“you get me”
That is the first thing Clay typed for Lisa Romaine, a supported typing teacher we visited this past Saturday. This wasn’t the first time we visited with Lisa. Clay opened up for her once before in August 2010, words pouring out of him. So, when his typing slowed over the past six months—stopping nearly completely at school—we decided another visit was in order. Maybe regular visits.
After a two-hour drive, and a 10-minute period for Clay to stretch his legs and decompress in the playroom at the center where Lisa works, we herded him into the workroom. Lisa promptly blocked him in a corner with a typing program open on his iPad and, after some preliminaries, jumped right in.
“Is there a reason why typing is getting hard?” she asked.
“yes,” he typed. “very serious about my typing but just hard to do sometimes i just need a lot of understanding and patience from everyone you really understand me very much”
Message Delivered
That took a few minutes for him to type with a couple of stops where he banged his head with his hand in frustration. Typically, we have been supporting him under the wrist while he types. Lisa placed her hand on top of his arm, just below his elbow. He was typing at a surprising pace. Did he like this method of support?
“you need to have my family hold me like you yes I love it”
Mom decided to try this new technique. It took a little getting used to on both ends, but Clay typed that he would like to have them use this method at school, as well.
“try to get my school to see i am smart,” he typed.
Typing With Mom
Lisa handed us a statement typed by one of her other students, Billy. He wrote in part:
“I no longer feel trapped it is my extra pressure now to help others become Free from their state of loneliness and to let my belief in them bring them what they need to be free. I am getting so excited for my reality to become reality for those still waiting hoping and praying to be set free every day.”
The little guy was tiring out. Typing takes a lot out of him. After talking about some other apps we can get for his iPad and firming up plans to visit every other Saturday for the near future, we decided to wrap things up. “Any final thoughts?” Lisa asked.
“so awesome to be here awesome yes thank you”
“Anything else you want to say?”
“lets go now”
Clearly time to leave. We have a revised technique, new exercises and renewed energy. Thanks, Lisa. It feels like we are back on track.
Some Well-Deserved Play Time
Life With Clay 
#1 by Lisa on November 7, 2011 - 10:12 am
Great job Clay!!!
#2 by autismmommytherapist on November 7, 2011 - 10:56 am
I hope this “tweaking” helps!
#3 by Jessica Stover on November 7, 2011 - 4:02 pm
Go, Clay, go!!! 🙂 ~ Jess
#4 by Lynda, Beacon, NY on November 7, 2011 - 5:56 pm
Every time I read one of the posts, I learn something new. It is so amazing to see Clay’s growth and especially read his responses.. Amazing young man. Thank you for sharing with us.
#5 by VAOT on November 7, 2011 - 6:25 pm
Very interesting about the difference the change in hand position/pressure made for Clay. Was there any discussion about how this was helping from a sensory point of view? Does the therapist think he needed deeper tactile/touch input or maybe input closer to his elbow to help him better perceive proprioceptive/joint input? What do you think, Clay?
#6 by Clay on November 7, 2011 - 10:02 pm
awesome question. awesome to type with support at elbow traditional typing this way feels better this way
#7 by Lisa on November 7, 2011 - 11:07 pm
I think the support at the elbow does a couple of things, it helps keep his elbow closer to his body and in a more natural position for typing and as mentioned above, gives Clay deeper input, helping to keep him focused and aware of where he is in space.