Samich

Flamberge: She was injured in a fight! Of course I'd give her attention!

Zan Partizanne: I was injured in that battle too.

The big idea in society is that if word disable, if have problem mouth word or write or general communicate, no have thing say. If no can use word "good normal", no understand words at all. This not true, but this what people no disable think.

But, when people no think this, when try to show support people word disable, hurt in other way.

Lot time, in space for disable people but no specifically people big word disable, Frog is see idea of person with little or no mouth word, who "trapped inside own head". Who, once have good way communicate other than mouth words, have so much to express. So many words that stuck in head that now can use. Now that can communicate, can sound "normal" or close normal.

Or, see internet talk about people who, have little or no mouth word, and no can write or use AAC to sound "normal" too. And is talk of as "horrible bad bad tragedy", that no have way use words. But still, see idea express that have words inside head that "good" that "normal". And is sad because no can share the good words.

Is one or other. People word problem have no words in head at all, have no to say. So no listen to them. Or, people word problem have lot words in head, all perfect, and only problem is how get word out head. So listen- when sound good perfect.

This no real life for lot people.

Frog think how Frog write. Simple word, little grammar. Frog no have word trap inside head that no can use outside. For Frog, all word like this. And Frog have lot say! Frog like use word- they hard, they no good perfect normal, but that okay.

Frog word no trap inside head. Are out in word, people can see! But only if people look. If people no ignore Frog, because word no are perfect.

Frog word no trap because Frog. Frog word trap because people no care.

uhh idk, i haven’t seen a lot of suggestion posts for what buttons to add to your AAC so i made one. here are my suggestions for super basic buttons

GENERAL

- hello, goodbye

- yes, no, maybe, i don’t know

- sorry, (it’s) okay, please, thank you

- who, what, where, when, why, how

- like, dislike, love, hate

- this, that

- up to you

- by the way

- excuse me

- is that okay?

- what’s up?

- i don’t think so

- do you have any ideas?

- what were you going to say?

- what do you mean?

- i need help please

add an acknowledgment section for phrases that show you’re acknowledging what people have to say (oh, yeah, that’s interesting, cool, etc.)

ADVOCACY

- i don’t like this/that

- that’s not okay

- that’s a slur

- thats transphobic/homophobic/racist/sexist/ableist/etc.

- that’s rude/fucked up

- intended or not, you’re being rude

- it’s ableist to take away someone’s communication device, either by force, or by asking them to stop using it.

- autism is not an intellectual disability, it’s a neurodevelopmental disability, it can come with commorbid intellectual disabilities, but that isn’t inherent

- no, not everyone is, quote unquote, on the spectrum, autism is a serious disability, not everyone has it.

AAC

- i’m having a verbal shutdown (depends on the user)

- i don’t want to verbalize right now (depends on the user)

- AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication

- AAC is for anyone who needs or wants to use it

- i use AAC for/to/because… (depends on user)

- i would describe myself as [verbality label such as nonverbal, semi-verbal, verbalflux, selectively mute, etc]

- your verbality label and its definition

- please don’t look at my screen while i’m talking without asking

- please don’t talk on my behalf

- i am using buttons right now instead of typing, so i may be slower than normal

- sorry, i’m still typing

- please be patient

- my device needs to be charged so i can speak

People always talk about it with ADHD, and I always hear people being grateful that their executive dysfunction is fixed with meds.

I cannot be fixed.

And executive dysfunction isn’t just the “Go go chemical” that allows you to get started/follow through on projects, it also impacts your ability to organize thoughts, make plans, prioritize tasks, manage time, and make decisions.

I cannot get out of bed. It has been four hours since I woke up. Meds will not fix this.

I cannot do chores. I must be prompted. Meds will not fix this.

I cannot make plans. I’m autistic and NEED plans, but I can’t make them. Meds will not fix this.

I cannot think straight. Every thought echoes in my head with no conclusion. Meds will not fix this.

I cannot make decisions. People ask me things and my brain goes blank. Meds will not fix this.

can be made platonic if

you try hard enough

i go to a local pride center with some small hangout groups and I noticed recently that there aren't a whole lot of transfems there. there ARE transfems and trans women, but compared to the trans mascs and men as well as nonbinary people there aren't all that many of them. I asked one of my friends, who is a trans woman who always comes to the center itself to hang out but not to the groups as much as she used to, why she thought that was. and she told me it was because she feels a bit like the group at large wouldn't get it if she talked about transfem-specific things because they're mostly not transfem. so I started asking my other transfem friends, only three of whom actually go to the groups, and that seemed to be the general consensus. I also heard from a lot of them that they would invite a transfem friend who would come with them, go to the group, and then not come back because they felt a little lonely without more other transfems. it wasn't that they were actively discouraged by anyone from participating or from sharing their experiences, or even just that they felt they wouldn't be understood--a lot of it was simply "I don't see that many people like me in a space where I thought there would be."

so one of my friends and I got together with one of the coordinators at the center, and we decided to set up a Transfem Appreciation Night. we asked all our friends to invite any of their transfem friends as well to share and hang out with others.

and it went great! we set up two specific groups: one was Transfem Support, transfems only (including nonbinary, bigender, agabless transfems as well as trans women) and the other was for everyone, with the focus on transfems (people would share their transfem experiences and would then be asked if they were open to questions or comments. some people vented, some shared transitioning stories, some simply talked about their daily lives or their dogs). we had these cute cupcakes with the transfem flag on them and lots of tea, and I heard a lot of really cool speeches from transfems. as the night ended, we had people going around with a survey, asking all the people who came if they felt that this was a safe space for transfems, how the event made them feel, and if they thought they would be coming back in the future.

and it did exactly what we hoped. we got a lot of responses saying that they'd come once, felt lonely, and left, but that the event had changed their minds and they wanted to give it another go. we had all kinds of transfems sharing their experiences with people listening attentively and respectfully. we also got a bunch of suggestions for how to improve the groups, like adding Intersex Transfem, Black Transfem, and Indigenous Transfem support groups. the event was a few weeks ago, and since then, every time I go to group at least half the group is transfems. and the transfems who come to group talk and actively participate in the discussion and laugh and have fun and get to share in the community that is for them.