Today’s post from the In Their Own Words series, highlighting nonspeakers and unreliable speakers who use S2C to communicate, comes from “Michael Man.” Michael’s mom Michelle is local to me and our journeys have crossed paths many times over the years. I’ve seen how hard she has fought for Michael and have admired her tenacity and grit. Our kids have shared many of the same challenges and heartbreaks, so I was thrilled to see how well Michael was doing with S2C. I’m even more thrilled that Michelle and Michael allowed me to share their experience here. Like the posts of all the S2C-ers here this month, I hope that Michael’s voice provides inspiration and hope for others.

Michael’s Journey

Below is an interview with “Michael Man.” As his mom Michelle says, “Hold on tight and read along as Michael Man brings you into his amazing, creative, and beautiful collection of words.”

Tell us about you:

My name is Michael and I am 13 years old. I live with my mom and dad and three sisters in Media, Pennsylvania.

Michael with his family (clockwise, left to right) – his mom Michelle, his dad Jared, and sisters Molly, Madelyn, and Melanie (Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea)

What does a week look like for you?

The week in the life of Michael man is a busy one for sure! I start my week at church with my family. Right after that we like to have more family time together, usually with extended family. My brother from another mother is my cousin Finn who actually is my very best friend. This is our time to hang out together and my favorite time of the week.

Michael with his cousin Finn (Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea)

Each morning I do my school work with my mom. I attend Invictus online school. It is specifically for spellers like me. In the past I went to three different schools. My experiences were grim to say the least. Understand that when I started school I really had little control of my body and not one teacher knew what to do with me. Then along came Mimi.

Michael spelling with Mimi (Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea)

I was finally looked at differently. This is when my life changed. So on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I see my Mimi. The work I accomplish here at Empowered Voices is the most rewarding and beneficial work I have ever done. Tuesdays and Thursdays I see Coach Pete to work on my motor. There is something about working out that truly organizes my body. I learned this in Tampa at Immersion.

Michael with Coach Pete (Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea)

My first trip to Tampa was the hardest week of my life. The week was packed with practicing spelling and working on organizing my body. Can we talk about how hard it was for my parents to watch me work in this way so intensely? They never gave up on this and began to make plans to go see the great Dr. Dana on a regular basis – best parents ever!

Michael with Dana at Spellers Tampa (Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea)

Tell us 3 things you have accomplished this year:

For one, I got open in my communication, obviously. Second, I completed an entire year of homeschool. This is year #2 at Invictus. Third, I received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I am now Michael Richard after my Pop Pop.

What are 3 things you would like to accomplish in the next 5 years?

1. I would like to travel to Europe, specifically to Italy and Greece.
2. Life work could begin with a job. I really would like to work somewhere I could help others with apraxia.
Are you interested at all in college?
Not really.
Do you want to continue high school at home with Mom?
I want to go to a regular online high school if I can.
3. I would like to be more independent in my everyday activities.
Give me an example of one thing you want to work on.
Bedtime routine would be a good place to start.
What do you think about starting with the shower?
Perfect place to start.

Is there anything else you want to add, that you want people to know about you?

I guess the point is that my world has changed so much since spelling my advice to others with no reliable communication is to get yourself a spellers practitioner ASAP, and don’t ever give up!

Michael spelling with his mom (Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea)

From Michael’s Sisters:

Michael’s sisters were asked:
How had your life changed since spelling? How has your relationship with Michael changed?

Molly:

My life has changed in many ways. I feel like I spend more time with Michael because I treat him completely normal. I also think of him as a regular big brother, not a baby. Spelling has definitely helped our family. My relationship with Michael has changed, a lot. We have an even better bond. I truly see him as a whole different person. Michael’s communication is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Madelyn:

My life has changed because now Michael can spell things out to us. Before I always had so many questions for him. I feel like now I can communicate right back to a whole new big brother. I am so proud of him!

Melanie:

I love that he can answer all of my questions. He even got to write his first letter to Santa this year. I love when I get to go to therapy with him.

Special Thanks To:

The O’Shea family is grateful for the work and support of:

• Mimi Todd, BS, Special Education MA, Human Services and Counseling, Empowered Voices, Wayne, PA
• Pete Phillips, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, PA Health and Fitness Teacher, Full Spectrum Fitness, Bala Cynwyd, PA
• Dana Johnson, PhD, MS, OTR/L, Spellers, Tampa, Florida

Thank you, Joanna from Holistically Whole for helping Michael to share his gift, his voice.