HELP ME - I'M IN HERE!

THOMAS’ STORY  (What I imagine he would have said.)

I feel like a nobody.  I am a nothing.  People are all around me but they don’t see me.  Only one person seems to know that I am more than my disability.  Tammy always says, “Hello, Thomas, how are you today?” and she waits for me to answer.  No, I don’t speak out loud but I do look at her and smile.  When Tammy is around I feel like I am somebody.

The others take care of me but don’t seem to understand that I need more than just being cared for.  I want to do things, I want to be involved, I want to learn.  The computer is important to me.  I’m smart – did you know that?  I listen to what you say to each other.  I follow along with the words as Tammy reads to me. 

Being in this place is boring and lonely.  My family is so far away and don’t visit very often.  I want to tell them to take me out of here but they don’t understand.  They’re sad to see me here but don’t know what else to do.  I have no friends.  I have no way to talk with others.  I have no way to say, “Let’s play cards or play games on the computer.”  I have no choice in what I do.

I want to scream, “I’m in here!  Someone help me!”  I can’t speak. But I can use the computer.  I practice and practice and teach myself how to type words.

Now I can say, “I am in here.  Now I have a voice.”