1

Communication meant I could brief a lawyer.

My only way out of the institution was to go to the Supreme Court and seek a writ of Habeas Corpus.

Habeas corpus is rarely invoked.The medical profession was being challenged by an ancient and honourable legal process designed to protect people from incarceration by their rulers.

The shit hit the fan big-time.

2

The Age10.5.1979

Page 1

Poor Margie - when she carried me out of the Supreme Court, she didn’t expect to find herself on the front page of the paper.

3

My lawyers arranged for me to be given two tests which helped me to win the right to leave St. Nicholas and manage my own affairs.

The WAIS - Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - I did with arm support.

The PPVT - Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - I did without support.

Both tests were totally unsuitable for someone like me, but luckily I got a score in the average range on them both.

If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

4

The SunMay 18, 1979

Page 1

5

6

First day of the rest of my life!

Thanks to Communication

7

After my release from St. Nicholas some things changed …

8

Years

Kg

9

10

B.Hum.Deakin U.

1994

11

When the media asked me for a comment on my

release I said “Help the others.”

Thirty years later, many children without speech still suffer under the same false assumptions.

And some things stayed the same …

12

The only possible way to find out how much a child who cannot talk

actually understands is to develop

an alternative means of communication for that child.

13

No child should be presumed to be profoundly retarded because they can’t talk. All children who can’t talk should be given access to communication therapy before any judgements are made about their intelligence.