17th. January 1993.

From:  Mr. R.J. Attfield

To: Missy Morton, Facilitated Communication Institute, Syracuse, New York

Hallo Missy.

The letter you wrote. You found autistic people in America can communicate using the Canon. I have only recently been typing on the Canon. Four months roughly now. I am now finally able to communicate and express my opinion. Recognize for myself communication with other people will also allow me to control my life. Decide for myself what the future will be. Give me a right to be heard. Long have I waited for personal freedom. Myself I have lived in hell knowing intelligent I am and unable to myself communicate.

Do you questions wish to ask me about autism? Inside we are the same with feelings. We love do wish to have the same as other people. For love I have found with my family. Difficulties we have understanding communication as frightened we recognize we are because with everyone we cannot communicate. The quiet speech I can understand but when people talk loudly and fast I have difficulty the words hearing.

You can print my writing in your newsletter.

(P.S. Since writing to you Richard has now for the first time typed a letter independently, as per copy attached. [see section marked in boldface below.]

Regards, Sandra Attfield)

[1/10/93]

Thank you for your letter. Will your mother please words type with double spaces between lines as I have double images when words reading. The short lines and paragraphs did not help but with double spacing they will. Also words tumble and jumble together.

I typed the information you requested on my canon without my mother steadying my elbow for the first time.

I words read at home with my family when a child. I always can look at and read by myself books. Also with not getting enough reading after I went to school I was on my own reading to myself with my not knowing or trying enough to learn I personally always either did only try learning when often someone during lessons helped me or when was estimated reasons for enough effort myself to be motivated to make.

I personally learnt language from friends and family as I grew up. They tended during my childhood to try words to understand when I spoke. I questions could not answer. I safe do need to feel with people. Had you the same difficulty? I words could actually understand and intellectually I longed to have communication.

At the school I attend real knowledge they were telling me I could never learn. I always was dreadful during the lessons giving the staff an unreasonable time sometimes because I wilful I then know I tended to be. I could control myself not. I have difficulty with knowing how to control myself. I was at home safe but not at school. I could not communicate really and they informed my family with reasons why I worked not when they knew not why I would only understand when they tried one to one to help me. I know people understood not that I knew most knowledge they taught me. Could not people realize I would only work when knowledge I did not already know. I wished to learn new things not something I did know. I was frustrated and yearned to really one friend have who understood me.

I told my first teacher I physics really wished to information learn then eventually came into my present class when I finally have been given project on energy to do. I learn given some thing interesting. People do not realise my ability. Had you the same problem. We have a dreadful time finding friends who understand. Donna inspired me to try to overcome my problems. Since meeting her my own life I am determined I am going to have. One day I will succeed my life to control. I am happiness going to have. You also are my friend. One friend who understands. Please write again.

Love, Richard