Being a speech therapist, this book was extra special. Emily's story about learning to express her thoughts through AAC and typing is touching to say the least. So many others need to read this to understand there is so much more to a person than just their autism. They are battling their internal battles all day long and trying desperately to be understood.

As a memoir, this was wonderful. I cried ar multiple points and would recommend this to most people in my life.

I HAVE BEEN BURIED UNDER YEARS OF DUST
By Valerie Gilpeer and Emily Grodin

Imagine that your child finds her voice literally and figuratively after more than two decades of her life. What a breakthrough!

This is a true story of a mother’s refusal to give up on her daughter with nonverbal autism.

I am so moved reading this well written memoir as Valerie recounts her life as a mother of an autistic child, advocating for the rights of her neuro diverse daughter Emily, while navigating the complex and challenging medical and school system. More than a memoir, this book taught me a lot as a nurse about the diagnosis, the current research, and the controversial treatments and interventions for autism.⁣
⁣
Within the chapters are italicized entries by Emily as she finds her voice through a technique called facilitated communication by typing on an iPad to express her thoughts. Her first words are the title of this book, and as her mother knew all along, Emily was smart and capable of so much more than what people give her credit for behind her diagnosis. Emily is not only succeeding extremely well in college here in Los Angeles, but is also an emerging poet whose writing is powerful, brilliant and heartfelt. ⁣

Eye-opening, informative, heart-wrenching and beautiful memoir told by Valerie and her daughter Emily, who is autistic and nonverbal. The mother-daughter duo describes the challenges of living as and with an autistic person. The books takes you from Emily's beginning to where she is today...it's great seeing how Emily's life changed after she found her voice. It includes poems written by Emily. It's an bold and courageous book. People with autism deserved to be treated with love, respect and empathy. I recommend this book with April being Autism Acceptance month. Thank you Valerie and Emily for sharing the world your journey.

What a powerful memoir. I have several friends who have autism and appreciate the chance to learn more about the condition as well as the challenges non-verbal people with autism face.

The description of this story interested me right away. The journey Emily and her family went on and are still going through of navigating nonverbal autism was very compelling, and I am thankful for the opportunity to read it.

This is a memoir co-written by Emily’s mother and Emily who is nonverbal autistic. The main narrative is told by her mother, with insight and poetry throughout
by Emily. Emily’s poetry and writing was definitely was the highlight for me.

The overall story paints a picture of Emily’s journey of finding her voice and sharing her experience of the world. Through most of her childhood she is not able to communicate beyond simple answers to questions, though her parents believe there is more going on inside her than she can communicate. After trying many different therapies, through FC she has a breakthrough one day and Emily writes full sentences describing her thoughts and feelings for the first time.

I know there is a saying in the autistic community that says something like when you have met one autistic person you have met one autistic person. Each person’s experience with autism is unique. This is how I think of Emily’s story. It is not meant to say “follow this path” and other autistic people can be like me. Rather it tells a story that advocates for more options beyond speech therapy for nonverbal autistic children.

FC (Facilitated Communication) has been seen as illegitimate form of communication for autistic people, but Emily and her mother want to share their positive experience with it and advocate for all forms of AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) to be a recognized option for nonverbal autistic people.

Emily’s poetry and insight to what it is like to navigate the world as autistic along with her mother’s narrative has given me a lot to think about as a teacher, mother, and human in this world we all share.