Thread by @QueerlyAutistic

I'm going to be live tweeting #TheReasonIJump in this thread - I've heard incredibly exciting things about the film and how it has worked directly with non-speaking autistics. Thank you to @BFI for screening it!

I've been ready to watch this film for the longest time, since hearing about it at @AutisticUK's event over a year ago. I'm so excited, and am cuddling the necessary toy to assist in managing my emotions.

There's a warning for some strobe lighting and scenes that may cause seizures, so a warning to any of my fellow autistics going into this #TheReasonIJump

'A previously hidden world.'

Was it hidden, or was it ignored?

We should have been hearing non-speakers the whole time, but we haven't been.

Seeing other autistic people on screen is always something that catches my breath.

I see them, speaking or non-speaking, whatever their individual needs and support, and I always spot things I see in myself and think: these are my siblings, these are my people #TheReasonIJump

'For a long time, she had so much anger inside but had no way to tell us about it.'

'She wanted to make friends, but other people didn't know how to be friends with her.'

#TheReasonIJump

This mum recognising that her daughter was communicating through her art is everything. So many parents and professionals don't see this, don't see beyond the non-speaking to how people communicate without words #TheReasonIJump

This description of how he perceives things - detail by detail until the whole image comes into more focus, rather than the whole picture and then the details.

'My eyes are captured by lines and circles.'

#TheReasonIJump

Haha, remember when I blurted out to David Mitchell that I have a tattoo based on one of his books? Yeah, me neither, didn't happen, I'm not an awkward or embarrassing bean #TheReasonIJump

The close ups on small details of everything things and the cacophony of noise, of all the noises, pulling odd ones out here and there, is really well done #TheReasonIJump

The mum trying to stop her obsessions because it's socially awkward, but changing her mind when she read the book because she got a glimpse into her daughter's mind.

'I've tried to stop her from being herself.'

The words of autistic people change lives #TheReasonIJump

The love between this mother and her daughter, mum's acceptance and journey and love for who her daughter is, is making my heart explode #TheReasonIJump

I'm trying desperately to type up all the quotes that stick with me, but I'm giving up because there's too many. Just let me say - so many beautiful words and descriptions that make me go YES, THAT'S RIGHT #TheReasonIJump

"To live my life as a humam being, nothing is more important than being able to express myself."

ALL COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT, WE'RE JUST NOT LISTENING.

#TheReasonIJump

The squeaking of the swing and the regular rhythm of the noise was something I loved as a kid. It's why I relaxed on the swing. Then I developed motion sickness and couldn't do it anymore...but I still would, sometimes, becoming so entranced I'd make myself ill #TheReasonIJump

Being autistic is struggle, being autistic is joy being autistic is frustration and overwhelm, being autistic is beautiful. Every facet of human emotion, and you see it throughout in all these people #TheReasonIJump

My internet connection is jumpy, and it's proper throwing me out every time it stops or buffers or jerks, have to rewind a bit. Grrrr. Why #TheReasonIJump

'Joss can see everything. And he can hear everything. When he was little, his sensory world was an entirely positive thing.'

Providing water and light because they brought him sensory joy. That's how you do it. #TheReasonIJump

'It's like music.'

- Joss on hearing electricity.

#TheReasonIJump

In recreating the sensory experience, there are some very, very overwhelming sensory moments in this. Just had to take my headphones off because they ramped up the buzzing of electricity. A warning for anyone watching to prepare thyself! #TheReasonIJump

Time is so confusing.

'Inside my head there isn't really such a big difference between what I was told just now and what I heard a long long time ago.'

#TheReasonIJump

'The emotions I felt originally come rushing back to me like a sudden storm.'

- on memories being an unpredictable jumble rather than a straight line

#TheReasonIJump

'Since he's hit puberty, his relationship with his sensory world has changed. His anxiety is huge.'

- Joss' mum

#TheReasonIJump

Warning for seeing a meltdown.

Yes, it's powerful stuff, but I still don't like it and I don't think it should be included. That's pure distress and trauma and I stand very strongly on the fact that I don't think they should be filmed and shown publicly #TheReasonIJump

'When I'm jumping, it's as if I'm shaking loose the ropes that are tying me down; as if my feelings are going upwards to the sky. Of only I could flap my wings and fly off to some far away place.'

#TheReasonIJump

I talked about this the other day. The double bind that if a non-speaking autistic writes a book like #TheReasonIJump, either they can't possibly have written it themselves or, if they did, then they can't be properly autistic if they're able to write it. Silencing non-speakers.

Either way, the words and expressions of non-speakers are not heard, are shouted down, are not heeded by the very people who should be heeding them. There is no winning #TheReasonIJump

'If non-speakers are capable of spelling, are capable of intelligence, that really shakes the foundation of a lot of things that we've believed.'

Like, it's important to say this, but it also annoys me that this is a revelation. The world has failed non-speakers #TheReasonIJump

And also, entirely not keen on the whole 'intelligence' thing, like what do you mean by that? How do you define it? Are you challenging the idea of what intelligence is, or are you reinforcing it. Hrrrmmmm, I'm not sure #TheReasonIJump

'When I'm right I'm right.'

Too damned right, I like this girl.

#TheReasonIJump

'Making sounds with your mouth isn't the same thing as communication.' #TheReasonIJump

If nothing else, let this show that non-speaking autistics have agency, have autonomy, have things to say and express that deserve to be heard #TheReasonIJump

'Ben puts up with a lot with me. I'm very loud.'

'Our friendship requires only some peace from the world.'

I swear to you, Ben and Emma's friendship is not making me cry, I just got dust in my eye #TheReasonIJump

Ben's mum pointing out that he and Emma have sustained and nurtured a friendship for twenty years without spoken language.

Because communication and connection is deeper than that #TheReasonIJump

'The meaning of our friendship can't be defined by words.'

Bloody dust in my eyes again #TheReasonIJump

Right, my brain is frazzled, putting my phone down to just watch and absorb for a bit.

Back to say that Peron had two wives, and the one who took over after he died is not the one they made a film about 😑

I do not like incorrect things 😑

'They have denied our civil rights.'

#TheReasonIJump

From what I've heard, Jestina's story will come with some trigger warnings for abuse, violence, murder etc.