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The Lives of the Silent: Stories of Quiet Courage and Connection
People with limited speaking abilities have often been ignored by society. This book gives voice to some of their stories as a tribute to their incredible lives.
The silent—individuals with limited abilities to communicate—have historically been excluded from society. For too many, their homes were institutions or residential treatment centers. Their lives, heartaches, struggles, and triumphs were largely unseen, unheard, unknown, and undocumented. But their stories are worth telling.
Demonstrating a soul-stirring resilience, the silent speak to us through their actions, providing an underappreciated, honest, and revealing look into the human condition. The accounts in this book are lively snippets of the lasting, life-changing lessons that transformed my ideas about disabilities, as well as the progress that results from practicing the empathic, client-centered science of human behavior.
Of my many mentors, the silent were my greatest teachers. They set in motion a series of events that would change who I thought I wanted to be into who I am. Although these individuals could not write nor tell their tales, through these pages, their memories and truths live on. To honor the profound influence of the silent on my life, I share some of their stories here. I hope they will touch your heart and shape the way you view those who cannot speak for themselves.
Artie was 81 years old when I met him. A client in the agency’s group home, he was less than 5 feet tall, although with the slight hunch in his back, he looked even shorter. He was thin, with a tiny bit of white hair, and the normal aging spots and wrinkles of an octogenarian. He walked with a distinct, extremely short shuffle. Artie had no teeth, a tragedy that occurred during the days before patient rights were considerations. Apparently, he was a biter, and the institution prevented biting not through careful assessment and intervention but through extracting his teeth—all of them.
"Contained within these pages are not just the lives of 15 of the silent, kept hidden in the shadows of society and held within the loneliness of their own isolation until they could finally emerge through the love and care of others. These are the stories of us all."--Thomas Freeman, MS, BCBA
"This book is a rare gift—heartfelt, beautifully written, and a powerful reminder of how much we have to learn from the autistic voices that too often go unheard."--Dr. Amy Tanner, Adjunct Professor, Capilano University
The silent—individuals with limited abilities to communicate—have historically been excluded from society. For too many, their homes were institutions or residential treatment centers. Their lives, heartaches, struggles, and triumphs were largely unseen, unheard, unknown, and undocumented. But their stories are worth telling.
Demonstrating a soul-stirring resilience, the silent speak to us through their actions, providing an underappreciated, honest, and revealing look into the human condition. The accounts in this book are lively snippets of the lasting, life-changing lessons that transformed my ideas about disabilities, as well as the progress that results from practicing the empathic, client-centered science of human behavior.
Of my many mentors, the silent were my greatest teachers. They set in motion a series of events that would change who I thought I wanted to be into who I am. Although these individuals could not write nor tell their tales, through these pages, their memories and truths live on. To honor the profound influence of the silent on my life, I share some of their stories here. I hope they will touch your heart and shape the way you view those who cannot speak for themselves.
Artie was 81 years old when I met him. A client in the agency’s group home, he was less than 5 feet tall, although with the slight hunch in his back, he looked even shorter. He was thin, with a tiny bit of white hair, and the normal aging spots and wrinkles of an octogenarian. He walked with a distinct, extremely short shuffle. Artie had no teeth, a tragedy that occurred during the days before patient rights were considerations. Apparently, he was a biter, and the institution prevented biting not through careful assessment and intervention but through extracting his teeth—all of them.
"Contained within these pages are not just the lives of 15 of the silent, kept hidden in the shadows of society and held within the loneliness of their own isolation until they could finally emerge through the love and care of others. These are the stories of us all."--Thomas Freeman, MS, BCBA
"This book is a rare gift—heartfelt, beautifully written, and a powerful reminder of how much we have to learn from the autistic voices that too often go unheard."--Dr. Amy Tanner, Adjunct Professor, Capilano University
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 11, 2025
This book was a page-turner for me! The author shared his stories in a meaningful and touching way, and I teared up reading many of his encounters. Whether you know someone on the autism spectrum or not, this book will touch you. His descriptions were thoughtful and meaningful, and it is obvious he has made a difference in the lives of the silent.
October 3, 2025
Important stories to read and understand, especially for the younger generations who did not personally experience these institutions. It's important to learn our history, to understand where we are now, and how we got here. Thank you for this Andrew.
August 8, 2025
Loved the delicacy and resilience of the characters and how each character had its own strengths and weaknesses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2025
I delight in every word I can take from Andrew. A beautiful, compassionate celebration of 15 lives told with love.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews