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by Chandra Lebenhagen (Author), Anantha Krishnamurthy (Author), Janani Ramanath (Author)
Anantha is a non-speaking autistic boy, but that does not mean he has no voice.
Through poetry and non-fiction prose, Speechless Dream: Narratives on Autism, Inclusion and Hope shares Anantha's poignant interpretation of the harmful effects of therapeutic and educational practices that aimed to remediate his autistic self into something more "normal." Interwoven into his narrative are the stories of the people whose lives intersected because of Anantha's dream to receive an education.
Speechless Dream highlights the harmful impact ableist belief systems and practices have on autistic children, especially those who are non- or minimally speaking. The story also reveals that when we come together from a place of acceptance, powerful opportunities exist to support neurodivergent students in education.
By sharing our journey, we openly commemorate our successes and hope to create provocations for researchers, jurisdictional leaders, and educators to re-examine their beliefs and practices so that students with disabilities are more ethically and equitably included in school.
