Hello all,
There once was a time when communicating was nearly impossible for me, then the letterboard changed my life. I want people to know that there are a multitude of ways people can communicate. I mainly use a letterboard, although lots of autistics have other ways.
I have learned that communicating is much more than words that are verbally spoken. I was known for communicating with my eyes and facial expressions long before I could communicate via a letterboard.
I am here to show and tell people that it is possible to communicate and make a difference in the world, without physically speaking.
Is it hard? Of course- but to have the thoughts in your head verbally said to the world is incredibly rewarding. Please don’t give up. It is possible and can happen!
Coming from me, Ben Breaux, a nonspeaking autistic.
Ben has written many articles for numerous autism advocacy groups worldwide and is a proud representative for his community on several advocacy boards and committees, both in the state of VA and nationally. He is currently working towards getting a full High School diploma via "A2A," an online academic and support program for Alternative Learners. Ben strives to show the world that an intellectual disability will not hold him back. He is an aspiring journalist with big aspirations to come.
He feels it is very important that non-, minimal- and unreliably speaking autistics have equal rights, opportunities, and voices in society and shares his beliefs and impressions on his public Facebook Page, Ben B. - My Own Words: Reflections of a Nonspeaking Autistic. and just recently on TikTok @benbnonspeakingautistic.
Benjamin loves having fun and spending time with his beloved friends, family and "Team."
Ben Breaux CommunicationFirst Advisory Council Member
The Arc of VA’s “A Life Like Yours” ALLIANCE Liasion
Award winning/published Poet and Artist
MARCUS ALERT Committee for State of VA Member
If you enjoy Ben's writing, please consider leaving a tip in his virtual tip jar by clicking here.
- Poetry: Love, by Ben Breaux - February 15, 2022
- A Nonspeaker’s Letter to Young Autistics, - January 30, 2022
- REVIEW: The Reason I Jump – An Unusual Film With a Very Important Message - August 2, 2021
7 Responses
I’m an SLP with a student who types to communicate. Where would she submit her poetry?
Lisa:
Congratulations on your presidency to AutCom.
She can submit her poetry to UNRESTRICTED INTEREST.
Each week Chris Martin makes a Substack displaying or showcasing one Speller poet.
The Substack is called THE LISTENING POET.
There are chapbooks made by Unrestricted Interest – last week’s was by Gosh. And the week before was about Justice.
I know several other literary magazines like MISSING PERSPECTIVES.
And one other I discovered in a university press. HYADES MAGAZINE. [edited by M T Ahmed]
And I just remembered a publisher: Girls on Key.
NeuroClastic would have lots of opportunities – there is a big directory of authors and visual and performing artists.
[also under FOR THE NEURODIVERGENT and FOR EDUCATORS].
best wishes to your student.
I have a Speller who is not yet openly communicating. Any suggestions on getting to open communication sooner. Please explain how I can give my son/speller the confidence he needs to move forward
Do you think that American Sign Language would be useful for autistic individuals who have trouble with verbal speech even if they are not deaf or hard-of-hearing?
It was helpful for my son to pair the motor of signing with the vocalization of the words. He is a speller now, so not using ASL that often.
In my house, I have a Speller who is not yet verbal. How can we speed up the process of establishing trusting relationships? How can I instill in my kid (who is also a speller) the self-assurance he so needs to succeed?