RPM enabled me to communicate and express myself after 22 years of being misunderstood and unable to communicate. This is my first longer piece of work trying to describe my mind to people. It took me many sessions to write.
Matt Crittenden is a nonspeaking autistic who delights in the new and depending relationships he forms now that he has access to communication that works for him.
I am an autistic with apraxia, which affects my ability to speak. These are the top 10 things I wish people knew about apraxic non-speakers.
“It turns out that there are ways for me to be the one giving myself orders instead. Harnessing the energy of automatic obedience can, on a good day, transform chronic catatonia from a weakness into a strength.”
My different sensory, social and physical experiences don’t prevent me from empathizing. In fact, I am skilled at building rapport, seeing things from different perspectives, and connecting with people.
I am writing this to carve out space for myself in the socially-constructed version of the world. I don’t exist if I’m autistic and all autistic people who act the way I’m acting are masking.
Most people think that we are being stubborn or that we actually get to choose when we are able to talk or not. This is definitely not the case. Selective mutism is not an easy condition to manage.
The Spectrum Critters are back with a message about the difficulty of using your voice. Whether your voice is loud or quiet, written or spoken– or not words at all, the way you communicate is unique and valuable! There’s always someone who needs to hear from you.
Skeptics have long tried to create doubt about the capacity for nonspeaking autistics who use spelling to communicate, but new research using eye tracking software proves agency.
I just now remembered a dinner I had 5 months ago with an acquaintance, and realize I monologued almost the entire time in response to a question asked to me. I feel really bad about this now. She was probably too polite to say anything.