More about Shana
Shana Stipakov was born in 1995 to her Russian immigrant parents, Mark and Isabella Stipakov in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the age of two and a half, Shana was diagnosed with a severe form of Autism. Since then, in an effort to help Shana communicate effectively, her parents have tried a myriad of treatments and therapies, as recommended by the leading doctors and healthcare professionals in the field of Autism.
Following years of numerous failed treatments and suggestions, Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) was the one that unlocked Shana’s inner world, ultimately enabling her to share her thoughts and feelings with her devoted family, and the rest of the world.
RPM has helped Shana to blossom into a talented poet and writer, with a unique perception of the world. She “wrote” her first poem at the age of nineteen, and four years later, her first book was published. Since then, Shana has also authored children’s books.
It seems incredible that Shana’s poetry and children’s books have been created by an individual who cannot read, and can minimally verbally communicate her wants, needs, and feelings, however this is exactly what happened!
By using RPM, Shana points to a letter on a stencil board, and her mother or therapist writes it down. This arduous process continues until a word is formed, followed by sentences, and ultimately into a poem or story. As one can imagine, this is a very slow and meticulous process. Writing one word can take minutes, while composing a poem can take hours or days. It requires an extraordinary amount of patience, understanding and love
Shana demonstrates a passion for self-expression, and has a desire to help others understand the words that are locked inside her heart and soul. In doing so, she wants to give a voice to the voiceless, and give rise to the vivid images of everyday life. Through her writing, Shana is a true inspiration to others.
