Matthew’s “thought voice” and facial expressions
Why is Mathew’s “thought voice” not matched by his facial expressions?
We should explain that the “thought voice” is a dramatic device developed for the purposes of this film. In real life, Matthew might take longer to feel, think and type words for his sensations of being outdoors and meeting a new person. He would likely need more time to recollect his sensations of the calm beauty of an early summer day in the park and near the river. He would probably express these later at home, in well-chosen words and metaphors.
There is indeed a mismatch between the eloquence of Matthew’s words, as presented dramatically, and his inexpressive face. Sadly, this means that other people cannot perceive that Matthew really wants to be more social and to respond to friendly greetings. Matthew’s brain does not easily make sense of visual information about other people, especially of their faces. While neurotypical people look for and find cues in the faces of their companions, people with ASD have great difficulty reading and understanding the facial expressions of others.
Why can’t Matthew look Dave directly in the eyes? Not only do the eyes and brains of people with ASD not efficiently process details of the faces of others. It’s also likely that they may be over-stimulated by both seeing and hearing a new person, so they may shut out that information. They may recognize people in their lives more clearly by other aspects, such as their voices. So Matthew can recognize his friend and longtime neighbour, Geena, by her voice.
Lacking models from others, it is harder for adults with ASD to make their own faces express their positive feelings. As those with severe ASD often do not speak either, it is no wonder that neurotypical people may imagine that their greetings are unwelcome. It seems that Matthew and other adults with Autism lack interest in in other people and social situations.
But appearances may be deceiving. We know from what they tell us that adults with ASD like Matthew are very eager to get on with people and realize that, as for most of us, our quality of life depends on our relationships with our friends.
What you think you see is not all that’s there. You might see me stop and think I don’t want to do it. In reality my body is probably stuck or distracted. New people need to believe in me and be prepared to discover I may not be like they expect. If I sense they are paternalistic or patronizing, I will be distressed. Smiling is hard when people touch me if I don’t expect it or I don’t know them.
How Matthew communicates
The film’s last scene shows that Matthew can communicate though he does not speak. Some of us may be born without the capacity to speak; some acquire this handicap through illness or trauma. Some people with various reasons for muteness have been offered opportunities to use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems and aids. For more than 20 years, Matthew has been lucky to have access to both technology and the encouragement and support of experienced facilitators to type his thoughts and ideas. He is one of those who challenge the notions that only people who speak with their voices possess a capacity for language and communication and that being unable to speak indicates lack of intelligence.
Matthew uses a form of AAC known as Supported Typing. With an experienced facilitator stabilizing his body and typing arm, he can type on computerized devices with voice output that “speak” his words and record what he says. He has always wanted a device that speaks with “his” voice. During the past 22 years, he has used devices specially designed for people who cannot speak, such as the LightWriter designed by Toby Churchill. Laptops or desktops running WriteOutloud text-to-speech software are useful as they can speak and also keep a record of Matthew’s quite long compositions. He now also uses an iPad for briefer interactions. Some communicators use lower tech aids.
More important than the devices are the attitudes of those who support Matthew and other communicators to talk by typing. They presume competence and make this clear to the people they support, thus providing valuable encouragement. With the right kinds of support, people with severe Autism or other movement differences can co-ordinate their movements better and type their thoughts and feelings in words that other people understand. The assistant provides backward pressure so the communicator can concentrate on reaching forward to touch or type on the device or simple letter board.
The form of support varies with each person and has been likened to learning to dance together. For some people, a touch on the shoulder may be enough. Others may need help in isolating the index finger with which they point to letters or press the keys. The amount of support needed may vary at different times, depending on state of health, level of anxiety, or distractions in the environment.
Some adults who cannot use their voices have changed their lives through discovering Supported Typing. Some develop independence in typing and continue in literacy and further education programs, and a few have graduated from college. Communicators who have been published include Sue Rubin, Lucy Blackman, Tito Mukhopadhyay, Larry Bissonnette, Alberto Frugone, Richard Attfield, Jamie Burke and Naoki Higashida. Several are featured in the film Wretches and Jabberers.
What we all yearn for: really good support to communicate….
Supported Typing is so liberating. I was locked before it. I had to hope others would see my intelligence in my eyes and behaviour, but these were not reliable. I saw that nobody really knew how smart I was. I had no way to express myself apart from some signs and pointing. People had to guess what I wanted and needed. It was so limiting. I was impeded by my movement disturbances. I might get things I needed, but couldn’t say what I thought and felt.
I think other people saw a primitive childlike person who was not a thinker. I know it is hard to respect someone who paces and screeches, but says nothing intelligent. People did not know that I was trying to be in control of my body, when my body went in the opposite way from the way I wanted. I tried to keep calm, even though I got upset. People only saw my racing and pacing. Not my inner struggle, and that I was really working to hold in the storm. It felt like I was observing my own life but not controlling it.
When others did not understand me, I was sad and frustrated and agitated all the time. I got angry. I was hopeless: I never expected to find a better way. A few people really looked inside and past my Autism. Until Supported Typing I did not know I thought in words that others could understand; I was just absorbing their words. I was very surprised the first time I used ST. Now I had thoughts. Now I could talk.
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