Dustin was a kindergarten student at West Hartford Duffy Elementary School, 1987, age 6.  Under the caring eye of special resourse teacher Norma Fisher and OT, Gail Wietleman, he composed this autobiographical piece. MFD had worked with these caring ladies in order for there to be understanding that he could intentionally pick out letters from his letterboard. No one should read into this that this was easy, either for him or his listener.  He needed someone to absorb the tone in his deltoid muscles in order for him to have muscle control. With this support he learned to reach for his desired letter , then look up to indicate he had done so.  After working with him for months  Norma was convinced of MFD’s “voice”.  One day Norma said to Dustin, ” Dustin, tell me something about yourself and I would like it in first person.”  Dustin wrote:

 I am very smart. 

I am sad because I have cerebral palsy.

I am a good speller.

My mother says I am very strong because I work hard talking on my communication board.

I am happy when I am understood.

I like to go to school. My favorite thing there is gym.

I don’t like fat doctors. I like doctors who are really nutty. Dislike for me is a mistake. I am decent.

I need a computer at school because I need to talk in kindergarten.

I am happy that I am typing. I like to do things myself.

I put my head down when I want to say something but people think I am asleep.

I am going to Coleco to fix my talking teacher because I need the keyboard more sunken.

I liked the day I said my nursery rhymes to my class. They like me and they said I am smart. I am a very smart person.

I need a monkey to hold my hand. My mom says she will get me one. His name will be Ernie. He will live with me.

When I bring Ernie to school Hannah will say “get out of here”. I will say, “I need Ernie.”

I need Ernie to lift my hands to I can play the piano. I can read music.

I like to listen to Paul Simon’s Graceland.

I must learn about science. I like monkeys. I want to read about science.

I want to be an astronaut for a job. I will go in a spaceship to space when I grow up. I will walk in space. I will be as fast as I want.

Ernie will go to space with me. He will steer the spaceship. He will feed me and sleep with me. Teach Ernie to talk so I can be understood.

I am a wise Alex. I am funny.

Dustin Webb copyright 2007

Notes:  this took Dustin weeks to write. Each session with Norma, Dustin spelling out the next line.   Regarding “fatdoctors”, we are fairly confident that MFD was referring to doctors who had said condescending things about him. Regarding astronauts, this was the year of the Challenger Disaster.  Exceptional Parent published this in their January 1990 issue.