Everyone Has A Voice, Including Nonverbal Autistics

Everyone has a voice. But nonverbal or “severely” autistic individuals are often considered to be voiceless. Many believe they cannot speak for themselves, and others must do it for them. But when others do it for them, it might not be true to the person’s needs.

As an autism self-advocate, I am in no way trying to talk over nonverbal autistics. Instead, I’m informing others that they do have a voice in this world, and encouraging them to speak for themselves in whatever way they communicate. Then, I let them do the rest. What I would love to do is inspire autistics all over the spectrum to be self-advocates.

All Communication Is Important

Everyone has a voice, even if it doesn’t come from their mouth. Alternative communication devices are a voice. Writing books and blogs is a voice. Sign language is a voice. All voices, no matter how they’re demonstrated, are equally important and deserve equal recognition.

It is never okay to tell someone they don’t have a voice. First of all, many of us autistics are very literal. There’s no telling how we might interpret that. Second of all, it makes our other communication methods seem unimportant. Also, if we really do want to speak aloud, we might not feel like we can because what we have to say is insignificant. All people have something to say, and all voices need to be equal represented.

Different Communication Methods

Communication comes in many different flavors. And all people can communicate, some may need more guidance than others (like myself!). Also, just because someone is nonverbal doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. And just because someone is verbal doesn’t mean they can communicate.

I have always been verbal, I started speaking about the time others my age began. For example, I could talk for hours about Robert Wadlow and American Presidents, yet I couldn’t communicate my true feelings and needs. I could not find the words to express that.

Thankfully, I have gotten a lot better at communicating and being honest about what I need. That’s because I believe that my voice matters, my parents raised me to believe that. So, if someone is told that what they have to say is unimportant, that could be detrimental to their wellbeing.

We Can Speak For Ourselves

All autistics, regardless of their place on the spectrum, can speak for themselves if they believe their voice is important. They need to be given the encouragement and opportunities. This also means that we should reduce the stigma around nonverbal or “severely” autistics. If others believe that they can speak for themselves, that’s more people celebrating the uniqueness of the human voice. It would be wonderful if we could all get together and celebrate all voices. No matter if they’re spoken, signed, written, typed, whatever.

There is also a big difference between speaking over someone and giving them guidance. What I wish to never do, and apologize if I have seemed like it, is speak over other autistics. I only want to empower them to use their voice for whatever they want and need. And I also believe that others should not make the judgement on whether nonverbal autistics can or can’t speak for themselves, if they haven’t actually listened to what the person has to say. Everyone deserves to be listened to, no matter how they communicate.

An Example

I have a fond travel memory that relates to this topic. My family and I spent a wonderful day in Kuşadası, Turkey/Türkiye, and one of our stops was at a carpet-weaving business. I sat with the owner’s wife at a loom as she instructed me on the weaving process. She spoke Turkish, and I spoke English. Yet we still made a connection, despite the language difference. Communication can happen in any language, any dialect, and any method. All it takes is a willingness to listen and open your mind to a communication difference. You might discover something quite beautiful.

Conclusion

Hopefully, I have educated you on the differences in communication, and that all voices are equally important. All people, verbal, nonverbal, and everything in between, can speak for themselves, and have important stories to tell. If we listen to them and open our minds, we could experience a revolutionary awakening.