of change for nonspeakers. Suddenly we are being seen. First there was the NBC News thing. Then there was the News 12 thing. Then, on Sunday, the Daily News is running a piece. I am starting to hope that something is changing in the world.

It’s my dream to be seen as an intelligent person. I, like my friends here, have spent our lives being treated like we are cognitively impaired. I can tell you, that gets really old, fast. I was so lucky to not have to sit in a classroom for that population until I was 21. I cringe when I think of what the older guys here had to endure. It is a form of torture.

I think in the next few years things will change for the better. It’s kind of exciting to see history unfold.

]]><![CDATA[M2H Public Relations]]>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:31:37 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/m2h-public-relationsI am myself again. This morning I got to meet with a reporter from The Wall Street Journal. I loved every minute of it. The others in the room were also amazing: Joss, Rocco, Alex, and Jason. Not once did I believe she was not impressed. It was hard to not gloat.

I am so happy that I can once again fulfill my role as M2H’s Director of Public Relations. It is a job I take very seriously. It means showing off Mouth to Hand so that people understand how important this place is. It is critical for us nonspeakers.

]]><![CDATA[Don't Give Up On Us]]>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:10:53 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/dont-give-up-on-usI am back and mentally healthy again. I credit my Mom and Dad for not giving up on me. I had a complete breakdown that had me nuts for months. But because they didn’t stop trying, I am back.

That’s the thing about trying. Judy says that if you don’t try, you can’t succeed. I totally get that now. If Judy had given up on Alex when he had catatonia, where would they be? If my parents had given up on me, where would I be? I would be locked in my house for fear that I might hurt someone.

I am here today because my parents didn’t stop trying to help me. You should never give up on us. You can succeed in helping us if you keep trying.

]]><![CDATA[Happy Day!]]>Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:31:44 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/happy-dayI am so happy today. I just FaceTimed my best friend, Liam, Judy’s son. I am going to hang out with him next weekend. We are going swimming and then to play pickle ball. I can’t wait.

Too boot, I got to go to see Dr. Minhas, the psychiatrist. I loved him: he was so nice and not condescending. I started taking a low dose of a medicine, and I feel great. I have to say that I feel more relaxed because I have him now in case something goes wrong. I am so afraid of the meltdowns, but now I have him to help me. The relief is beyond description.

So all in all, I am happier today than I have been in a long time. I am beaming ear to ear!

]]><![CDATA[My Letter]]>Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:29:42 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/my-letterToday I found out that Secretary Kennedy actually read my letter to him. I am so pumped I can’t sit still. That is the most thrilling thing ever, ever, ever to happen to me! I am beside myself about it. To know that someone as important his him read my words, well…I could cry. To think that a few years ago I was locked inside this body, and now my words were read by a cabinet member…!

I am totally emotional now.
___________________

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

My name is Edison and I am only 17 years old, but I want my voice to be heard too. I am writing to ask you to please try to help us.

To be nonspeaking is to live in a kind of loneliness and isolation. I am incredibly fortunate in that when I was only 13 years old I learned to spell to communicate. But it is a limited form of communication, so most of my life I am still locked in silence. Most nonspeakers in the world don’t even have this, and my heart breaks for them daily.

We all want to have the ability to speak and learn and contribute to our communities and country. But we cannot because no one has cared enough about us to help us. All of us are intelligent and anxious to be educated, and wish we could have jobs and live independently. Instead, we all face a lifetime of dependency.

I believe that the world is changing and that someday kindness will win. My life improved immeasurably when my Mom took me, years ago, to see my teacher, Judy, who taught me to spell to talk, and now teaches me for the love of learning. Here at Mouth to Hand Learning Center, we are allowed to be human. We are educated, and have friends and fun. And not one of us ever forgets those of us who are still trapped.

We are very excited that you shone a spotlight on us, and told the world that we exist and are suffering. We need help desperately; for a long time we’ve been overshadowed by the speaking autism community. All of us are hoping and praying that you find answers as to what happened to us and ways we can be helped. Maybe one day I will be able to thank you with my voice.

Gratefully,
Edison

]]><![CDATA[Hope]]>Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:04:49 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/hopeI am not entirely sure why I feel like the tide is turning for us spellers, but I do. Judy just showed me a video of a nonspeaking man thinking to a device on his head that spoke for him. I know it’s not available except in studies, because the FDA hasn’t yet approved it. I am totally pumped though ‘cause it showed the man thinking a conversation with his wife about dinner. It was astounding.

Between that, and the growing recognition that there is an epidemic of autism, and the fact that spelling continues to grow in popularity (in spite of ASHA), I am feeling wonderful. I truly believe that things will get way better for us over the next couple of years.

]]><![CDATA[Smiling]]>Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:51:11 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/smilingHaving so many wonderful things happening makes being nonspeaking feel a little more bearable. Alex’s bar mitzvah was momentous, and then two weeks later, the gala. Then there is the conference in June, and then the whole fun summer coming up. I am sure there will be more fun and exciting things happening too. There is the Mount Kisco Community Day event on May 31st: I am excited to sell our books and magazines there. And Judy is always coming up with new and fun things.

All this to say that while being nonspeaking sucks, it sucks just a little less than it used to. And I find myself smiling most of the time now.

]]><![CDATA[The Bar Mitzvah]]>Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:31:07 GMThttps://www.mouthtohandlearning.com/extrovert/the-bar-mitzvahOn Saturday I went to my friend’s bar mitzvah. It was more inspiring to me than I can say, because it showed that being nonspeaking does not mean you can’t be normal. Alex stood on stage for over two hours, and the people that ran it only had to help him a tiny bit. He read Hebrew by typing it out, and Judy chanted it for him. I have to say, he was remarkable.

Alex’s sermon was so beautiful I was crying inside. Being that we aren’t similar religions, I didn’t know much about the service before that moment. And I must say that it was lovely to see Alex there showing the world what nonspeakers can do and how not disabled we can be.

]]>