#non-verbal

so she spoke, and much tormented, divine Odysseus shivered

(Translation by me)

My boy...😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭like the first reaction was that he literally shivered/shuddered (ῥίγησεν). That reaction gets me every moment! Not gonna lie! It was an immediate, almost completely instinctual reaction of his body, upon hearing the news! And Homer managed to convey literally every single emotion the poor man could feel in a blink of an eye with just one verb!

Disbelief that after almost ten years of imprisonment to Calypso's isle and after years of abuse he cannot believe that she suddenly decided to let him go about his way

Relief that after so long he is finally able to go about his way.

Happiness that maybe, just maybe he has a chance, that the curse Polyphemus placed upon him was that he would finally return home to his loved ones instead of the dreadful scenario of him never seeing his home again

Fear that Calypso has a trap set for him or of the unknown that waits for him

Like...so many different emotions hiding within that simple non-verbal reaction! His shudder! I do not think that people talk about that enough! Not to mention that it is combined with the epithet πολύτλας "man of many torments" or "much tormented". All his torments...everything he has been through is simply summarized by that simple instinctual reaction! 😭😭😭which also seems to be in contrast when Calypso herself shudders upon hearing the news that the gods decided to let go of Odysseus, which is a reaction of a wide range of emotions too including frustration, sadness and fury but yeah!

I can FEEL his shiver! I can almost HEAR the way his breath probably quivered as he did! I can SEE the look on his face; that mixed feeling that I enlist above! Daresay the eyes that are STILL crying! And all that with just one single word of a verb describing a non-verbal and automatic reaction! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

You're still Autistic if you get most or all social cues.

You're still Autistic if noises and textures don't really bother you.

You're still Autistic if you get good grades, or don't need any/many accommodations.

You're still Autistic if your meltdowns are more like shutdowns, or they aren't "as bad" as you think they should be to count.

If you got the doctors note that says you're Autistic, then you are.

If you can't or don't want a diagnosis but still believe you're Autistic, that's totally valid too. It's scary out there, we don't know what crazy thing RFK is gonna say about Autism next, and I understand why you'd be wary.

To the Autistics that are non-verbal, semi-verbal or have verbal-shutdowns, you're not being rude-you're allowed to stay silent.

If you stim, good for you! That's not a bad thing-if people think its weird or bad, that's on them. Go ahead-flap your hands! Sing! Rock!

If you have large meltdowns, you're not a burden and whatever made you feel that way is a completely valid reason.

Autism is a spectrum and a different way the brain works, not a set of locked-in symptoms that need to be eradicated.

Happy Autism Acceptance Month.

Non-Verbal, Verbal, Hyperverbal

Semi-Verbal, Selective Mutism, Verbal-Flux

Choice Verbal and Demi-Verbal

Flags 1 and Flags 2

for context when I'm upset I'll go non-verbal and will not talk, especially if I'm age regressed. I can for days and days nonverbal not talking, I will use images and emojis to talk.

So I made these with inspo from something on Pinterest, to help with that!

Please don't repost these or use these!! If needed I can give you what inspired me! (If I saved it lol)

Seperated images undercut

My landlady's grandson is autistic and non-verbal and his family isn't really dealing with it well. I'm also autistic (they don't know that) but don't use any of these but I think he could benefit from something like this and I want to suggest it to the family.

I don't want to seem like I'm just some stranger telling them what to do with their kid but I want to help him. So I'm trying to do some more research.

I wish to know as much as I can about writing non-verbal characters, as there will be several in my graphic novel. I am and will continue to do my own research, but any tidbit of general or specific input is greatly appreciated!! ^_^

I will add some detail about the character I am making for a side project right now, in case that helps:

So far, I know this character will be a food artist, likely a non-binary femme, East Asian, a hot fat person, bisexual, autistic, kind-hearted, and a user of at least some sign language.

They are one of many romantic interests for the main character in this series, and they will end up happily getting together with the main character (along with pretty much all the other romantic interests in a big big polycule)!

It is a very light-hearted horror-comedy in the style of a cooking manga/harem anime/school otome game. All the characters go to a ridiculously specific cooking college that offers majors like Dinner Theater.

This person is majoring in Art at their cooking college, and they create beautiful edible creations!

(Also, they are an adult, and they will NOT be infantilized by the narrative! They do NOT become verbal in the narrative, nor is this a goal they wish to pursue. They are accepted and accomodated as they are!!!)

I am a physically disabled autistic person, but I am verbal, and so I care very much about hearing firsthand what non-verbal people wish to see in a character that makes them feel proud and seen!