disabledavocado

[disabledavocado]

(Sorry if this counts as a bad ask, I'm not great with... reading)

Do you have any tips for what to do if you go nonverbal in public? I don't have sign language or aac yet so it can be tough when alone...

hi. not bad ask.

what do if can't speak in public: may use text to speech app (there are some available free). may type n show notes to people you need to communicate with. may use written notes (on paper) n show them. if not able type / process words during episodes too, may try free aac app. aac app may be installed on phone. free apps not so useful n well developed as paid apps. n some apps too slow on phone. but some can be used on phone. (can recommend weavechat on android).

obligatory clarification about terms: please don't use 'go nonverbal' for temporary speech loss episodes. nonverbal is word for permanent state. for people who can't use mouth speech at all. in any conditions. under any circumstances. (or can use like... several words. or speech is extremely unreliable in apraxia way. but. speech not work for communication at all. all time).

words for temporary speech loss are: speech loss episode, verbal shutdown, speechless, etc. more words here.

[disabledavocado]

I don’t think people understand how it is to have been behind on EVERY milestone. Learning how to walk? Late. Learning to read? Late. Learning to use the bathroom independently? Late. Every single milestone was late.

And when you have this, people ask questions. People bully you. Why can’t you shower by yourself at 9,10,15,20? Why can’t you brush your teeth independently and frequently? Why can’t you tie your shoes? Why can’t you do math? Why can’t you do this, or that.

And then there’s the people on social media. “Well I was forced to.” “Well I didn’t have a choice” and that’s understandable and completely valid, but there are people that no matter how much you force them, or neglect them so they “figure it out” they won’t “figure it out”. They’ll die. They’ll starve. They’ll not bathe and be dirty.

Higher support needs people don’t just “figure it out” our brains are wired differently. Our brains don’t get that we HAVE to do these things just to survive. So we don’t. And that sucks.

It’s disheartening to constantly hear people say “well i was forced to” because so was I!! I was forced to do things too! I was neglected too! And guess what? I still didn’t do those things. I STILL wasn’t able to meet those milestones.

The big one that I see is “well I’m forced to talk.” And I get that, but me, a person that’s nonverbal, can’t be forced to talk. No matter if I’m neglected, no matter if my device is taken away or I have no way of communication. I still wouldn’t be able to talk. I CANNOT force myself to talk. Get that through your heads. This is my reality, and although yours sucked there are still some people who cannot do things, and saying that they could if they were “forced” is invalidating of them.

[disabledavocado]

while have lots of 'stereotypical' autistic traits, often feel not represented n not seen. like. neurotypicals not understand. misunderstand. treat weird. etc. autistic community... often can't find self there. or only in 'this stereotype doesn't represent all autistic experience.'

like. once have seen post about autistic people n theory of mind. n that post stated that autistic people have ok theory of mind. just not understand question / context / etc. n felt weird about it. because ok for some autistic people it's like that. they actually have ok theory of mind just not understand question / context / etc. but there were no clarifications. does author think all autistic people have ok theory of mind or not. n felt kinda invalidated? even thought that maybe not understand meaning theory of mind or have problems not because autism. but actually. have problems with theory of mind. because of autism.

n this happens with other symptoms n experiences too. sad to see self experience only in stuff how this experience is not universal. like okay know it understand it. but what if actually have this experience?

not ask someone to stop talking about their autistic experiences. non-stereotypical. not ask to stop talking how stereotypes harmful. because they are. they not work. maybe ask to express it differently? without saying no one have these experiences. or without generalizations. 'not everyone have these experiences' ok. 'actually no one have these experiences' not ok.

/not about someone specific

[disabledavocado]

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My friends, the currency used in the fundraising campaign is the Swedish Krona (SEK), and every 50 SEK is equivalent to 5 USD.”

10$ = 100 SEK

50$= 500 SEK

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My original story

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Let us make hope triumph over despair and restore smiles and dignity to my family.

Thank you to everyone who listens to my plea and offers a helping hand and donation to change our future for the better.

With heartfelt gratitude and appreciation

Note our campaign vetted by

@sar-soor @el-shab-hussein @nabulsi @ibtisams

Verification source: number 196 on users el-shab-hussein and nabulsi's master list

[disabledavocado]

Once again bringing up the fact that albinism is always tied to varying degrees of visual impairment. Disability is inherent in our condition and glossing over this (due to ignorance or not) is an act of ableism and fetishisation. Before you create an original character or any sort of fiction you ought to not stick to lazy research. Albinism affects real people, not just animals and social stigma because of our looks is only half of the story. Please do not contribute to a superficial understanding of an already rare and not researched enough condition, happy 10 years of international albinism awareness day.

[disabledavocado]

i get being nonverbal irl; but how does it equate to typing in broken english online?

hi.

1. am not nonverbal, am semiverbal. able speak mouth but difficult n with problems (short phrases, stutter, wrong words, wrong grammar, etc.)

2. being nonverbal / semiverbal does not 'equate' typing with bad grammar. some nonverbal semiverbal people type with correct grammar. some not. it individual.

3. some nonverbal semiverbal people are nonverbal semiverbal with only mouth speech problems. when brain mouth disconnect or disarthria or other reasons. can form sentences fine just can't say it by mouth. some not. some have other language problems. which impact forming sentences, finding words, etc.

4. nir semiverballness impact not only mouth. impact thoughts. impact language forming. translate thoughts into words is difficult. connect words together n form sentences is difficult. so not only speak weird. but type weird too.

5. if your question good faith, not best way to ask it. some people uncomfortable explaining why speak type this way. so better ask permission before questions about how speak type. also some people uncomfortable when call their way speaking typing 'broken.' better ask 'if comfortable, tell how semiverballness impact your typing.'

[disabledavocado]

wanna talk about problems being unaware / not completely aware about surroundings.

am not completely aware. sometimes unaware. not notice people. if notice not pay attention. not understand if they threat. not know if they gonna do something until they do it.

1) danger. not notice dangerous behavior. because not notice people. or notice but not pay attention. or (very rare) pay attention but can't recognize dangerous behavior. until in danger. so usually need someone with ne. to notice n analyze others' behavior.

2) anxiety. can't understand if someone threat or not. so if people interact not know their intentions. so scared. (also not know how communicate, not understand why communicate, other reasons for anxiety). also every interaction is sudden. because haven't noticed people or haven't paid attention. so don't expect.

3) embarrassment. because not notice or late notice people. may be unaware not alone. not in privacy. so may do private things. when someone is here.

4) difficult noticing things too. may not notice changes if not pointed by finger. not notice new objects, not notice something changed. may notice fact (*something* changed), but not what happened. can't point what changed. so may be stressed because change. but not understand why stressed. weird thing.

5) difficult responding to external things. like being called. or sounds (if not sensory uncomfortable). or other signals.

6) difficult understanding other people perceive ne. difficult remembering this. (most time not remember). difficult understanding when they start n finish perceive ne. n absolutely don't know *how* perceive ne.

maybe something else.

need rely on others for this. to stay safe. to ask how seen by others. to ask if something appropriate or not. to communicate. to understand events in external world. need trust other's opinion. because can't have own. can't have reliable own at least. lucky have one who can trust. lucky have one who cares. lucky have *some* awareness by self.

but still difficult.

[disabledavocado]

For anyone who is semi verbal, nonverbal, or otherwise struggles with speech, please know that there are people who will accept your methods of communication. There are people who won't infantilize you for using AAC, communication cards, making noises instead of words, etc. There are people who won't expect you to pick the mask up again when you stop being so 'talkative'. There are people who don't mind waiting for you to sort your thoughts, and are happy to include you in the conversation.

There are people who accept you as yourself, and I don't just mean toleration.

[disabledavocado]

I hope this isn't insensitive to say, but I love seeing you on my dash specifically because of how you speak. I am schizophrenic, and I've beaten myself up (mentally) about my alogia more times than I can count, and how when I'm trying to communicate despite it, my words come out... very weird, at least how other people see it. My husband has tried to help me with how much it upsets me by telling me he doesn't care, but I never considered it might be true until I saw posts of yours getting hundreds of notes. Maybe he really doesn't care if I baby talk because hard C is difficult, or if I rely on gestures despite my parents telling me how "rude" it is to "not use my words"

hi. gonna say lots of different stuff. not sure what appropriate n what answer required so sorry if inappropriate answer.

1. sorry you have to face ableism about way you speak. don't deserve it. every way of speaking valid. every way of communication valid. deserve be listened to. deserve be respected. not speak mouth isn't rude. gestures aren't rude. untypical pronunciation isn't rude. allowed communicate way you are. allowed communicate as able to.

2. am glad seeing ne makes you feel better. about how speak. maybe represented, don't know.

3. not sure if am completely ok with comment about nir speech. not completely not ok, but not completely ok too. got comments about how speak for whole life. sometimes how speak gets more attention than what try to say. sometimes instead of listening, only get jokes about how said. about wrong words, about new words, about weird way saying things. so sensitive. so not know if uncomfortable because what you said or because of trigger. have lots of things wanna say. wanna more attention to WHAT said, not HOW said it. not mad, just sharing feelings.

4. some people who speak type weird ok with comments about way speaking typing. some people not ok. so better ask before comment.

5. some people actually don't care how speak. some people actually listen what say, not how speak. some people not. second don't deserve our energy. because doing ableist thing. but still may be threat. so stay safe.

6. it's possible to find people who actually care about understanding you. about understanding what wanna say. what have to say. sometimes takes time n energy n bad experiences. but possible. hope you find more people like this. n less people who mock judge not respect not try understand.

[disabledavocado]

As someone who is somewhat of a “veteran” of the online ND community, I’m disappointed in the lack of positivity and love for lesser known diverse cognitive conditions, and the opposing abundance of posts about “cures” or outdated criteria or treatments for those conditions. So, without further ado, I want to say hello to anyone with any of the disorders I’m listing, and give them the love and support that hardly anyone else in our community has… Shoutout to:

People with Down syndrome

People with Fragile X

People with William’s syndrome

People with dyslexia

People with dyspraxia

People with dyscalculia

People with dysgraphia

People with Prader-Willi syndrome

People with PANS or PANDAS

People with aphasia

People with a TBI (traumatic brain injury)

People with chronic/early onset mental illnesses

People with cerebral palsy

People with FASD or were otherwise disabled via other substances in utero

And many, many more I may have forgotten to list (but still support and love, I will add more to my list)

You are all beautiful and wonderful, and you all deserve so more love, appreciation, acceptance and support. You are just as neurodiverse as the rest of us, and your voices deserve to be heard and amplified.

I love you all ❤️

[disabledavocado]

no one should be shamed for how they feel (n think but hear about feelings more). no one should be shamed for not feeling 'right' things or feeling 'wrong' things.

actions ≠ feelings. feelings ≠ values. feelings ≠ beliefs. internal stuff is personal. not for external people to judge.

if someone has no empathy. or no compassion. or no other 'correct' feelings towards others. doesn't mean they would make harm abuse neglect manipulate etc.

if someone doesn't feel 'appropriate.' doesn't grief angry upset etc about bad thing. doesn't mean they support what happen. doesn't mean they won't challenge this bad thing.

feelings not required to do right things. feelings are only one reason. only one regulator of behavior. only one factor. there are others. feelings more complicated than 'empathy compassion other 'correct' stuff.' motivation more complicated than feeling -> action.

it's possible to act opposite to feelings. unrelated to feelings. without feelings. etc. (works both ways. may not feel 'correct' things but still act correct way. may feel 'correct' things but still act incorrect way).

'proper' feelings ≠ automatically know what correct to do. ≠ automatically being safe. ≠ automatically being educated. ≠ automatically best decisions. ≠ automatically know all information need. etc.

same for 'unproper' feelings.

n also. feelings not controllable. not what can choose. not what can decide have or not. actions what controllable. actions what can choose decide change (not always easy, not always possible). actions what really impact world. not feelings. not thoughts. actions affect external world. so actions may be called out discussed required asked to change etc. feelings not.

[disabledavocado]

want talk about how important have AAC in your language.

language of birth country, of family, big language, so many native speaker, even more second third learned language speaker. but, even that, is language not often seen in robust AAC apps develop by western countries—because not one of big western countries.

there only one robust symbol based (or TTS tbh) AAC app have that language: TD snap.

which mean. must make it work.

how important it is have AAC that fit your needs: right grid size, right motor plan, right access support (switch, eye gaze, etc), right editing, right symbols, right color & color coding & contrast, right everything. n so much of this, actual need, and not preference.

which why there so many english symbol based AAC apps, each with different logic to where words are, how word organized, what symbol use, what editing feature have, all backed by their research & tech development… you get choose. if one app not right for you, have others. sometimes is prefer one over other, but other times is, some apps unusable for you, conflict needs for you, cannot understand it (e.g touch chat for me).

TD snap organization not work for me. core word not enough, fringe word organized not fit way my brain work, n overall not enough words that match own daily life.

but have to make it work. because it between this, or not communicate in words with family & with world in country where everyone speak this language.

so, am deleting everything, all words, all boards, & remake, reorganize. trying make it work. begging make it work. pay no mind how it take tens even hundreds of hours (years in making, still not finished). …it my only option.

n, this lucky case scenario—

people who cannot, or not allowed to, edit their AAC in such big way. people who cannot use that sad one app that contain your language.

or, especially: there languages & speaker of those language who need AAC but have no AAC because there no AAC that support their language.

their voice robbed.

but that not all. for longest time still not able use AAC in birth country language. because have no voice go along.

want talk about how important have useable voices in AAC in your language.

in gender that reflect you, tone & personality that reflect you, pronunciation & accent & everything that reflect you.

using voice that not used to, already feel like speaking through someone else mouth. very odd feeling—it you speaking, it you communicating, but it coming out of someone else mouth, in their voice, not yours. where yours?

even with voice that like, still take me while fully connect with voice. with voice mere tolerate, always feel discomfort, not fully mine. with voice that opposite who you are?

averse. rather not talk at all.

not willing choice. but physical reaction, recoil, hate, uncomfortable deep under skin, disgust.

between acapella voice group & IOS voices, there maybe 5-6 voices for birth country language, all very gendered, middle age “karen” sounding, robotic unnatural, unclear, hard hear what trying say, tele-announcer tone. 5-6, but somehow all sound same.

and, make no mistake, 5-6 badly made ones. is lots. other languages, have 1, or 2. or none. this, lucky.

so, not communicate with words at all. completely nonverbal all the time, so gestures, noises, grunts, is what left. need parents with 24/7, because other don’t know why not talk, don’t even know can not talk, don’t understand what mean with all these body language noises/-n, by the way, parents is part reason have cPTSD, but have be around them, because nonverbal high support needs, what can you do, what other option you have?. and, still, frequent meltdowns n tantrum—because often no one understand.

have words that cannot use. in language that itself is trauma trigger.

today, found that apple/ios now expanded voices for birth country language. so many now! so many also have enhanced & premium options, that come with ios, no extra cost. so many different personalities, tones, inflections. and, sound so natural.

cried. because. finally may able communicate with words in birth country language again.

don’t know how explain to people who, never had go through forced silence, how important and huge and even life changing this is.

won’t take away communication disability, won’t take away other AAC difficulties, won’t take away trauma, won’t make birth country language any less of trauma trigger, but—

it there when ready.

—to all my AAC users who speak language that not commonly supported by robust AAC apps on market. especially those BIPOC, those diaspora and those from the country. those who speak language with few speakers. especially those nonverbal nonspeaking who have no other option. those who cannot type, who can only use symbol base AAC, so effectively stranded without one that support their language. love you all, see you all, even if AAC companies don’t.

[disabledavocado]

interesting how nir thoughts look. usually not strings n paragraphs of words. but images sounds video sensations words. n it all completes each other n make scheme of thought. probably 'think in schemes' describes most accurately.

schemes that contain divisions n fusions. words n sometimes strings of text. pictures n videos n sounds n emotions n hyperlinks n other stuff. all connected with arrows.

n it's kinda difficult to put everything in words. it's kinda difficult to form sentences. where thoughts move from point to point n connected by arrows. wanna use more symbols like -> (arrow) = (equal) ≠ (doesn't equal) etc because thoughts literally contain them. wanna be able put images sounds emotions etc out of head n show. wanna be able send these schemes in others' minds n communicate this way.

[disabledavocado]

when people look at some wheelchair user who can move legs / stand / walk / ambulatory / etc, n they respond with “not all wheelchair user paralyzed,” then if do “educational” post, often go on explain how don’t have (traumatic) spinal cord injury / SCI

often with attitude “paralysis / SCI (to them same thing) so well known well understood accommodated accepted visible”

which. in isolation, “not all wheelchair user paralyzed” & “not all wheelchair user have (traumatic) SCI” objectively true.

but it’s like. the utter confidence in their complete ignorance of paralysis and SCI, & ignorance of their ignorance, conflating paralysis always = SCI, & that both always mean cannot move leg at all. all while treating paralysis & SCI as this most understood disability / wheelchair using reason they a victim of.

as in like. if someone give you shit about be in wheelchair but move leg & you want educate. tell them some wheelchair user can move leg. not “not all wheelchair user paralyzed” because some people paralyzed can also move leg. saying latter only show your ignorance about paralysis, while throw ppl w paralysis under bus

don’t have any kind paralysis so maybe worst person make this post but

did you know SCI & paralysis not the same. did you know can have leg paralysis without traumatic SCI through some sort physical injury. multiple sclerosis, ALS, FND, tumor, paraneoplastic syndrome, cerebral palsy etc can all cause paralysis. n many more

did you know paralysis can be monoplegia (one limb), paraplegia (both legs), diplegia (same area both side of body), hemiplegia (one side of body), & quadriplegia (all limbs). as in, yes, some people may have paralysis but still can move legs because at least one leg not affected.

n

did you know (depending on how categorize) there two types of spinal cord injury. complete & incomplete. people w incomplete SCI, brain can still send some signals below SCI site & so have some feeling and/or function.

did you know some people w SCI can move legs, including involuntary spasms (tho sometimes can be on purpose triggered by doing certain things if learn trigger).

did you know some w incomplete SCI can voluntarily move legs. can walk with mobility aids. can walk without mobility aids. can be ambulatory wheelchair user. some use their spasm to stand. n they still considered have (incomplete) SCI & paralysis.

if you didn’t know these then maybe SCI & paralysis not as well understood well accepted disorder as you think & treat it as.

(also did you know, can be non ambulatory wheelchair user without have paralysis. suprise)

(tried double triple confirm facts, but, people w paralysis, if say anything wrong please do kindly correct. cognitive + language communication disability often mix up things)

[disabledavocado]

In that vein... (No, the following is not about autism or ADHD)

TL;DR: Using medical terms as insults or otherwise misusing medical terms (even as a joke) leads to uninformed people thinking they have to stop saying these words and creating new words. Either because they think the old term isn't precise enough anymore or because they incorrectly think that we're insulted by the old word.

The constant appearance of new words is confusing to people who struggle to learn new words. It excludes them from participating in discussions about their own condition.

We have to be more sensitive regarding possible repercussions and stop unnecessary discourse by uninformed people.

In Germany, the official word for my disability ID card category and the assessment is "Hirnschädigung", which literally translates to brain damage/damaged brain. And that's a neutral description, nothing outdated.

But many many people have been asking if someone has brain damage whenever they wanted to insult someone who is either slow on the uptake or who just made a very strange or silly suggestion, for example. They used it as an insult all the time, sometimes jokingly, sometimes not.

This is why now a lot of people ask "Uh, can we still say that in the 21st century? Shouldn't we change "brain damage" to something nicer? Isn't that word insulting?" when actually no, it isn't. (Of course you still shouldn't use that term if someone directly tells you they don't want to be called that)

It's the same with "disabled". People used and still use "disabled" and "dumb" synonymously in Germany. So now, well-meaning politicians and even advocates create all kinds of euphemisms because they think that disabled people will be offended by the word "disabled". Because some people use it as an insult.

When I say I'm disabled in German ("behindert"), people flinch. They think I just insulted myself. But no, "behindert" is a normal medical word, it's in the name of our disability ID card. Even more, the literal translation is "severely disabled person's pass", there's a "severe" accompanying the word "disabled". They flinch even more when I say I'm severely disabled.

"Disorder" has a negative connotation because it's been used as an insult. "Disabled" has a negative connotation because it's been used as an insult. People mixed up schizophrenia and DID and now many think that "feeling schizophrenic" is a sophisticated way to say that you feel conflicted.

The pattern is always the same: People use normal medical words either as insults or in an unrelated, non-medical way, and as a result well-meaning but uninformed advocates create "nicer" sounding words because they think the original word is either outdated or offensive. Or they think "Now that everyone misuses it, we need a new word for the medical term so that there are no misunderstandings."

In both cases, "our" words were successfully co-opted and we have to learn 10 new words to know that people talk about our conditions.

Unfortunately, not everyone sees 10 new words for their condition and intuitively picks up the meaning and knows what everyone's talking about. Sometimes words are hard. Sometimes it's hard to learn all these words and then be told by some uninformed activist that we shouldn't call ourselves what we've always called ourselves.

And what kind of people sometimes struggle with learning new words? People with cognitive impairments. People with brain damage. People who had a stroke. People who survived a ruptured aneurysm.

If you hear "Please stop saying you have a stroke or an aneurysm", etc., did it ever occur to you that maybe it's not because we're offended, but because we don't want these words to get negative connotations? Whenever something gets a negative connotation, there's a possibility for it to be seen as a slur and that would lead to 10 new words to learn because uninformed activists think the original term is offensive or not precise enough.

When I say "Hey, please stop saying you have a stroke when you don't understand something", I'm not offended and I'm not saying it's ableist. I've just noticed enough patterns to be quite sure that at some point there'll be an uninformed well-meaning advocate who suggests a new word for stroke survivors because they think the old word isn't precise enough anymore.

And I don't know if there are enough stroke survivors on social media who could stop this new word and mindset from reaching other uninformed advocate spaces...

[disabledavocado]

i love you nonspeakers. i love you nonverbal people.

i love you nonverbal people who prefer to be called nonverbal. i love you nonspeaking people who prefer to be called nonspeaking. i love you nonspeaking nonverbal people who tired of debate about terminology or can’t keep up with it and just want be heard and communication rights respected.

i love you people who not speak ever since birth ( hi! ). i love you people who use to speak but experience regression / catatonia / burnout or with degenerative physical disabilities. i love you nonspeaking nonverbal people with acquired disabilities.

i love you multimodal communicators. i love you people with complex communication needs. i love you apraxic people who are unreliably speaking. i love you minimally verbal people. i love you semiverbal people. i love you speaking people with selective mutism with intermittent speech ( who listen to us and not speak over )

I love you nonspeaking nonverbal autistic people. i love you nonspeaking / nonverbal people with other intellectual & developmental disabilities. i love you nonspeaking / nonverbal people with apraxia / dyspraxia ( full body or apraxia of speech ) . I love you nonspeaking nonverbal people with brain injury with stroke with aphasia with genetic disorders. i love you nonspeaking / nonverbal people with mental health disabilities that affect language ( eg schizophrenia ) .

I love you AAC users. I love you users of text based AAC. I love you users of picture based AAC. I love you users of low tech AAC. I love you people who can’t afford the big expensive robust systems and rely on free apps or low tech for that reason. I love you people who need small grid size. I love you people who need visual accommodations to AAC like high contrast. I love you people who need alternate access like switch , eye gaze , head track , joystick , partner assisted scanning to make AAC accessible. I love you nonspeaking / nonverbal people who use sign languages. I love you PECS users. I love you letter board users. I love you people who need human support to use AAC , people who use methods like FC and RPM and S2C and all the “ discredited ” method that are constant at risk of being take away from you.

I love you nonspeaking nonverbal people who haven’t found a way to communicate with words that works for them yet. i love you people who communicate mostly or entirely with behavior with gesture with pointing with vocal sounds not words. i love you people who only way communicate is what the system calls “challenging behavior.” I love you people who communicate through violent meltdown, who SIB and hurt others , run away unsafely , destroy property etc and who are punish institutionalize incarcerate or other abused oppressed instead of helped find other way to communicate. i love you nonverbal nonspeaking people who won’t ever see this post, who under institution control or informal more subtle control and don’t have access to social media , or who disability make social media hard , or who just don't like / have interest in being on here (was me for a while !)

I love you nonverbal and nonspeaking people who have found a home in the nonverbal / high support need community on here and who feel like experience is represent. i love you nonverbal and nonspeaking people who have found a home in offline AAC / nonspeaking world like CommunicationFirst and the spellling to communicate conferences. I love you nonverbal and nonspeaking people who not find their " home " in the disability / nonverbal nonspeaking community yet , who not see own experience represent anywhere.

i love you nonspeakers of color. i love you nonspeaking nonverbal queer and trans people. i love you physically disabled nonspeaking / nonverbal people. i love you mentally ill / Mad nonspeaking nonverbal people. i love you poor nonspeaking nonverbal people. i love you nonspeaking / nonverbal people not from global north.

i love you nonverbal people. i love you nonspeaking people. we are great and we deserve to be heard.

[disabledavocado]

haven’t used AAC device in so long ever since back to birth country. just communicate with gesture and sound. and very rarely, type. really do miss AAC but. birth country language trauma language and. feel this subtle awkward in air when use with parents( guess it visibly not normal). but because not use device (ironically because of them), parents think device useless “prefer typing anyway” (actually opposite of that. hate have to type n melt down when Have To type because they not understand other communication) & “we’ll be with you when out speak for you anyway”, when device actually. comfort item n is why bring everywhere.

…

wish people understand sometimes what AAC user doing using, may not be what they want or most comfortable or easiest but what most comfortable easiest for others. and. sometimes what AAC user not using, not always because not prefer, but maybe actually is what prefer but not able use. because not enough awareness acceptance not enough modeling etc.

and yes when nonverbal full time AAC user can’t or don’t or not able use AAC, we just not communicate with words or not communicate at all. n we may refuse AAC for variety of reasons, sometimes even if we want or need it.