🌈buppy dog!🍒

Finished our system board for now. Still have a long way to go on our politics folder. We are missing a lot of technical words right now.

And we made an autism folder! It actually compresses down two folders we had on our homepage so now there is more room for other things.

aac tour !!!

First page: Home

Second page: Time

Third page: clock time

Fourth page: animals

Rocky has never seen human AU depict with AAC device!!!!!!???????? BIG FAN

Rocky as alter is semi verbal in real life &&& use AAC device!! Amaze see human AU use AAC make Rocky happy happy happy

Good good good work!!!!!!!

Rocky take chance show off AAC device page for PHM

I made this

🦈

Credits ( things i used or took ideas from or got helped by )

Idea : from misslunarose

Text : copy paste from autism level real life descriptions ( what the levels are like in a person instead a list of symptoms ) from my psychologist Caitlin

Symbols : from ARASAAC

This is written by my psychologist about YOUNG ADULTS 16 - 25 living in AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Different age people will have different experience and different country people will have different experience!

And its not criteria or symptom list or rules about to be each level it is a GENERAL IDEA of what a AVERAGE PERSON at each level looks like in living their life just day to day

And not every one is the average person there is still room for different things inside levels!

[ID: an overview about the 3 autism levels compared to each other. Level One is on the left, Level Two in the middle and Level Three on the right.

Level One: Requiring Support

Autistic Traits

Social

Strangers may be able to tell I have a disability, or they may think I am just awkward.

I may have difficulty understanding social cues such as body language and tone, or I may have been able to learn these cues with a lot of effort.

I struggle with making and keeping friendships and relationships.

Behaviour

I may have sensory issues and struggle with loud sounds, bright lights, bad textures, etc.

I need to fidget and move around a lot, even when I don’t have surplus energy, or I may feel the need to but have been trained out of acting on it.

I have strong and specific interests; I usually only like one or a few things at a time and these interests last for years.

I may shutdown where I lose the ability to speak.

Changes distress me, but unless I am already having a hard time I can cope if I am given some time to process.

Development

I was most likely in general education with or without an IEP, or had my time split between general and special education.

I may have needed speech or occupational therapy or support services, but likely did not.

I may have had developmental delays, but I also may have hit milestones on time or early.

I have high, normal, or low intelligence.

Life skills

I can complete all ADLs - e.g. bathing, eating and drinking, getting dressed - by myself or with prompting.

I need support to complete IADLs - e.g. shopping, cooking, budgeting - or I need someone else to do these things for me.

I am able to live independently or with support. I may need someone to help me keep on track.

Language

I am fully verbal.

I may have a flat tone or lack appropriate expression.

My understanding of language is generally sound.

Level Two: Requiring Substantial Support

Autistic Traits

Social

Strangers are able to tell I have a disability.

I do not understand social cues such as body language and tone. Even with support, I have never been able to learn these. I have difficulty understanding speech,

My social life is extremely limited and I need support to talk to new people.

Behaviour

I have sensory issues and struggle with everyday sounds, lights, textures, etc. I may not be able to control my reaction to sensory input.

I often move repetitively and unusually for no apparent reason.

I have strong and specific interests; I usually only like one thing at a time, it is the only thing I can think about, and this interest lasts for years.

I may have shutdowns where I lose the ability to speak, and I may have meltdowns where it is difficult to control myself and not hurt others.

Changes significantly distress me and may cause shutdowns or meltdowns.

Development

I was most likely in special education,

I have needed speech, behavioural, and occupational therapy and support services from a young age.

I had significant developmental delays and hit all of my milestones late; or I had a significant regression before the age of five.

I have low intelligence, an intellectual impairment, and intellectual disability, or a speech impairment.

Life skills

I need hand over hand prompting or physical support to complete all or most ADLs - e.g. bathing, eating and drinking, and getting dressed.

I need someone else to complete IADLs - e.g. shopping, cooking, budgeting - for me.

I am able to live with support or I may need to live in residential care. I need a carer to keep me healthy and safe.

Language

I may be fully verbal or speak only in single words or short sentences. I may need to communicate in other ways such as sign or symbol AAC.

My speech is non-fluent.

I have difficulty with both understanding and speaking language.

Level Three: Requiring Very Substantial Support

Autistic Traits

Social

My disability is very obvious.

I do not notice social cues and I have difficulty understanding speech, or I can not understand it at all.

I do not have a social life. I am not able to make connections with other people and I am or appear to be unaware of other people, or I lack any interest in other people.

Behaviour

I have extreme sensory issues and even in low sensory environments I meltdown most days from them.

I move repetitively and unusually all of the time without knowing.

I have strong and specific interests; I usually like one or a few things in my lifetime and they are one of the only things I engage with.

I have extreme violent meltdowns where I am unable to control my body. I may sometimes have shutdowns where I appear almost catatonic.

I am not able to cope with change.I have meltdowns and my day is unable to continue.

Development

I was in special education.

I have needed intensive speech, behavioural, occupational, and physical therapy as well as intensive support services from a young age.

I had severe developmental delays, and I may never have hit some milestones such as learning to talk or walk.

I have an intellectual disability or am totally nonverbal.

Life skills

I need someone to complete all ADLs for me - e.g. bathing, feeding, and dressing me.

I need someone else to complete all IADLs - e.g. shopping, cooking, budgeting - for me, and I am totally unaware these exist.

I need to live in residential care. I need a one-to-one carer at all times.

Language

I can speak only in single words or not at all. I may need to communicate in other ways such as symbol AAC or I may not be able to understand this either.

I likely am not able to read or write.

My understanding of language is poor or nonexistent.

there many disabilities (n other experiences n identities in general) only one system member have/be when you aka the whole system aka “body” no have [edit: ? idk what this mess of paragraph be but mean to say there many disabilities (n other experiences n identities in general) that only the whole system aka “body” can have n not only individual system members n not others]

your system member can’t be autistic unless whole system body brain everyone be autistic - symptom may present different for various system member but entire system be autistic

would even go on say again yes different system member can have different experiences n needs… but it rly uncomfortable as higher support need person talk to someone who call self HSN n later find out they mean they as system member in system that… not HSN

same with nonverbal - yes can have system members who do not speak but it rly uncomfortable as nonverbal person talk to someone who call self nonverbal too n only later find out they mean they as system member in a verbal system

esp there are high support need systems there are nonverbal systems

your system member not intellectually disabled / have intellectual disability unless whole system be it have it

your system member not “have” facial difference or limb difference unless you bodily have facial or limb difference… having it in headspace not same as living w it external

n to echo my Deaf friends, your system member not be Deaf unless whole system Deaf - can absolutely have system member who not able hear but Deaf be very specific meaning

(in similar vein your system member not “Asian” “Black” etc unless you actually be Asian or Black or etc aka whole system “bodily” etc however wanna call it)

like idk how better way say it (or not want hornet nest explode onto face) but like. some things need be Bodily. there whole meaning n specific experiences n reasons n basis n often culture behind words

well aware some system / members see self as fully separate whole peoples within system n may even complete amnesia every time but still following that logic n term n perspective it be very different from i guess living full time in body minds with that specific thing or systems who live in body minds w that specific thing.

I'm looking at you age regression community.

The amount of fucking times I've had to have the same conversations with ignorant ableists about minding their fucking business about how others cope without hurting a single fucking soul is appalling.

You are only hurting your own community, plus disabled people every time you claim people can't bring any gear outside.

I don't give a flying fuck if people are uncomfortable seeing that person in the emerge holding onto their dear stuffed friend. Mind your damn business. I don't care if you're uncomfortable seeing a sliver of someone's diaper for a single second as their shirt lifts up as they play basketball. Mind. Your. Damn. Business. I DON'T CARE if you're closed minded ignorant ass can't fathom seeing someone with a pacifier in their mouth at the mall. Mind your mother fuckin DAMN BUSINESS.

You have NO idea why someone might have certain gear out in public. And telling them to leave it behind closed doors is ableist no matter how you fucking twist it.

I don't think I've mentioned this here but I go mute decently often. It's a mixture of my body shutting down (mentally) and genuine disinterest in speaking. There's a reason I so strongly relate to the line "If you only listen with your ears, I can't get in." in The Mute by Radical Face. But I hardly, if ever, see mute characters aside from the "severely autistic non-verbal" sort of stereotype.

Side note: I prefer the term "mute" over "non-verbal", because "non-verbal", to me, makes it sound like I'm missing or have lost something. "Verbal" is the ideal and "non-verbal" is the odd one out, the anomaly, something "wrong".

But you don't have to have a mute character be autistic for them to be mute, and a disabled character doesn't have to explain the finer details of their disability (although it is advised that you, as the author, should know what is going on with your character). While mutism does primarily come from mental limitations, there are ways it can come from injuries. Damage to the trachea, esophagus, and mouth can cause speech differences or complete mutism. Brain damage can also affect speech; strokes, tumors, excessive drug use, et cetra.

Another note: Mutism and autism do not always go together. While it is true that plenty of autistic and otherwise neurodiverse folks may experience mutism, whether due to social anxiety or mental overwhelm or overstimulation, they do not always go hand in hand.

When looking up "mutism", you will find a lot of "how to fix it". Okay fine, "treat" it. As though it's something to overcome. And maybe for some people it is, that's okay. But overall there's this ableism against mutism that I feel goes unnoticed. If a kid doesn't start speaking at a certain age, they're considered slow or behind. To call someone non-verbal implies a certain level of mental state. This also ties into the ableism around deafness, because if deafness was more tolerated - that is, if sign language was more accepted and actually taught as a second language - mute people (and those who aren't deaf or mute!) would be learning sign language, and therefore be able to communicate more effectively. I took a singular ASL class in college because that was all that was accessible to me. I know enough to introduce myself and explain that I'm partly mute, but most of the time I use my notes app and body language. And most people are cool with that! Sign language is also admittedly difficult for me because my brain thinks in words. It thinks in poetry and lyrics, not movement. But I'm just one person with just one experience. I'm sure there's plenty others with more experience and knowledge than me.

- Think about its purpose. What do you plan to use it for? Always, or just sometimes? Is it just created for low tech or is it high tech too? Depending on what it's needed for you might want different words more easily accessible,

- Decide grid size based on the following: What you can see, your motor ability, and your overall processing. If you struggle with vision or tapping, a grid with less buttons might be better. If you don't have those issues, more buttons may be better. (But don't forget to not push it!)

- Design it based what you are already used to. For example, I always have My action buttons green because I am most used to them being green. I also always have My buttons organized alphabetically (when applicable) because otherwise it will confuse Me.

- If you are new to AAC, use a few practice boards for a little bit to see what you like. Many apps for high tech AAC have premade boards and there are lots of options for printable AAC boards for low tech, too! Learn what's best for you and go off that.

- For colours, go based off your vision ability. Bright colours personally hurt My eyes so I need more muted colours. Some people need higher contrasting colours, etc.

- Similar goes for symbols! Not all symbols work for everyone. In My case, I struggle to use a new symbol for a word once I am already used to a different symbol. This likely won't be as important to you if you rely more on text for word finding than symbols, but still good to note.

Sometimes though, it may just be easier to edit a pre-existing board than make a new one altogether. I have done that before and it's totally valid to do!

Most importantly though I will say: It will take time to get used to a board. It will probably feel uncomfortable for a little bit and you might want to start over. Those with even the highest communication abilities it will take a few months to get around it easily using it full-time. Though if you use your AAC board part time, are cognitively impaired/disabled (same), are intellectually disabled, have memory issues (same x2), or have any other condition that may affect navigating AAC, it will take longer, sometimes even years. Don't let that discourage you, though!