Positive Affirmations: How My Son with Autism Uses Them

How I found out my Non-verbal Son uses Positive Affirmations…

My son suffers from severe Autism. Yet I found out he uses positive affirmations. You see, for the past 2 years we’ve been consistently teaching  him to use a letter board through a method called “Spell to Communicate” aka S2C.

It has been a revelation. We found out even though he couldn’t verbally communicate, he had all these words and knowledge locked up inside him. Almost like a prison or being tied up with duct tape over his mouth. He is 14 now. I can’t imagine going all these years and knowing all he knew and wanted to say but couldn’t say it!

Underestimated…

My son has been learning to use a letter board to communicate off and on for about 6 years now. We learned about using a letter board after reading the book Josiah’s Fire about a young non-speaking boy who started learning the letter board through a method called RPM, (rapid prompting method,) and then eventually switched to a very similar method called S2C after reading a book called Underestimated: An Autism Miracle, by J.B. and Jamison Handley. 

We have been doing S2C for two years now and he is now open with his communication. It has been such a blessing that we can finally know what our son is thinking and what his hopes and dreams are.

I AM HEALING

As my son has become more fluent on the letter board, I am able to know more about him. Through him, I’ve learned how powerful the mind is. When I started looking into mindset reprogramming, I told him he can do positive affirmations for himself. He got very excited! I asked him what got him so excited.

He spelled:

I DO AFFIRMATIONS AGAIN AND AGAIN IN BED AT NIGHT.

I asked him how long he had been doing this.

SINCE I WAS A FIVE YEAR OLD.

I asked him what affirmations he told himself.

I AM HEALING.

Wonderfully Abled

I was beside myself at these revelations. How did he even know to do this? All these years and he was telling himself he is healing. I told him we could write down these affirmations and post them in his room. He requested that I post them on his window. He spelled out that he was ECSTATIC. He was finally understood and I finally caught on to this idea of affirmations that he knew about all these years!

I asked what other affirmations he wanted me to post and he spelled:

I AM WONDERFULLY ABLED

He is more than that and I couldn’t be more proud!

Spellers the Movie

Now the book, Underestimated has been made into a new documentary called Spellers.

We just saw it at a private screening and it is incredible and very inspiring. My son spelled that it was “really motivational.”

He now wants to progress faster on the letter board and can’t wait to move to typing on a keyboard like he saw in the movie.

Perhaps we need to write a new affirmation…

12 thoughts on “Positive Affirmations: How My Son with Autism Uses Them”

  1. This is an amazing article.  Your son’s ability to use the communication board is wonderful.  I spent many years working with developmentally disabled children and their families.  Many of these kids were on the spectrum and non-verbal.  As they learned to use some form of communication, parents and teachers alike were always amazed at the depth of understanding and self-knowledge locked inside.  I hope your article inspires parents to work on communication with their children freeing what is inside.

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    • Thank you so much! I’m so proud of him. Words just can’t describe what a joy it has been for the whole family.

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  2. Your article on your Autistic son was very inspirational. Your love, concern and support helped him live a happy, meaningful life. I do hope you consider joining a support group for Autistic individuals and together tell your story of success. I believe many parents and Autistic children would benefit and gain insights as to a brighter future.

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  3. positive affirmations have been shown to have benefits for mental health and well-being, and can be particularly helpful for individuals with autism who may struggle with communication and self-esteem. It is encouraging to hear that your son has found a way to use positive affirmations to support his emotional and mental health. It is important to continue to explore and utilize strategies that work best for your son’s unique needs and strengths.

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  4. This article is a heartwarming testament to the power of positive affirmations in the life of a non-verbal son with autism. It beautifully showcases how these affirmations become a powerful tool for self-expression and empowerment. The unique perspective and experiences shared in this piece offer a valuable insight into the transformative impact of affirmations, highlighting the strength and resilience of individuals on the autism spectrum. It’s an inspiring read that reminds us of the boundless possibilities that exist when we embrace positivity and affirmations in our lives

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  5. I just read your blog post on positive affirmations and how your non-verbal son with autism uses them, and it truly touched my heart. It’s inspiring to see how you’re using positive affirmations to help your son build confidence and self-esteem, despite his challenges.

    As someone who has worked with individuals on the autism spectrum, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to communicate with non-verbal individuals. Your use of visual aids and repetition to reinforce positive messages is a powerful tool that can help your son develop a more positive mindset.

    Thank you for sharing your experience and offering insight into how positive affirmations can benefit individuals with autism. Your story serves as a reminder of the power of positive thinking and the importance of finding ways to communicate effectively with individuals who face communication barriers.

    Keep up the great work, and I wish you and your family all the best on your journey.

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  6. Great Article I hope this helps all children with Autism, I believe we all as a human race have the capabilities of terrific and beautiful inspirational speech. We all in God’s image and created perfectly in Spirit. Affirmations are great for the brain when they are positive. Silently the subconscious takes the repeated action and manifests its energy of thought waves into action. Our brain is like a computer that takes good or bad into it, and Autism children will learn how to speak in using written Affirmations .

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  7. Great Article I hope this helps all children with Autism, I believe we all as a human race have the capabilities of terrific and beautiful inspirational speech. We all in God’s image and created perfectly in Spirit. Affirmations are great for the brain when they are positive. Silently the subconscious takes the repeated action and manifests its energy of thought waves into action. Our brain is like a computer that takes good or bad into it, and Autism children will learn how to speak in using written Affirmations .

    Reply
  8. This awesome recount of your son and his self awareness is remarkable. We can never appreciate the true value of the mind and our ability to excel beyond assumed limitations. Your son is a shining example of exceptionalism and determination. He has indicated that his potential extends far beyond typical expectation. He is awesome!

    Reply

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