#actually nonspeaking

[neurodivergent-mermaid]

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as my family are all considered carers for me,

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i receive disability benefits for my autism

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i have special needs so severe i cant even attend school

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i am nonverbal

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i can't regularly dress, bath, do grooming tasks without help or at all

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me after I've spent months of my life requiring 24/7 1-1 supervision

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i am housebound

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i am officially diagnosed with nothing other than autism.

Maybe autism is a disability, and maybe you just don't want to accept you are disabled because of the stigma around disability? All autistic people are significantly impaired in areas of functioning, even if that makes you uncomfortable, that is the truth. And maybe you should spent 1 minute to go and read the diagnostic criteria for autism. That all autistic people meet.

Autism is a disability, and when you advocate that it's not, you are making real world harm, especially for people with substantial support needs.

They don't give disability services to non disabled people, so please, when your advocacy includes limiting services for those of us who need them the most, is it advocacy or are you just harming people who are already in positions that they can't advocate and be as loud as you.

[zebulontheplanet]

Screaming at everyone this upcoming autism awareness month that nonspeaking/nonverbal people who are autistic are still autistic. No matter if they’re nonverbal/nonspeaking or not.

(Nonverbal as in cant speak at all, all the time!!)

[pixierainbows]

“ If you use augmentative or alternative technology to communicate and have equipment lost or damaged due to a national disaster, we can help!

Who We Are

USSAAC's Disaster Relief Committee responds to nationally declared disasters on behalf of USSAAC members, people who use AAC, their families, and other AAC stakeholders. We work collaboratively with other organizations to replace AAC tools and devices that are lost or damaged.

How We Can Help

I Have a Need

If your AAC equipment has been lost or damaged, we can help with a replacement at no cost. Use the ‘I Have a Need’ button at https://aacdisasterrelief.recovers.org

I Want to Donate

To support USSAAC's efforts with monetary donations, communication devices, AAC app codes, or other AAC-related items, use the ‘I Want to Give’ button at https://aacdisasterrelief.recovers.org

I Want to Volunteer

Enter your skills and location using the 'I Want to Volunteer' button at https://aacdisasterrelief.recovers.org

FAQs

What equipment IS covered?

*Speech-generating devices

*Access switches

*Device mounting systems

*Communication boards and books

*AAC device batteries and chargers

What Happens Next?

Requests - we will contact you to get more detailed information about your AAC needs.

Donations - we will contact you when there is a need that matches your offer.

Volunteers - we will contact you when there is a need that matches your skills, time, and location.

Contact Us “

https://aacdisasterrelief.recovers.org

[clownrecess]

Giving nonspeaking kids and kids with difficulty using oral speech access to AAC as soon as possible needs to be normalized.

Of course you want your child to communicate, that's fine, that's GOOD. But oral speech isn't the only way to do that, and refusing to give your child a way to communicate because it isnt the form of communication you favor isn't okay.

Its OKAY if your kid never learns (or relearns) to use oral speech. ITS OKAY.

"But I put them in speech therapy to learn to talk! I don't want them to use that tablet all their life. They need to learn to talk using their mouthparts." Why??

First of all, AAC is proven to actually help people develop language skills and oftentimes oral speech. So any concern about AAC hindering development of oral speech is uncalled for and irrational. But along with that, ORAL SPEECH ISNT THE ONLY GOOD FORM OF COMMUNICATION!! AAC is good. Sign is good. Etc.

Saying otherwise and/or preferring your child to use oral speech IS ableist, and yes, it IS harmful to everyone.

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

nonverbal / nonspeaking ppl, what you sound like inside head (internal voice)? like when talk to self inside head

[nonverbal nonspeaking as in full time experience not episode or “go __”]

try include as much option as can think of but am sure missed some… feel free tell me / elaborate in comments / reblog / tags >:)

[turtley-ausome]

Finaly got screwdriver and help and got the new pink frame case on my Accent AAC device yay its so prety!

[arquaticdreamer]

Ambiguous emotional rant:

Being nonspeaking/nonverbal, HSN and homebound anyone with high support needs and complex needs knows just how much autonomous and liberating the internet has to be for those of us who have no other safe place to be our true unapologetic, unadulterated, and authentic weird selves. I am very grateful and appreciative for the internet’s existence that it was ever even created/invented by mankind and that we have the freedom of speech to post (hopefully not all Nonspeakers, AAC users, or HSN disabled people have the freedom of speech to post what they like on the internet sadly) but for those who have good supportive caregivers, and those who have learned how to successfully, and safely access the internet World Wide Web, this is my toast to all of you who have found some semblance of human rights, freedom of speech, creative freedom and expression through your own words, I’m all so happy to be born in the right time in human history to have lived to see this day where hundreds of thousands of autistics, LSN, MSN, HSN, those verbal, semi verbal, minimally verbal, and nonverbal/nonspeaking have a place (so sorry for those who have not found it yet, or might not ever), to post what they like, to the best of their ability. I’m just so very grateful to have made a digital footprint on internet history. I pray we can make the internet a safer more inclusive and accessible accepting environment. Those of us who will most likely never be seen or known for who we truly are online than they see us in real life. Just know that you’re welcome here with me.

Julian & Damian

[rabid-bunnie-rae]

Friendly reminder that AAC users can be any age!

[birdofmay]

Important: If a person on Tumblr says that somebody else writes your posts for you, and wants you to prove that you write everything on your own:

Don't respond. Don't upload a video of you typing or using your AAC device. Block that person, or ask someone to block them for you.

They won't listen to you and you can't convince them. They're just mean. It's spam. Really, just ignore them.

Here's a long post I wrote about that today, in case you're curious:

[ojiro-s-hellish-site]

Japanese AAC user tip:

This came from a close friend of mine who communicates natively Japanese, she uses an AAC device to do so (The device she uses has 3000 picture slot thingies o this tip only works if your device has at least 48 slots)

She said that due to the lack of non-English devices/apps made for the nonverbal, she ended up having to hand type the romanized version of the Hirigana and Katakana (Like type how they would be pronounced in English, an example like "Wa" for the japanese symbol of "わ") and then she would click each box to make a sentence. Yes, this method is slow and it is time-consuming but it is decent at non-English language communication.

This was the Hirigana picture she used to help her type in the romanized versions, I don't know what she used for the Katakana (When I ask her or if she tells me, I will add it to this post)

I hope this tip helps out any Japanese AAC users.

[neurodivergent-mermaid]

The point isnt

"Us autistic people can be good tax paying working capitalism contributors!!!"

Its

"So what if some autistic people cant contribute to capitalism. So fucking what. They are still humans worth of love and care and support."

Sorry to break it to you but your not an amazing inclusive leftist for erasing people who aren't palatable.

"Here!! Here are the small amount of *minority* who fit your standards!! Here look we arent all like those bad *minority* people!! Infact they dont even exist!!!"

[zebulontheplanet]

I don’t think people fucking realize this so let me say this again.

Me being nonverbal absolutely makes me more prone to violence, harassment, and ableism. It makes people automatically know that something isn’t right with me. That something’s “wrong” with me.

Nonverbal autistic people don’t have the privilege of not being perceived as autistic. My grunts, my whines, my hums, my silence, is all perceived. My hand flapping, my rocking, my AAC device. It’s all perceived. It’s all looked at. Judged at.

So get the fuck off with this “oh but even though you’re nonverbal that doesn’t mean you’re perceived as autistic” IT LITERALLY HAS. IM NONVERBAL. I cannot speak. I rely solely on a device and people to speak for me. I rely solely on if that person is actually going to be a decent fucking person and take me seriously or accept my silence.

Nonverbal autistic people, are the brunt of the violence and ableism. We are your punching bags. I’m fucking tired of it.

[pixierainbows]

“ Hello September!

This month we are focusing on AAC user Perspectives and listening to their experiences.

We are inviting AAC users to share your stories on our blog so we can amplify your voice! If you are an AAC user and would like to contribute, please comment on this post, or send us a DM or email. If you know an AAC user who may be interested, please share our post. We can't wait to hear from you!

#AAC #literacy #AugmentativeCommunication #AACandLiteracy #NWACS #AugComm #AACusers #AACuser

[ID: Image has a red border with a white background. Red text reads, "September Theme. AAC and Literacy. AAC User Perspectives." A graphic of an open book separates the text. An NWACS logo is in the bottom left corner.] “

[clownrecess]

Hi! My son (9) uses an AAC device at school to help him communicate and for teachers to communicate with him. Do you have any advice for parents?

I'm sorry if this isnt very organized, I'll just be listing off and talking about what I wish my parents and adults around me did when I first started using AAC.

I also apologize for the kinda sorta late response. I haven't been doing too well lately, and I also wanted to make sure I said everything in this post how I wanted to say it. Those two things combined slowed down the process a bit.

1. AAC is not a language. However, it functions a lot differently than the oral version of the language that is being used at times, and I feel like thats important to recognize. AAC grammar doesn't need to align with "typical" oral grammar or speech patterns. As long as (most) others can understand what's being communicated by the AAC user, trying to get them to add in words like "The" really isn't necessary. Of course if they want to develop more proper grammar and more language that is super cool. But a lot (of course not all!!) of AAC users I've spoken to, including myself, find it really frustrating when people try to slow down and make it harder for us to communicate by adding in extra words. If its understandable, and the user doesn't want to, it isn't necessary (I also do want to add that I personally do use proper grammar most of the time, but a good portion of the time I don't.).

2. "Encourging the user to use their device" does *not* mean ignoring them when they don't, and/or telling them to "use their words". All communication is good communication. Pointing is good. Body language is good. Drawing pictures is good. Etc. Encouraging use of an AAC device in a good way means making sure it is always available, making sure the user knows it is an option, that the user knows how to use it, and that you respect the device *FULLY*.

3. Oral speech should not be the goal unless the AAC user wants it. All communication is equally good, and favoring oral speech is ableism. If the AAC user WANTS to use oral speech, then that is super cool and then there can be a goal of developing and/or improving their oral speech. If they haven't made it clear that it's something that they personally want, don't try to force it.

4. Stickers!! This one is more silly than serious, and of course it's up to the user, but if they want to put stickers on their device, allow it. Its cute!

5. ACCESS TO VOCABULARY IS IMPORTANT. Limiting someones language to "Eat" "Drink" "Bathroom" "Mom" "Dad" "School" or similar is not okay. I've seen someone on YouTube who didn't even let their kid have a "no" button. I fully understand that not everyone is capable of using complex language, and for a lot of AAC users, only having simple words and an easier to navigate (by having less options) device is important. And that is PERFECTLY OKAY!! But what isn't okay, is assuming one is incapable of using more language than "eat" and "drink". If they can not communicate their wants and needs when they understand that, they need more buttons. If that means starting to SLOWLY add a little more, that's okay.

6. Be patient. AAC takes longer to use than oral speech does. Even if the time we are taking is frustrating, don't show that. And yes, this includes guessing out loud what we are going to say by trying to finish our sentence whilst we are still typing (unless the user has expressed this is okay with them.).

7. Make sure teachers and other people know not to take away their AAC device under any circumstances! Doing so is the equivalent to duct taping someones mouth shut or removing their vocal chords. It's scary.

That's all I could think of. If other AAC users (not parents of them, not friends, etc. ONLY AAC USERS) want to comment or reblog with more tips that would be greatly appreciated! <3

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

while me post most about nonverbal nonspeaking because intellectual/developmental disabilities, here something about become nonspeaking after/because medical crisis in 2022 & tracheotomy & muscular dystrophy, by alice wong.

overview: “This is a 2-3 minute audio letter to the late David Muir, a disabled man who invented the Passy Muir® Valve, an attachment that enables people with tracheostomies to speak. As a newly nonspeaking person, this letter allows me to share my thoughts on the desire to speak and reflections on silence.”

I paused to consider the phrase “dignity through speech.” There is dignity in silence too. Silence does not mean a person is voiceless, as there are millions of nonspeaking people who use gestures, sign language, writing, technology, and other means to communicate with the world.

I live in a world of silence that is not lesser or devoid of richness. My reality is just different. Silence forces me to be more thoughtful and intentional in considering what I want to say and how I say it when I type into my speech-to-text app, which listeners to this letter are hearing now.

…

The worlds of speech and silence intersect and overlap. Silence isn’t static or limiting. Silence is not an empty void. Silence has a landscape of its own. Silence has its own dimension, a space that enables another way of thinking and being. There is dignity in all forms of communicating.

[turtley-ausome]

New medical alert braclet!!! Cloth fabric that wont give me bad rash like old one and more updated! Wish letters was bigger. Also my new dino jammies from awesome friend YAY. Needed help put it on and even aide coudnt figure out weird clasp thingy!!