Lucy's Story: Autism and Other Adventures

Born with Autism, Lucy could not understand much of what was said around her. Her own language came later from newspapers and books. She created stories and poems in her head from the words she had read. As an adult she still barely speaks.

In her teens she started using a keyboard with someone touching her arm, but that was not a substitute for ordinary speech. Lucy's language had developed in a world of her own making in which she had never passed on information to someone else. Even today she does not answer questions in the same way as other people.

Lucy's ambition was to write a book. She went to High School. She wrote letters and essays, learnt how to explain herself and began to create characters in her stories. While writing she started to understand her own autism, and through that understanding she came to type on a computer with no physical support to complete her BA (Hons) in Literary Studies.

An essential resource for anyone interested in autism, sensory issues, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), language and the practice of writing, Lucy's Story is also an intriguing, poignant and exciting autobiography.

ISBN-13: 9781843100423

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Kingsley - Jessica Publishers

Publication Date: 07-11-2001

Pages: 296

Product Dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.70(d)

Lucy Blackman was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1972. After leaving school she completed her BA (Hons) in Literary Studies through Deakin University in Geelong. She now lives in Queensland. Lucy's Story is her first book.

Table of Contents

Editors' Note. Foreword by Dr Tony Attwood. Glossary. Prologue. April 1992-June 1993. Chapter 1. Little Lucy: Taste, Touch and Tantrums. Chapter 2. Little Lucy: Vision and Voids. Chapter 3. Little Lucy: The Glass Carillon. Chapter 4. Little Lucy Goes to School. Chapter 5. Big Lucy, 1986: Age 10-14. Chapter 6. Language Without Speech: Age 14. Chapter 7 Life with Typed Language, 1987: Age 14. Chapter 8. The New Me, August 1987-June 1988: Age 16-17. Chapter 9. More About Me, High School 1988-1989: Age 16-17. Chapter 10. Family Matters, Summer 1989-1990: Age 17. Chapter 11. School Matters, 1990: Age 17. Chapter 12. Curriculum and Communication, 1990: Age 17. Chapter 13. Typing and Talking, 1990: Age 17-18. Chapter 14. A Question of Touch, 1991: Age 18. Chapter 15. Looking to the Future, 1991: Age 19. Chapter 16. Going to America, October 1991-January 1992. Chapter 17. Earphones and Reggae, January 1992. Chapter 18 An Exciting, Frightening Journey, January-February 1992. Chapter 19. Mapping My Enchanted World, February 1992. Chapter 20. The Lens of the Kaleidoscope, March 1992. Afterword by Dr Tony Attwood. Show More