Author Archive for: defendingcomm
Entries by United for Communication Choice
Niko Boskovic, “Autistic Portland Boy Who Won a Prestigious Trip Told He Can’t Go”
This video clip from April 2017 was filmed by The Oregonian newspaper and tells the story of Niko Boskovic being denied the award of a trip to New York City he won in an essay contest. (He was later allowed to attend.) In the video, Niko communicates by pointing to letters on a letterboard.
Autistic Portland Boy Who Won a Prestigious Trip Told He Can’t Go
The Oregonian YouTube channel Seventeen year-old Niko Boskovic wins United Nations Educational Pilgrimage for Youth essay contest sponsored by the Odd Fellows Lodge. Odd Fellows withdraws the award after learning he has autism. Niko communicates by pointing to letters on a laminated letterboard. “Niko’s reliance on the letterboard is no different than a person who […]
Family: Portland Teenager Denied National Trip Because He Has Autism
KPTV Fox12 (Oregon) Portland, Oregon Fox-TV-affiliate story about 17-year-old Niko Boskovic winning United Nations Educational Pilgrimage for Youth essay contest sponsored by the Odd Fellows Lodge but then being denied the ‘prize’ of a trip to the UN. Other Oregon-based Odd Fellows Lodges voice support for Niko, some voting to boycott future contests until anti-discrimination […]
The Big Impact of Small Moments
On March 25, 2017, a group of 9 nonspeaking autistics from Northern Virginia (a.k.a. “The Tribe”) and 20 University of Virginia undergraduates gathered in Charlottesville to discuss, among other things, motor differences in autism with Dr. Jana Iverson of the University of Pittsburgh.
Autism and Advocacy
On February 11, 2017, a group of 9 nonspeaking autistics from Northern Virginia (a.k.a. “The Tribe”) and 19 University of Virginia undergraduates gathered in Falls Church to discuss and plan autism advocacy efforts.
Mother of Reinvention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia) Story by Atlanta parent Alison Auerbach who started The Connections School of Atlanta for students with autism to enable its graduates to seamlessly matriculate to and graduate from high school. “These students, speaking and nonspeaking, will likely have to fight to be heard and understood for most of their adult lives. […]
‘I Want to Show that Someone Who Can’t Speak Thinks Many Thoughts, Understands Everything’
The Journal.ie (Ireland) Sixteen-year-old Dublin, Ireland resident Fiacre Ryan describes what his daily life as an autistic is like and how Rapid Prompting Method has given him a way to fully express his thoughts and feelings. “I am verifying people with autism when I write my thoughts. Each time the door opens on a new […]
Jordyn’s Rocky Journey
Jordyn’s Rocky Journey is a documentary about the physical and mental work undertaken by a young man with autism to control his body and increase independence. Jordyn communicates by pointing to letters on a letterboard. He calls his out-of-control body “Rocky,” and writes of his struggles and work to gain control over Rocky on his blog of the same name: https://jordynsrockyjourney.wordpress.com/.
Sisterly
Nina Vallado’s award-winning Sisterly is “a documentary film about sisters, autism and communication.” It tells the story of Nina’s relationship with her sister Lisa, and Lisa’s path to communication.