Benjamin Alexander (writer)
Benjamin Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 22, 1994[1] New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Bachelor's Degree in English |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
| Notable works | My Adventure in Life |
| Notable awards | First Place, Young Authors Contest |
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Benjamin Alexander is the first student with nonverbal autism to graduate from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he received a degree in English and Jewish Studies.[2][3] He also suffers from epileptic seizures.[4] Alexander is a user of facilitated communication,[4] with statements created using predictive word processing software that allows a choice from a list of words after typing a few letters.[4] Facilitated communication is a scientifically discredited technique[5][6][7] and there exists widespread agreement within the scientific community and multiple disability advocacy organizations that FC is not a valid technique for communicating with those having autism spectrum disorder.[8][9][10][11] Research indicates that the facilitator is the source of messages obtained through the process.[11][12][13][14][15]
Published works attributed to Alexander include a 2004 essay My Adventure in Life, which won a first place award in the Young Authors Contest sponsored by the Louisiana Reading Association, a poem Autism Sucks Part II which appeared in the anthology A Celebration of Poets: Heartland Grades, and an essay for the university's community newspaper new wave, which discussed communications with Steve Gleason, a former football player who suffers from ALS and uses a computer to communicate.[16][17]
According to facilitated communication, he opposes the view of autism as a gift and wants to be normal, claiming “I have been at war with God over my autism,” and has expressed the desire to verbally communicate, function with no academic aid, and be able to take care of himself.[18][19][20] Additional statements have included saying that he taught himself how to read,[16] that essays are his favorite form of writing,[4] that his favorite therapy as a child was 'Floortime' therapy, where his parents were instructed to guide him in his own direction, that the most promising therapies are those that keep the child focused and communicating, whether verbally or nonverbally,[21] and a controversial speech at a Bar Mitzvah about how he cannot change his autism.[16]
References[edit]
- ↑ Alexander, Benjamin (10 February 2019). "Who Am I? My Life With Autism and the Search for Me". Mindfray. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ↑ Bronston, Barri. "Devoted dad is partner in autistic graduate's success". Tulane News. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ↑ Alexander, Benjamin. "A Tulane degree: A supportive campus for individual perseverance". ViaNolaVie. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Irvine, Martha. "Q&A: A look at nonverbal autism, facilitated communication". Seattle Times. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ↑ Vyse, Stuart (7 August 2018). "Autism Wars: Science Strikes Back". Skeptical Inquirer Online. Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ↑ Jacobson, John W.; Mulick, James A.; Schwartz, Allen A. (1995). "A history of facilitated communication: Science, pseudoscience, and antiscience science working group on facilitated communication". American Psychologist. 50 (9): 750–765. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.50.9.750. ISSN 0003-066X.
- ↑ Boodman, Sandra G. (January 17, 1995). "Can autistic children be reached through 'Facilitated Communication'? Scientists say no". The Washington Post (Final Edition). Washington, D.C. p. z01. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ↑ Riggott, Julie (Spring–Summer 2005). "Pseudoscience in Autism Treatment: Are the News and Entertainment Media Helping or Hurting?". Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice. 4 (1): 58–60.
- ↑ "ISAAC Position Statement on Facilitated Communication". Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 30 (4): 357–358. 2014-12-01. doi:10.3109/07434618.2014.971492. ISSN 0743-4618.
- ↑ Wichert, Bill. "Professor found guilty of sexually assaulting disabled man". NJ.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Schlosser, Ralf W.; Balandin, Susan; Hemsley, Bronwyn; Iacono, Teresa; Probst, Paul; Tetzchner, Stephen von (2014-12-01). "Facilitated Communication and Authorship: A Systematic Review". Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 30 (4): 359–368. doi:10.3109/07434618.2014.971490. ISSN 0743-4618.
- ↑ Lilienfeld; et al. (26 February 2015). "Why debunked autism treatment fads persist". Science Daily. Emory University. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ Ganz, Jennifer B.; Katsiyannis, Antonis; Morin, Kristi L. (February 2017). "Facilitated Communication: The Resurgence of a Disproven Treatment for Individuals With Autism". Intervention in School and Clinic. 54: 52–56. doi:10.1177/1053451217692564.
- ↑ Mostert, Mark P. (2010-01-19). "Facilitated Communication and Its Legitimacy—Twenty-First Century Developments". Exceptionality. 18 (1): 31–41. doi:10.1080/09362830903462524. ISSN 0936-2835.
- ↑ Hemsley, Bronwyn; Bryant, Lucy; Schlosser, Ralf; Shane, Howard; Lang, Russell; Paul, Diane; Benajee, Meher; Ireland, Marie (2018). "Systematic review of facilitated communication 2014-2018 finds no new evidence that messages delivered using facilitated communication are authored by the person with the disability". Autism and Developmental Language Impairments. 3: 1–8. doi:10.1177/2396941518821570. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Alexander, Benjamin (9 January 2015). "Autism: The gift with no return". NolaVie - Life and Culture in New Orleans. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ↑ Alexander, Benjamin; Gleason, Steve. "An augmentative conversation between student and Steve Gleason". new wave. Tulane University. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ↑ Irvine, Martha. "Benjamin Alexander: Silenced by autism, a young man finds his voice". CBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ↑ Alexander, Benjamin (30 December 2018). "Neurodiversity: An Autistic Author's Point of View". Mindfray. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ↑ "AP video: Silenced by autism, young man finds his voice". madison.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ↑ "What defines 'success' for autism treatments?". Spectrum. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
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