Blog Archives

SEEING THE SUN

BY PAUL KLEIN

All my life I prayed for a miracle: to have a voice. My thoughts were mine alone, and that is the loneliest thing on earth. The first day I met Judy was like the first day I saw the sun. Within minutes I was talking to her on the laminate. I could talk! My world opened up, like a flower unfolding. Now all those thoughts that were trapped inside are bubbling out, like a soda can that’s been shaken. What is more precious than talking? What is more precious than friends? What is more precious than sharing who we are with each other?

4/17/2025 0 Comments

M2H Reflections

To come to M2H is to learn a new way to think about yourself. All our lives we are told, both verbally and non-verbally, how impaired we are. We hear teachers and therapists. We see people’s facial expressions and body language. We sense their fear or condescension. There are people who are not phased by my differences…but there is no place like M2H.

From the moment you step through the door, you can feel the difference. It’s actually not easy to describe, but as best as I am able, it’s that no one here cares if you are disabled. Everything about their body language, and the words that come out of their mouths, screams of the fact that here you are just you, speaking or nonspeaking, black or white, short or tall, thin or round, etc. Here I am just Paul who is hyper and handsome, intelligent and intense. My body does its thing, and no one gives a damn; it never changes the way you are seen.

All this to say that I desperately miss it here when I go to South America in the winter. Yes, it’s warm and beautiful, but it’s not M2H…and that’s all that really matters.

0 Comments

4/10/2025 1 Comment

The Gala

The annual Mouth to Hand gala is just beyond amazing. It really shows the world what we are capable of doing in many ways. Personally, the presentation Judy makes is the best moment of my year. When my photo comes up, I feel such pride in myself and all I’ve accomplished that I don’t have the words to express it. I don’t usually feel proud to be me, so that’s a really great moment.

Appearing on that screen means that you’re a Mouth to Hander. And that’s the best thing on earth to be.