I can hear you.It seems like you don't know that,
Do you?
I am sitting here,
In this chair.
Trying as hard as I can.
Or I was, at least.
Are you?
You ask me questions,
But you won't wait for me to answer.
You talk so fast.
And you don't check that I am ready.
When I'm quiet I'm good
When I'm noisy I'm bad
You boss me around,
Press this,
Touch that.
If I do or if I don't,
It doesn't matter.
You have already decided.
You have decided that I can't.
You have decided I can't hear you.
You have decided I can't understand.
But I can,
I can hear you,
I can understand.
Maybe I don't understand every word.
But I do understand your tone.
I understand that text message
Is more important than me.
I understand your data sheet
Is more valuable than me.
I can hear you.
When you talk about:
Your husband,
Your traffic jam,
Your student who is too low to get it.
I can hear you.
I know that student is me.
I know, and,
I can hear you.
This makes me weep. Then, it makes me ANGRY. I'm so sorry your friend/client, C.D., had to be exposed to such ignorance.
ReplyDeleteAHHHHHH! Thank you for putting into words what I feel when people don't understand our non-verbal students. My non-verbal student doesnt' use his device, but I do know that he understands everything.... grrr people.
ReplyDeleteSo true. Wish people could appreciate and understand ALL students. thanks for writing this.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for this!! So tempted to post this on my door tomorrow...I'm pretty sure I'd get in trouble for it though...
ReplyDeleteShouting this from the rooftops. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Sharing with my fellow SLPs. We all need this reminder.
ReplyDeleteFor my son, who is 8 years old with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism and who is just learning to communicate with his device, thank you. He is getting a new teacher this year and I will be sure to share this with him or her. I hope David will have the voice to thank you himself someday.
ReplyDeletethank you for share this article
ReplyDeleteSo sad. Unfortunately I see this often. I see and hear it with our autistic kids at school. "They don't talk, lets just assume they don't understand anything we're saying".
ReplyDeleteTouching. Makes me wonder every time I wronged someone without realising it.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome poem to give to caretakers of the elderly that have lost their voice as well. Thank you!
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