★Hello! Welcome to the blog. :0] ★

(Plain text: Hello! Welcome to the blog.)

Xe/They/He/It/Clown/Pup/Aqua

Autistic, queer, and a nonspeaking AAC user. Most posts are about these things, but some aren't.

NONSPEAKING MEANS PERMANENT OR VERY LONG LASTING.

(Plain text: NONSPEAKING MEANS PERMANENT OR VERY LONG LASTING.)

Neurodivergent, developmentally disabled, and physically disabled

Gay (Uranic(MLM) gaybian. Separate identities.), greysexual, cupiosexual, multipluralic genderqueer trans boy who uses xenogenders.

I am a professionally diagnosed autistic but I absolutely, fully support self diagnosed! /gen

Side blog for poetry: @nonspeakingpoetry

Religious side blog: @nordic-trails

agere/agedre/coping side blog: @blanketpup

medcore (coping) sideblog: @childrensgown

xenogender sideblog: @notepadmogai

blog françias: @carnetcollectif

Please use tonetags!!

If I don't respond to your comment, reblog, or ask, right away please don't think I am ignoring you. It is EXTREMELY unlikely I am ignoring you, I probably just don't have to spoons to respond yet.

Before you send me an ask about "I'm speaking, but its hard, can I still use AAC?" Read this. If you still have questions then send an ask /gen

Want to write a nonspeaking character and need tips? Read this. If you still have questions, send an ask /gen

Before you ask "I have speech loss episodes! Can I use the term nonspeaking for myself?" Read this. If you still have questions, send an ask /gen

If you are a parent of an AAC user and would like tips, read this. If you have any questions, send an ask /gen

My special interests are: Oddities (especially taxidermy), VOCALOID, Paul Dano, OMORI, DC, human rights and social issues, xenogenders, MCR (And The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys. Really just anything relating back to MCR or any of their members.), She-Ra And The Princess Of Power, adult animation, Popee The Performer, Animal Crossing, horror, clowns, frogs, gastropods, Welcome Home, Euphoria, and theme parks!

DNI:

Endogenics/tulpagenics and supporters, radfems, terfs, pro 4n4/m1a/sh, ed/sh accounts (I DO NOT CARE THAT YOU "AREN'T PRO"), fatphobic/queerphobic/ableist/sexist/antisemitic/racist etc, people named Jer0me, anti xenogender, d0xx3rs, blogs that post about Christianity frequently, rad-queer, pro-capitalists, JKR supporters, Harry Potter fans, proshippers, pro-ABA, anti-self diagnosis, anti ACAB/anti BLM/pro "all lives/blue lives matter", bootlickers, Autism Speaks supporters, people who use the term "aspie", people who post about or have profile pictures related to Inside Job on Netflix, people who post about or have profile photos related to Insatiable on Netflix, people who use ChatGPT, people who use the terms nonverbal/nonspeaking/semiverbal/semispeaking to describe a temporary state even after being told it's incorrect (this list will be updated as needed)

Back when I used a free program I used both SymboTalk and ICanCommunicate!

I've had friends say that Speech Assistant is their favorite though (which is only free on Android)

Oh, thank you! Someone actually told me a while ago, so I fixed them, or I thought I did. Turns out I missed two of them! Thank you! They should be fixed now. ^^ /gen

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

(TW FOR MENTIONS OF ABLEISM, INFANTILIZATION, MEDICAL PROCEDURES, AND HOSPITALS)

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I love when people don't infantilize me, don't question my nonspeaking-ness, etc.

It's really upsetting that those are things that I have to love, and that those are rare things. Doing those things are the bare minimum and they need to be normalized. Treating nonspeaking and nonverbal (and semispeaking/semiverbal, intermittently speaking, etc. But right now I'm talking specifically about nonspeaking/nonverbal because that's what I am) people with basic respect doesnt make you a super special good person deserving of praise. It just means you aren't being ableist in that way.

Unfortunately we do currently live in a society where these things are uncommon though. And so these little bare minimum actions mean a lot to me. A lot.

Yesterday I was in the hospital, and as I was having a procedure done I was asked what my date of birth is. My device was sitting over on a table, because I was getting an MRI (so I couldn't have metal), so I couldn't tell them. The staff member asking the question wasn't confused and aggressive when I didnt say anything back, they continued to look kind and waited for me to respond. Then another staff member told them "Raymond is nonverbal" (I prefer nonspeaking but that was perfectly okay /gen), and they said "Oh, okay!" and then asked for my consent to grab my wrist to read my DOB on my hospital bracelet. I nodded, they said thank you, and then they looked at my bracelet.

That meant a lot to me. I was wearing a face mask, so they didn't know, but I was smiling so big.

I wish more people were like them.

Hot take but I really like hospital food