Samantha finds her voice

DOCTORS told Sharon Ruderham that her autistic daughter might never learn to speak.

So she never imagined shy Samantha – who still finds it difficult to talk – would in fact one day record her own pop album, which is now on sale across Edinburgh.

TALENT: Samantha proudly shows off her ten-track pop album I Have A Voice. Picture: JAYNE EMSLEY

After Mrs Ruderham encouraged the 13-year-old's love of music to help her communicate, teachers and family friends recognised her talent and encouraged her to try performing in a recording studio.

Her first single raised hundreds of pounds for Kaimes School, which she attends, to buy equipment.

Now she has recorded the ten-track album I Have A Voice, which is being sold in aid of her school and Struan House School in Alloa, which caters for autistic children.

Mrs Ruderham, of Craigour Road, said her daughter had actually learned to sing before she could speak in complete sentences.

Samantha was diagnosed with autism as a baby – her brother Andie, 16, is also autistic – and despite the doctors' warning, Mrs Ruderham and her husband Geoff refused to give up hope.

She said: "We were told she was 'non-verbal' and we were told to consider sign language for her. We said no.

"She only learned to speak in sentences about four years ago. Before then you were lucky if you got one or two words from her. But the music helped her to communicate.

"She has always loved singing, and we discovered she had taught herself to play her brother's keyboard two years ago. We were totally dumbfounded when we heard her."

She said Samantha was able to remember songs she had heard just once, and sing them almost note-perfect.

The talented youngster recorded her first song, Christmas Reminds Me, as a gift for family and friends.

But when her school expressed an interest, they ended up selling 180 copies.

The money was used to buy a new PA system, cooking equipment for the primary school and art materials.

Samantha's parents then brought in a vocal coach, Sergei Desmond, to improve her technique.

Her new album also includes I Have A Voice, which is based on a poem her mother wrote about her autism.

The CD was produced in December, and it is now being sold in record shops as well as through Kaimes School.

Mrs Ruderham said: "Samantha's musical ability is not just about the singing, it's what she does around the music.

"She takes a song, and she'll change it to make it her own by rephrasing it, or adding an ad lib.

"This has helped her learn to communicate with people. There are times she can't make herself understood. The words in her head make sense to her, but other people can't get a sense of it.

"If she has had a difficult day at school, then she'll come home and sing a sad song. By the end of it she'll feel better."

Samantha said: "I've always enjoyed singing and listening to music – my favourite is dance music. I'm really pleased with the CD. My favourite song is Whole Again. It's really funky with an explosion at the end!"

It is available at Vinyl Villains on Elm Row, Hog's Head Music on South Clerk Street and Backtrack Music, Brougham Street, priced £5.


WEB LINKS
• Click here to listen to Samantha's music >>
• Samantha's website
• Autism in Scotland