Thread by @ekverstania

I have undertaken to post a piece of writing, or a video or some other artefact every day from a nonspeaking autistic person who uses words or word-linked symbols to communicate.

I feel that this is necessary, because non-speakers are being suppressed around the world, and deserve to have their words amplified.

I will also gradually start working on a blog series to elucidate the reasons why many autistic people do not speak, and to point to what autistic people themselves have said helps them communicate.

I find that many autistic self-advocates actually only know what autism is like for them and others who share some commonalities.

I'll share only the words of nonspeaking and unreliably speaking autistics, and I will not limit myself to those who feel the same way as I do about being autistic.

I feel like I am censoring by only focusing on word-based communication, but I hope that through the words, it will become clear that words may not reflect a person's best means of communication, and that there are many ways of communicating beyond formal clinician-led AAC.

#istandwithnonspeakers Here are Ben McGann (now a board member of @autselfadvocacy and @NonspeakingComm) with Huan Vuong and Emma Budway in 2015, advocating for the right to a regular academic curriculum rather than special ed. They communicate using #S2C.

Today I am sharing the documentary Jordyn's Rocky Journey. Later on I will share some of Jordyn's blog posts too. It's important to understand the movement perspective to be able to contextualise the communication challenges of most nonspeaking autistics.

Today's artefact is by non-speaking autistic blogger Mel Baggs. As a survivor of many years of abuse, Mel talks about the many forms of caregiver abuse experienced by people with high support needs. ballastexistenz.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/bad…

Today I'm sharing quotes from Emma Zurcher-Long, a (mostly) non-speaking autistic teenager. They're from 2014, when Emma was making rapid strides in communication. They represent insights on life, the universe and everything else. emmashopebook.com/2014/09/15/som…

Today I'm sharing a novel about a non-speaking boy by non-speaking autistic author Ido Kedar.

In the first chapter, the beach scene, Ido creates a powerful picture of how different the boy feels from the inside, compared to how outsiders see him.
amazon.com/Two-Worlds-Ido…

I've known Pablo's mother for several years on Facebook. She was one of the first parents of a letterboard communicator that I'd met. When she told us that her son had started a blog, I immediately wanted to get word out. Here's a recent post (plus video). nottootrapped.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/201…

Today's post is from non-speaking autist Barb Rentenbach, along with a backstory.

Typing can be really slow for non-speakers, so respect that when you ask questions -- but DO ASK, because many would LOVE to help you get your misconceptions sorted out.

adiaryofamom.com/2014/04/10/lis…

Today I am linking to the trailer of the movie Deej. The movie is about DJ Savarese, a nonspeaking autistic poet dealing with society's obstacles to inclusion. The movie also has a Twitter account at @DeejMovie deejmovie.com

Today I am sharing a poem, Wasted Words, by non-speaking autistic poet Nick Renino. The poem is read by Linas Phillips. Later I'll share something from Nick's blog too. vimeo.com/188535947

Today I'm sharing what I (as an outsider) regard as one of the most helpful pieces by a nonspeaking autist explaining the main reason why nonspeaking autists don't speak. (There are a few other reasons too.) By Ido Kedar: idoinautismland.com/?p=317

This video contains the words of Peyton Goddard, a nonspeaking autistic woman who was in her 20s before she was placed into a position to get her words out. I urge you to schedule time for this and watch it to the end. I will share more from Peyton later.

Remember Ben McGann, Huan Vuong and Emma Budway, the nonspeaking autistic spellers whose video I shared a few weeks ago? Here's more: the words they delivered at the 2015 TASH Conference, along with Liam Paquin and Niko Boskovic. #istandwithnonspeakers growingkidstherapy.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/non…

Today I asked a group of nonspeakers which blogs, books, etc. of other nonspeakers they recommend. Jordyn Pallett recommended Philip Reyes' blog, which is one of my own favourites too. Here's a post from last year. faithhopeloveautism.blogspot.com/2018/11/my-own…

Here's another recommendation from non-speaking autists: Brian's blog, titled Speak Without A Voice. There's an accompanying Facebook page too, and his friends contribute to that. speakwithoutavoice.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/my-…

Ever heard a podcast in which a non-speaking autistic guy interviews an artist who speaks? Adam Wolfond isn't really into answering questions about autism. Follow the link in his introductory article to his interview with Ellen Bleiwas. soundcloud.com/awolfond/ep1-a…

"As much as I love learning Proloquo4text, something about it infuriates me; that I didn’t have it at the age of two or three years old, and that I wasn’t given any technology to communicate until many years into non-speaking autistic life." - Henry rosesareredforautism.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/hel…

This is by well-known nonspeaking autistic activist Amy Sequenzia. Amy writes about ableism, "intelligence" and how autistic people are often graded by levels of "functioning".

ollibean.com/assumptions-an…

If I wasn't autistic, my personality would be DIFFERENT.

Non-speaking autist Ann writes that without autism, her personality would be THE SAME.

Many speaking autists don't realise that for a lot of non-speakers, autism is essentially a MOVEMENT DISORDER. opinionslearnedfromrpmandautism.com/2019/01/20/if-…

Yesss! Video by Payam. If you're #ActuallyAutistic and feeling blue about April, take heart! Rise up and share this with everyone.

"I've listened enough."

At the Autism Movement Therapy Certification Workshop on 10 March 2013, Neal Katz used his electronic communication device to give the class this message. the-art-of-autism.com/neal-katz/