@drahardja Apparently the favored biologically reductive theory of #autism, especially #nonspeaking "severe autism", is that the #amygdala is too SMALL — so that we can't properly orient toward the outside world and exercise the "joint attention" upon which spoken language supposedly is critically dependent. If we (#autistics) buy into amygdala-size determinism for right-wingers, we're setting ourselves up to have it applied to US. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. If your amygdala is too large, you're doomed to be a knuckle-dragging fascist troglodyte; if it's too small, you're doomed to be an implicitly subhuman, #mindblind, nonspeaking [insert suitable slur for the intellectually disabled]. Biological determinism stretches out the amygdala on the bed of Procrustes.

To say that I'm skeptical of ALL of this would be an understatement — although I acknowledge that biological determinist views of one's enemies are very tempting, even for leftists.

The Wikipedia article on "Nonverbal autism" is FULL of amygdala determinism — although it has been flagged for cleanup as needing better references.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_autism

@autistics

This is such an important voice.

From PhD candidate & non speaking autist Timothy HoYuan Chan.

@actuallyautistic #MultiplePerspectives #NonSpeaking

https://theconversation.com/im-autistic-and-dont-speak-heres-what-i-want-you-to-know-262198

Oh yeah, here’s the project I’ve been working on :) a lil Girl Scout cookie booth AAC board for nonspeaking kids, kids with apraxia of speech, kids with selective mutism, or even Deaf/HoH kids who want a backup option to sign or speech.

A lot of folks realized that the sale side helps Deaf/HoH folks order, and a few more requested a translation to Spanish and Hindi for their customer base that speak those languages. I provide them all free, with variations for both bakeries (ABC and LBB) in my girl scouting graphics dropbox, bit.ly/GSfilesbyLondon

#girlscouts #childdevelopment #autism #Deaf #hoh #nonspeaking #ese #education

I was seeking out something new and interesting to watch today. Found this and, while I’m not prone to crying in movies, this one got me TWICE... well, three times depending on how you count. Watched “Language Arts" (2020) on #PrimeVideo

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8240242/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_language%2520arts

#ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #ADHD #neurogivergent #neurodifferent #NonSpeaking #HeavyStimming

Just want to share this:

I've been writing about #Autistic communication for my book out next year, and have approached a number of #NonSpeaking autistic adults and #AAC Users for sensitivity reading and for help.

Everyone has been more than helpful; so kind, so supportive, and generally wonderful. I have learnt so so much, and hope for a day that the #NonSpeakingAutistic voice is widely included in all things about autism, and stops being ignored.

I learned about https://communication4all.org listening to Elizabeth Bonker interviewed on the Uniquely Human podcast today. I love that there is a group focused on raising up non-speakers and challenging the industrial hegemony focused on oppressing them.

#ActuallyAutistic #NonSpeaking @actuallyautistic

Finally finding loads of information, articles, and people to answer questions, on both #NonSpeaking communication in #Autism, and the use of #AAC (Augmented and Alternative Communivation) for both speaking and non-speaking #ActuallyAutistic adults.

This is making me do lots of happy dances as I can now see this section of my book taking shape 🎉

#Writing
#Autism

This Is Not About Me: The Journey from Patient to Agent and the Fight for Educational Inclusion

https://stimpunks.org/2023/07/06/this-is-not-about-me-the-journey-from-patient-to-agent-and-the-fight-for-educational-inclusion/

Jordyn’s hard fought quest for educational inclusion sent us on several nostalgia trips as her story paralleled our stories. This film gathers relatable touchstones on the journey from patient to agent. It succinctly and poignantly captures why Stimpunks exists. We recommend it to all fellow humans, but especially educators.

#education #neurodiversity #nonspeaking