Validation of Josh’s intelligence and ability to communicate.
“Josh can communicate successfully to a very high standard” – Adam Barrett
Adam Barrett worked closely with Josh, his family and his support team between 2007 and 2014.
Between 2007 and 2014 I worked very closely with Joshua Harris, his family and his team of support staff to improve their communication skills and to work on strategies to support Joshua’s communication in all situations. This involved a lot of one-to-one sessions with Josh, team training events and individual troubleshooting exercises over the years.
Joshua is a highly intelligent and articulate communicator who, when in the correct environment, can precisely express his feelings, desires and needs to his communication partner. This can require a deep understanding of Joshua’s movement patterns and emotions, and a high level of communication skills. But when the environment is supportive and Josh is in the right place, it can be free-flowing, independent and often verbal.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time working closely with Josh, his family and the support team, and it goes without question that Josh can communicate successfully to a very high standard when the support, his health and the environment allow it.
Yours sincerely,
Adam Barrett
BA, PgCert, MA
“Like having a delicious conversation” – Dr Phoebe Caldwell
Dr Phoebe Caldwell DSc is known for her work using Intensive Interaction. She first met Josh at his home around fifteen years ago.
I was first asked to see Josh at his home about fifteen years ago. It was clear that he was a highly intelligent and sweet young man trapped inside the severe sensory difficulties of extreme autism. He can type but not speak, although he sometimes uses relevant vowel sounds.
While I was with him he had an attack of sensory overload and started to crash his head against the wall. I responded with the technique known as Intensive Interaction, using the rhythm of his self-injurious banging to communicate. He stopped and listened.
Subsequently, when a friend emailed him asking if it was not humiliating to have someone copy his distress, his email replied: “No, it’s like having a delicious conversation.” (This became the title of a book on autism, Delicious Conversations, published by Pavilion.)
Josh has visual and auditory hypersensitivity and is hyposensitive to pressure, all of which sets up processing difficulties that make it extremely difficult for him to make sense of his environment.
To prevent self-injury and preserve his quality of life, it is absolutely essential that any future provision for Josh takes account of these sensory difficulties, and also of his need for a modified, low-intensity visual and quiet environment – and also a team who understand his need to walk round without clothes and are trained in using body language to communicate with him.
Dr Phoebe Caldwell DSc
January 2021
“The education service has a great deal to learn from Josh” – Joe Whittaker
Joe Whittaker is Director of The Alliance for Inclusive Education and a former senior lecturer in Inclusive Education. He has followed Josh’s educational journey since 1997.
I have pleasure in offering you details of my contact with Josh Harris during my academic responsibilities as a senior lecturer in Inclusive Education.
I was in a full-time position from 1987 to 2010 at the University of Bolton. In addition, I was employed as an associate lecturer at The Open University from 1993 to 2007, and as Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb from 1997 to 2000. My academic focus is the research and application of teaching and learning methodologies across the curriculum, to ensure maximum engagement in the educational process for all learners.
I first met Josh in 1997, when he was attending secondary school. I followed his educational journey with great interest. It was apparent from those early years that once Josh acquired the necessary supports for academic engagement, he was able to demonstrate exceptional talents and skills, highlighting his many academic interests – in particular the academic rigour and discipline required for his study in theology.
Josh has the intellect to engage in the essential critical thinking across a range of disciplines. Josh has a unique talent to manage and overcome significant barriers that can contrive to interrupt his academic pursuits. It is his tenacity in cultivating the academic and collaborative approaches, with the necessary supports to facilitate his academic achievements, which is most impressive.
The education service has a great deal to learn from Josh, if the service is willing to apply a fraction of the wisdom and commitment demonstrated by Josh in his academic study.
With good wishes,
Joe Whittaker
Director, The Alliance for Inclusive Education
“Wrong shoes” – Rafi Myers
Rafi Myers worked with Josh from May 2010 to June 2012.
I worked with Joshua from May 2010 to June 2012 – a fantastic and rewarding experience in my life.
To the ill-informed, or to any outsider, it may appear that Joshua’s many challenges lead him to having less intellect or ability than you or I. But during my time with him it became clear that this was truly not the case. I would, in fact, argue it is quite the reverse.
I was blessed to be able to communicate with Joshua using Facilitated Communication. This took many forms, from using a portable machine to using basic alphanumeric boards. Whatever the method, Joshua was able to converse with me and others around him. This communication would range from everyday simple questions, such as what he would like to wear or eat for breakfast, to presenting about his life at various conferences and workshops.
Using this technique, Joshua showed on numerous occasions that he was extremely well informed about what was going on in life around him and how others were feeling, and he argued (many times!) about things he was not happy doing or needed to do.
One such instance I recall was when Joshua was refusing to get into the car and go out (I think we were going out for a walk). He was flat out refusing, and no cajoling could persuade him to get in. I took out a portable alphanumeric board, and he typed “I can’t go.” When further pressed, he wrote “wrong shoes.” When I looked down, I realised his shoes were on the wrong feet! Once this was rectified, he got into the car easily.
There were many such occasions where Josh’s ability to communicate greatly helped him and others around him. It proved beyond doubt that, despite appearances, he has clear ability and should be given the opportunity to prove that.
Kind regards,
Rafi Myers
18 January 2021
Facilitated Communication
Facilitated communication is controversial but this video leaves no doubt that typing can be a valid communication.
Josh was assessed by Marilyn Chadwick of the Facilitated Communication Institute at Syracuse University, New York. She continues to help and advise via Skype consultations which help us adopt a holistic approach to Josh’s communication strategies. In this video, you can see Joshua communicating using this and other methods.
“The most important thing is that I am able to communicate with the world and with my friends. I am really grateful for giving me the chance, I want and feel, all autistic people deserve.I would like to talk about Facilitated Communication. It is a brilliant form of communication because it gives people who do not talk the ability to do so. I began using Facilitated Communication five years ago. My personal assistants support my arm but it is only me that does the actual typing. I have used this form of communication to publish articles in newspapers and making my DVDs. I have a number of friends who use Facilitated Communication”.
Children ‘misdiagnosed’ with intellectual disabilities using ‘inappropriate tests’ https://t.co/mlz0JLlLsm via @TheFeedSBS
— Josh Harris (@JoshHar33144095) November 18, 2018