* Name (required):

  Expression ^{(Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)}

  E-mail address (optional):

* Type your message here:
>When I was 10 years old our family moved to a new part >of town and it was there that I encountered “Matt”, >who was about 18 at the time. He was a major feature >of the neighbourhood and spent much of his time >driving around the streets. > >Matt was perhaps the world’s best driver. He never >exceeded the speed limit and would always stop his >truck to allow pedestrians to cross the road. His >driving technique was almost perfect. Matt would shift >down through the gears to a walking speed, then lean >out of his cab and tip his hat as he drove by. Then, >once safely past, he would quickly change up through >the gears again and speed off down the road. > >Twelve years later, when I left for a new life in >North America, Matt was still driving the streets of >my hometown and, from what I heard, he continued to do >so for many years after. During all that time he never >bought a new truck – his was always in tiptop >condition. He would spend many hours washing it and >maintaining the engine and could often be seen at the >side of the road with his head under the hood. > >I’ve often wondered about Matt - he would be in his >60s now. If he’s still cruising the streets then I’d >bet my life savings that he’s driving the same truck. >You see, Matt was autistic and his truck existed only >in his mind and in the minds of all those who knew and >loved him. > >As far as I know, Matt never went to school but >instead spent his days driving his truck around the >streets. He obeyed all the rules of the road while >shuffling along the road next to the curb at about 1 >mph. With hands clasped firmly on steering wheel and >gearshift he would head off down the road making all >the appropriate engine noises as he changed gear. At >stop signs he would sway forward as he came to a halt >and, when pulling away, would lean backwards as the >acceleration pushed him into his “seat”. > >I often wonder how Matt would have fared in today’s >environment. There were no bureaucrats handing out >money and special services in those days. Yet I wonder >sometimes if perhaps the Matts of this world weren’t >better off than the kids of today are. Families now >live isolated from one another and must turn to the >state for help. Matt, after all, had the shared love >and support of the whole community - family, >neighbours and friends – in a society that valued >people for what they were, not for what society >thought they should be. Unfortunately, people today >are uncomfortable with anyone who is different and >they try very hard to make them conform to a “deemed” >normality. > >As someone who lives happily on the fringes of your >alien world, I get very nervous when I hear terms like >“behavioral intervention”, “Skinner box”, and "autism" >spoken in the same breath.
Choose Message Icon: None :-) Happy ;-) Wink :-D Joy :} Smirk <:-} Innocent ☮ Peace >:) Mischief B-) Shades <3 Heart |O Yawn <:P Sick >:-( Angry :~( Sad ? Question *!* Alert Thumbs Up Thumbs Down (!) Idea [Info] Info Oo. Talk [ View Emoticons ]

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.
The Voy.com User Agreement applies to all visitors.