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Autistic genius finds a way to communicate

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    Virginia Breen shows us how poetry provides autistic one child a way to express herself

  • Duration 8:19
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And welcome back to foxnews.com live -- Patti -- brown and and joining me right now on set very special woman -- was a very special daughter Virginia Green is the author along with her daughter of -- and in here.

And -- is a book with poems written by her autistic daughter.

Who cannot speak but she found her voice by typing.

And it is subtitled the journey of a child with autism who cannot speak but finds her voice voice of Virginia -- thank you so much for joining us thank you.

So when she was younger obviously.

You determined at some point that something was different about her.

Yes well in fact it was quite dramatic because she developed absolutely.

Perfectly normal -- and she had a beautiful voice.

And then at fifteen months suddenly she went silent it was regressive.

Quite dramatic could not speak a single word after that but it was all still inside her.

And she desperately wanted to way to communicate and you found her vehicle to do that that's right thank goodness.

We found a woman in Austin, Texas named solo -- the -- who had developed this rapid prompting -- it.

To teach people with autism how to get over that physical problem often they have of initiating even simple acts like pointing.

This -- she first thought Elizabeth how the -- on a letter board.

And then later Elizabeth has learned to type independently on a computer and on and I pay -- And as some of what she says it is heartbreaking and yet hopeful because she talks about her frustration.

In feeling like just because she can't speak.

That people don't know what's really inside her and you have one a proponents called me -- that's right in the PS title of the book comes from this column.

Me.

I sometimes fear that people cannot understand.

That I hear.

And I know that they don't believe -- go to every extreme.

To try to express -- need to talk.

If only they could walk in mind shoes they would share my news.

I AM being here and trying just.

Each and every day in some kind of way.

It's incredible.

-- -- so simple and yet makes the point so clearly.

So what her future.

Well she thinks he has a bright future in fact in the book is really about the whole thing joy she finds in the world.

Despite having this enormous challenge that is coming to her life she says.

Look at me I think I have a bright future and if if -- could she actually has a poem.

And her words are so much more powerful had in my they they are I would I would prefer or read or heard -- -- Bright future when you see -- think of me growing strong and Paul.

When you see the sun shining brightly think those who need tough in my -- When you see the water on the lake.

Think -- the future I plan to make.

Mean strong -- -- free now this is a -- -- wanted to -- -- feet can keep telling us.

Did not -- him.

You know take -- -- your life it's incredible so -- -- friendships with other kids that's difficult and -- is on the just being able to type on her I can't help sat right but it is still a barrier that this autism creates and so I think one of the main.

Other points of her book.

Is to not give up.

-- for educators for the medical community for people who are her peers and to keep trying have patience and communicate with her and she desperately wants to.

Be a part of our community right a little -- Here I would think these days where people don't even talk face to face anymore they do a lot of type ping me and communicating online so it that she could find some communities where she could.

Maybe just have friendships online machine doesn't it -- she Skype -- some of her other non verbal -- my goodness wow that's a really wonderful thing -- I'd say it's bad in some ways when you have these kids just typing but it's great for for someone like Elizabeth I guess so.

-- very well educated.

Harvard grad and Wall Street -- Career.

Just -- like for you.

Well.

It's nothing lake.

Anything else I've experienced in in fact there's a chapter in the book that talks about how a little bit.

The stress of Wall Street prepared me for having a life with two children with autism -- actually Elizabeth older brother also has autism.

Very different he's verbal but has learning issues and so.

This epidemic of -- -- -- some one in 88 children.

A million.

In our country.

And then they're just desperately.

Trying to find their place.

-- and so for me.

Nothing has really mattered honestly right until this because we're talking about our children and an epidemic.

And so Elizabeth wants to be an advocate and speak for those who maybe can't yet speak for them -- -- this book is.

A powerful way to do that you have so many people talking.

About autism.

But -- to to hear from -- of the people who have it themselves Temple Grandin and things like this.

It it makes a big difference but -- you mentioned the epidemic and you know.

People are out there screaming about how it's becoming more and more prevalent and the naysayers will say well you know -- -- this is better reporting people who used to just be considered quirky or geeky or eccentric or whatever are now classified.

Or just have ADHD.

Now they're considered to be on the spectrum.

-- you know some officials will concede that that accounts for some of the injuries.

But not nearly.

All of that so do you feel that enough is being done.

No enough is not being done we do need more research.

And in particular we need research about the sub populations who are vulnerable.

The scientific community is an agreement that there is a genetic component.

But you don't have genetic academics.

-- there needs to be some kind of environmental.

Toxin or impact.

-- speaking he's vulnerable children.

And I believe that in part it is the auto immune.

Problems in some of our families that is making these environmental toxins evil -- then cream week.

Autism -- a child who otherwise it's perfectly normal.

Have one of the important things is our early intervention again not -- that we have wider awareness that is happening and we do about common.

From one of our -- saying that her daughter was diagnosed at thirteen months.

A and -- the early intervention they were able to get her mainstream issues now considered.

High functioning -- so congratulations to her.

-- she says her daughter is the poster child for early intervention and try it can certainly help a lot in -- -- some cases although not all.

And then we have a -- politics has a question for you does your daughter do.

-- language.

That -- -- -- show autistic children pick up handling which immediately and if so does she is one -- to hand.

She actually tried to do that with her but because of.

-- gross motor skills he is problem and so the tightening ends up being a better way to communicate for car.

And and by the way the other comment about early intervention I could not agree more so both the medical.

And educational early intervention has been very important for getting our children also mainstreamed in public school.

Yeah and the schools themselves have more and more resource is now two.

That that's Elizabeth.

Yes you know.

In fact that's a picture of Elizabeth when we went whale watching Elizabeth has a very.

Close connection with nature and so she asked to still whale watching and she in fact the protocol -- Alcatel -- of them hung up.

Are well very a very interesting.

And powerful book I am in here by Elizabeth bunker and for -- Virginia Green thank you so much Virginia for joining us today best of luck to you --

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