by Dr. Dan L. Edmunds

With the clipboard they stood and made demands
They wrote, ‘Five times he flapped his hands’
They offered me a treat
If I did not move my feet
Echolalia is repeating your own phrase
Progress is repeating according to our ways
Look at everyone in the eye
We do not want to hear you cry
Sit next to your peers
Get over all your fears
No, that is is not the response we asked for
Try again, repeat the drills some more
Stop with that happy squeal
We are not concerned with how you feel
Do as the others would do
Follow the right social cue
This class is where you will remain
Until from all those unwanted behaviors you refrain
Other kids will not understand you at all
You will only be allowed to see them in the hall
They might point and stare
But we do not really care
Today you earn a star
For being something other than you are.

Dr. Dan L. Edmunds is a self advocate. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of Florida with major in Comparative Religion and minor in Sociology. He received a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of Scranton and earned a Doctorate of Education in Community Counseling from Argosy University. He has served 22 years as a Behavioral Health Counselor.