Awesome. Wow.
October 21, 2016 8:15 AM   Subscribe

 
He signed by touching his fingertips to his chin, and verbally said, “Thank you.”

He seemed pleased I was finally getting better at listening.
stupid leaky sight organs 😭
posted by Foci for Analysis at 8:23 AM on October 21, 2016 [4 favorites]


it's called crying and it is a natural human reaction typically keyed to emotional stimulus
posted by beerperson at 8:47 AM on October 21, 2016 [12 favorites]


Lovely story. It reminded me a little of Life, Animated, in which a kid with autism learns to communicate through Disney movies.
posted by me3dia at 9:36 AM on October 21, 2016


This is really great for them but I feel weird about it as an article and as a mefi post. Like I get it, Hamilton is really good. Message received!
posted by naju at 10:04 AM on October 21, 2016


I think it's great that it was posted. It's only ostensibly about Hamilton, and much more about how kids with disabilities can communicate via technology and music. This quote is especially poignant:

"October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I’m not a big fan of disability awareness campaigns, generally, unless they lead us toward accepting people for who they are, for tearing down our own internal ableist narratives about normality or function. That’s my goal here, to take an anecdote about the surprising role played by streaming music technology that has allowed my son to reveal new depths of understanding. But those depths were always there, he just hadn’t shown them to me, or I just didn’t see."
posted by vverse23 at 10:12 AM on October 21, 2016 [6 favorites]


Hamilton is really good. Message received!

That wasn't really the message.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:15 AM on October 21, 2016 [21 favorites]


More of the hook/framing/targeting. You're right. I guess it got me and a bunch of other people reading.
posted by naju at 10:23 AM on October 21, 2016


Yeah, I think it's a fine article, but the title made it sound like a previously noncommunicative individual had learned to use Hamilton to communicate, rather than that someone with difficulties communicating occasionally used Hamilton.
posted by corb at 11:32 AM on October 21, 2016


Yeah, this really isn't a "yay Hamilton" puff piece. David Perry is an interesting and thoughtful writer, one of the people who are helping to bring disability rights and disability activism to greater awareness. I know him slightly via Twitter and am tickled that Nico has gotten beyond his initial rejection of Hamilton. When David first played it, apparently Nico turned his nose up at it and wanted more Flogging Molly.

Also, the idea that "nonverbal" means "noncommunicative" is increasingly falling away. With better understanding and improvements in technology (like the talker app described in the article), it's becoming clear that many nonverbal people who were previously assumed to be profoundly intellectually disabled are capable of communicating when given the necessary supports.
posted by Lexica at 11:56 AM on October 21, 2016 [9 favorites]


Our one year old son with Down Syndrome has learned that when he smiles charmingly, everyone oos and aahs and gives him food and toys. He alternates that with roaring like a lion.
posted by triage_lazarus at 1:55 PM on October 21, 2016 [3 favorites]


Nice: LMM has read the story.
posted by Lexica at 3:04 PM on October 21, 2016 [2 favorites]


I'm glad that this family has found another way to make a connection, but I feel like the article doesn't really explain what Nico is communicating using Hamilton (or any other music).

Like, I think I get that when Nico quotes Hamilton, his family goes all Steve Rogers. But it's not like he's using the lyrics to allude to anything, right?
posted by sparklemotion at 3:37 PM on October 21, 2016


Parent of disabled child here. This piece was so on-target in so many ways. My child is verbal but initially had the same apraxia as Nico. The author articulated what I've long known: The problem in communication lies much more with me than my child. He's putting it all out there as best he can. I have to get better at receiving what he's sending. roomthreeseventeen, thank you for posting this lovely piece.
posted by Kangaroo at 6:20 AM on October 22, 2016 [3 favorites]


What a lovely piece. Going to go put some Hamilton on my son's tablet right now in the hopes that it can be another way to connect with him! My special needs son is more verbal now, but for a long time last winter we communicated mostly through lines recited from various Winnie the Pooh movies.

And let me draw your attention to this line: "He’s always needed distraction to help him eat (long story, don’t argue)". Ah yes. Even in an article written by an educated, engaged father, we have to fend off the inevitable criticisms of Those Who Know Better. I am so, so tired of people snipping at me for allowing my son to use his tablet during mealtimes, or in the grocery store, or wherever. We are all doing the best we can given the cards we've been dealt. Lay off!
posted by bluebelle at 7:04 PM on October 22, 2016 [1 favorite]


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