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Having the ability to spell openly is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I thank my lucky stars every day that my Mom brought me to see Judy years ago. Teaching me this skill was no picnic, I can tell you. I just struggled so much that we took two years to get my hand to move up. I am now able to fully talk with no issues.

Certainly I am very happy that I can do it because having no voice was the most awful thing ever. Being able to let people I know how I feel and what I’m thinking is like finally being able to breathe. All I am is not disabled. I am so much more than nonspeaking:  I am smart; I love music and writing; I am loving and funny; I have dreams of going to college and to make a career for myself somehow. I am all these things, and so much more. 

But the fact is that when the world looks at me, I become nothing more than my disability. Zack is low-functioning autistic. Period. Imagine if you were nothing more than the color of your hair. “Hi brunette,” people would say. They would talk about the color of your hair every time they talked about you, and nothing else. “I am so much more than a brunette!” you yell but no one cares. You are nothing more than a brunette to them forever.

That is me - and that would have been my life if there were no spelling.  I am Zack Demetrius, and I am not a disability.