Typing is helping a boy with autism communicate

Jamie Ponsonby cannot speak, and for years he was trapped in his own world.

But his family taught him to type and now the 13-year-old, who has autism, can not only express himself, but also write poetry.

His mother, Serena, said this had enabled them to finally communicate with Jamie and to understand him better.

"We had no idea that there was a person in there who knew everything," she said.

Humorous and emotional

"Through the typing we have discovered he knows all sorts of things.

"He is completely on the ball, his sense of humour is completely all there. He has beautiful poetry, his feelings and emotions are all perfectly normal and above average for his age."