Peyton Goddard, wrote a memoir with her mother Dianne Goddard and Carol Cujec entitled, i am intelligent. It is an unforgettable book. Recently, Peyton gave a presentation in San Diego, where she typed, “After decades of torture, still each dawn I struggle to feel my worth.” You can read her entire presentation ‘here‘.
“After decades of torture, still each dawn I struggle to feel my worth.”
Peyton was not tortured by her autism. Peyton was tortured by non autistic people who cruelly and viciously hurt her over and over. People who used the fact that she could not use her voice to speak to protect themselves. I would like to believe we are moving away from a world and society where abusing people we have deemed “inferior” is done. I would like to believe that, but I cannot. The abuse of Autistic people at the hands of those who care for them, whose job it is to help them, continues. The abuse of Autistic people by society, continues. The abuse of Autistic people by those who are either ignorant or misinformed continues. The abuse of Autistic people by those who pretend it isn’t abuse because they choose to believe Autistic people are incapable of feeling or really understanding what’s happening to them and therefore it’s okay, continues.
“Estimate I that anger in this pesty world is because pierced persons think hurting others will strip their own hurts away.” ~ Peyton Goddard
In her book Peyton writes about forgiveness. Forgiveness of those who have hurt her the most. Peyton Goddard is leading the way, with wisdom, kindness, forgiveness and compassion.
Peyton Goddard – a non-speaking Autistic woman, assumed incapable, presumed incompetent – has a great deal to teach us.
Three Non-Speaking “Teachers”: Larry Bissonnette, Peyton Goddard & Tracy Thresher
Emma's Hope Book 
I read Payton’s entire book last night.
You must be a fast reader! I had to do it in four sittings!
Amen. And I wish we lived in a world where the abuse of human upon human no longer existed.
Yup. Me too. Me too.
I’m nothing rest until all persons are greeted as worth, seen endowed with diverse treasures, treated with kindness and equality, supported purely to be each their glittery self. Thank you Ariane. Pey
Thank you Peyton!
❤ Pey ❤
Thank you Peyton. You are an awesome teacher.
“People who used the fact that she could not use her voice to speak to protect themselves”. Yes. Having a son who cannot talk has made me think long and hard about this concept and how vulnerable people can be. You can see the abuse you talk about all over the place. I believe on the whole it is due to ignorance rather than anything else, so the best thing we can do is keep educating people and telling them the truth.
Yes, educating and showing people there is another way to think about all of this…
This is fabulous!
And Peyton, I love your comment, especially: “…supported purely to be each their glittery self.” I think we will get there!
(((Leah)))