#semispeaking

[tontoemojis]

I have intense anxiety on using my AAC device . I of course knew this was going to happen but it is scarier now that I ’ m living it .

For now just only using it with my caregivers & psychologist , but still really hard to use due to anxiety ; using the actual machine has been getting easier as I practice & customize it , but it ’ s just the anxiety that has been getting on my ass lately { & will probably continue getting on my ass for a looooong time }

[meowtismz]

Something people NEED understand is.

NO we not WANT an AAC device

NO we not WANT a wherlchair

NO we not WANT use a cane

NO we not WANT any disability aid

We NEED it. Is not a desire is a NECESSITY

Get this inside dumbass brain of you already! Need stop think us disabled people like be disabled just because proud or aware need help.

[pumpkinspicedmochi]

Haven't seen a post like this so I'll make one: Shoutout to the autistics that have special interests that people find creepy (for example horror , true crime things , knives but could also be anatomy etc because that might come off as creepy)

Double shoutout to autistics who enjoy talking about these things with no awareness that people find it creepy/get uncomfortable when hear it.

[autisticdreamdrop]

nonverbal communication is valid communication

[pxppet]

Mute people are humans worthy of respect.

Non-speaking people are humans worthy of respect.

Semi-speaking people are humans worthy of respect.

People with disorganized speech are humans worthy of respect.

Deaf people who don't speak are humans worthy of respect.

Autistic, disabled, mentally ill and all of it. We deserve to be treated like and thought of as real people with as much to offer as other humans. The lack of speech doesn't make us "useless" or "stupid" or "like talking to a lamp." Mute people of any kind have just as many thoughts and feelings and actions to offer as those who speak.

Life is still worthwhile and peace and happiness are attainable for us. We will find people who care to make the effort for us to be understood. You will feel yourself breathe softly again some day. You deserve it.

[voidmire-system-error]

normalize speaking "weird".

normalize speaking "bad".

normalize speaking only by key words.

normalize stuttering.

normalize long pauses.

normalize using simple words.

normalize using short sentences.

normalize speaking in 3rd person.

normalize speaking with incorrect grammar.

normalize disorganized speech.

normalize speaking slowly.

normalize speaking incoherent.

normalize eholalia.

normalize word salad.

normalize other "inconvenient" speaking patterns.

let us speak as we can. listen to us.

[neuroticboyfriend]

this is from the last post i reblogged, but here are alternatives to "going nonverbal" or "going nonspeaking:"

verbal shutdown

loss of speech / speech loss

situational speech loss

if anyone knows any others, feel free to add on. if you don't understand why alternatives are needed, please see the linked post; it's a long one which is why i made another post with the alternatives, but even just reading part of it shows you why.

be kind to your neurodivergent and disabled peers.

[tobytalksaac]

Reminder not to change topic when you know AAC user is typing!!! Let us add to topic before continuing!

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

i’ve seen multiple. multiple. so many autistic people who lose speech sometimes, call themselves “im nonspeaking.”

yes. not even “going nonverbal”going nonspeaking.” but fully “i’m nonspeaking.”

i’ve even see autistics who lose speech do an imitation conversation on tiktok that goes like this:

“i’m nonspeaking”

“but… you’re speaking right now?”

“yes! you can be nonspeaking and still speak! follow me to learn more!”

and like. i’m begging speaking autistics to actually learn from nonspeaking advocates.

so many of them are just. seeing the cool new word “nonspeaking” from another fellow speaking autistic who lose speech. and then go like, “oh that’s cool word that’s me now!!” while completely divorced from the origins of the word, completely not knowing nonspeaking advocates exist, completely appropriating the word.

many of them they unable to think of a world where someone more marginalized than them where someone have experiences they can’t relate to.

and when you point it out, hey it’s not your word, they say “well it’s my term too!!”

it makes me so so angry. and unfortunately it is a pretty prominent dominant narrative of one side of online autistic community

online autistic community often not safe for me. angry and cynical because it supposed to be my space too.

[a-semiverbal-cloud]

stop say not use ai voice

know mean bad stolen voice

but see many many time never acknowledge about good voice

only say stop use ai voice period

say stolen

not all ai voice bad

not all ai voice stolen

stop ignore us

[tontoemojis]

I AM E,PLOOOOOOOD€DIIIIIING OHBHHH MY HOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

ITS FINALLY HERE I FINALLY HAVE MY AAC DEVICE IMSSOOOOOOO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYY AAHHHHHHHHH IM EXPLODING IM DYING DYINKNGNGGGGGG DYING DYING AAAAAAHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

I CANT BELUEVE THIS IM SO SILLYYYT SO HAPPYYYYY SO SO HAPPYYYYY I GOT TO SHOW IT TO MY PSDISCHOLOGIST & SHE LOVED IT IM SO HAPPY IM SO HAPPY

I FINALLY HAVE MY AAC DEVICE COMPLETE !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[meowtismz]

If you is look at AAC screen whilr AAC user is type. Please. Just stop please.

Is not cool. Not help. Is not thoughtful.

You is only make us anxious, or upset, or feel bad overall.

We need type process what is going say :(

[pumpkinspicedmochi]

Me: just talking to family

them: listening

me: ..realizes I'm not actually using mouth words , this whole time I've just been making sounds/noises not actually making any mouth words and they've been listening to me as if I've been making sense this whole time.

slightly embarrassed tbh

[autisticdreamdrop]

yes yes the answer is yes! we are a mid-high support needs disabled autistic polyfragmented DID system with alters with a wide range of vebralness. a lot of us use forms of AACs or TTS in out of inner world / headspace and in real life. if you think you need it, just use it. it's stressful at first, but nonverbal communication is communication and it's a valid way to communicate. 🧩 - The Dreamdrop System

[noodle-shenaniganery]

I think one of the big issues with autism representation is largely that we don’t get that many autistic characters in media. It’s impossible to represent the entire spectrum in one character. And oftentimes, even when we do get representation, it’s the same types of characters over and over again. The spectrum is broad! It’s chaotic! Almost any representation could hypothetically reflect someone’s experiences, so why keep using the same few archetypes repeatedly? There are so many ways an autistic character could be written. Look, here’s some:

- A nonverbal autistic character with the power to manipulate plants who often uses plants to communicate (e.g. grows cacti when upset, dandelions when happy, roses when they like someone/something, orchids when confused, etc.). They also use plants to move around, grab things, point, etc. due to significantly impaired motor control.

- A nonspeaking, physically disabled autistic character with strabismus who is the ‘tech genius’ of the group. They often can’t go on missions themself because of their disability, but are completely fine with providing the rest with the gadgets, advice, and the occasional Dad Joke™️.

- The ghost of an autistic person who keeps trying to make friends with the new residents of their home, but doesn’t understand social rules at all and keeps accidentally scaring people by appearing/saying things without notice. They also stim by yelling, singing, and moving (things) around, which understandably freaks people out.

- A blind, semispeaking autistic teenager whose special interest is music, and their life mostly revolves around music. They mostly speak in song quotes, and are trying to learn how to play as many instruments as possible. They switch between different mobility aids that help them get around (they are dynamically disabled from their Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), from crutches to wheechairs. They could also try to be in their school’s music club and/or orchestra, while also dealing with high school shenanigans.

- An autistic adult who, after decades of going undiagnosed, is now adjusting to life knowing that they’re not broken, just different. They also have comorbid mental illnesses, partially as a result of their late diagnosis.

There you go. There’s some ideas.

(If anyone uses these, please tag me or let me know, I’d love to read some stories with these.)

[voidmire-system-error]

it's okay if your speech is incoherent, unreliable, sounds "weird" (different from standart), if you use short sentences or separated words, if you use sounds instead of words for communicating, if you often say wrong words, if you can't use proper grammar, if you use aac, if you use aac n still can't communicate all you wanna, if you need more time for communication, if you stutter, if you lose speech frequently, if you have other problems with speech. you are valid n your communication is valid. your thoughts, needs, n desires are valid. you deserve to be listened to. you deserve to be understood. you deserve to be included. you deserve to be accommodated. you deserve to be respected.

you don't have to be ashamed. you don't have to be scared. you don't have to feel alone. (it's okay if you feel that way, it's valid. your feelings have reasons. you are not overreacting. world is wrong, not you).