Ben Golden facilitated communication with father Arthur Golden
Friday, 13 July 2001 - 22 Tammuz 5761

[note added 1 August 2003 by Arthur Golden – in late 2002, Ben Golden
stopped using FC to provide personal advice, after having done so for
over 8 years for an estimated three thousand people.]

[note added by Arthur Golden - "chessed" is a transliteration of the
Hebrew word which means acts of human kindness. As used here, "Torah"
is used in contrast to secular academics to mean Jewish religious
studies. Please note that Ben was born January 30, 1972 in Boston,
Massachusetts, USA, turned 22 in 1994 and was then no longer entitled
to free special education services, which he had been receiving for
several years in a private special education school, the Boston
Higashi School.]

The need to use FC is very great for many persons with disabilities.
The professionals supporting FC need to look at their efforts over
the past decade. Then, these professionals must consider how to
improve their efforts to better meet the needs of persons with
disabilities. The professionals should realize that FC is merely a
tool to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. If the use
of FC is not achieving this goal, then the use of FC has to be
carefully reconsidered.

As is well known to those people familiar with me, I avoided the use
of FC to participate in secular academics. Instead, I arranged for
my use of FC to be in the area of Torah, of which "chessed" is an
integral part. I can explain how my use of FC has improved my life
for eternity. I welcome those who have used FC to learn secular
academics to explain how it has been a long-term improvement in their
lives. But first I will explain how my use of FC has improved my
life.

In the summer of 1993, 8 years ago, Dr. Michael Weiss gave me an IQ
test, using FC with best practices, showing that I have at least
normal intelligence. My father did try to pursue my use of FC for
secular academics but I did not cooperate. Nearly a year later, when
the time was ripe, I intentionally violated best practices so I could
FC more and request to use FC to learn Torah. I arranged to learn
Torah in an ultraorthodox environment in Israel where I knew I could
completely avoid secular academics.

Compared to any possible alternatives, it is obvious that my life
over the past 7 years has been a vast improvement over any such
alternatives. While I am still low functioning autistic, I have had
a wonderful life as part of a nurturing environment. At this point,
I will let my father try to write up the details about my personal
life in contrast to the possible alternatives. What I wish to
explain now is that even if, G-d forbid, my current situation could
not continue, my use of FC has improved my life for eternity. While
using FC to learn Torah, I have done what many others do while
learning in an adult yeshiva - I have engaged in acts of chessed.

First, I have helped to arrange for ten others with disabilities to
use FC to learn Torah in the Pisgat Yehuda program. Also, I have
helped to interest many others to consider the use of FC to learn
Torah. Here, I feel that the help of professionals supporting FC is
urgently needed to implement this interest into reality in so many
places in the world.

Secondly, and of permanent importance, I have used FC as part of my
Torah to provide personal advice to many hundreds of people. At this
point in time, my life has made a major contribution in improving the
lives of so many others. To me, helping others has improved my life
for eternity even if I am still low functioning autistic.

Through the grace of G-d, I have already had a very useful life, even
though I do not have a real high school diploma nor college degree.
G-d willing, I will be able to continue to use FC to do more
chessed. I fervently pray that my efforts will allow thousands like
me, through the use of FC, to do even more chessed than me, allowing
those other persons with disabilities to greatly help their fellow
human beings.

[statement totals 600 words, facilitated and written down in less
than one hour, without any editing other than paragraph breaks]

Friday, 20 July 2001 - 29 Tammuz 5761

[Note added 1 August 2003 by Arthur Golden – "Hashem" is a
transliteration of the Hebrew word which means The Name and is a
phrase used to mean G-d. Additional note added 6 August 2003 by Arthur
Golden – the actual implementation of Ben's suggestion that "Others like
me can help their own Peoples" may be difficult to do. If any one does
try to do so, please contact me so I can try to obtain help in doing so.]

I would rather help other Jews than be normal. G-d willing, the time
will come when I can do both. So I must wait and ask you to do the
same. Of course, anything is possible for Hashem. Therefore, I
could become normal at anytime. But, as I stated, I wish to continue
to help my fellow Jews, and I will wait until I can do both.

Others like me can help their own Peoples. That is why I wish to
inform the whole world about what I am doing because Hashem has mercy
on all human beings. But each People has to arrange its own help
from Hashem. I have already given enough information but I am
concerned about all Mankind so I will keep trying. Your help is
needed because I cannot do so alone.

You are right that I have refused offers from Hashem to become
normal. My ability to both be normal and provide my type of help
depends upon other Jews. All that I can do is pray that these other
Jews will do what they have to do. No more can be stated to you.

Wednesday, 25 July 2001 - 5 Av 5761

[Note added 6 August 2003 by Arthur Golden – I understand that Ben
believes that education should be within the framework of "Torah"
and should avoid "secular academics." Such concepts can be applied
to all humans but again the actual implementation may be difficult to
do. So again, let me offer that if any one does try to do so, please
contact me so I can try to obtain help in doing so.]

Just some individual points for you to consider.

My life includes everything that is currently appropriate. If a
change is needed, it is arranged without my explicit request.
Therefore you and others need not be concerned about my specific
activities.

Still, you and others should document my life for various reasons.
Such information should be disclosed to anyone with a legitimate
reason to know. Any questions raised should be seriously considered.

Pushing FC for educational reasons is important to do. However, my
concerns about secular academics still hold. You should try to have
people use FC for Torah, which includes all that is educational.