I wrote this poem to give hope and to inform people about nonspeaking autistics. My love for people goes to help others. Laura Hastings put my poem to music and sings beautifully.
Tag: Healing
Please hear my loving words
Trigger warning – sexual assault.
I am Matthew. I am a 19 year old non speaking autistic. Back in 2018 I was radically and forever changed. A mentor and friend gave me the fright of my life. He decided that it was okay to take advantage of my trusting soul. He sexually assaulted me when we stopped at a beautiful, innocent rest area. People have gone there thousands of times not knowing that innocence had been taken from that once busy spot. I was valiant in my efforts to stop him but he still managed to have his sordid way with me. It only lasted a bold minute or two, but it has scarred me for life.
Praying for healing, alone and pained, has left me feeling capable of so much that I want to help other nonspeaking people. Living proudly every day as a survivor leaves me hopeful more healing will come to me. I am looking forward to teaching others, peacefully, how to meaningfully live their loving lives with healed hearts.

Moving On (song)
I wrote this song with my beautiful piano teacher, Laura Hastings, from Westmount Music Therapy, for I-ASC, which hosted the first ever Boards and Chords event for non speaking people. Listen with love.