The Lunch Squad

Hi!

We would love to see:

All sorts of AAC methods (high tech, low tech, and no tech)

Disabilities other than "functionally abled but magically just can't speak", like cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, language processing disorders, situational mutism, apraxia, etc.

On that note, if your character can't speak because their tongue got cut out, which seems to be the major reason to have a nonspeaking character in fiction, that will affect their quality of life in a lot of ways other than being unable to speak. Commit to actually portraying that, please. Or just pick another reason they don't speak!

Fewer characters who are hearing and use sign language. Not that it never happens, but it makes up the vast majority of sign language representation in fiction and pop culture, despite being a very small percentage of actual signers in real life.

If you want a signing character, please consider making a Deaf character! (Think about how easy it is if you already have a character translating what your signing character is saying: just have them interpret spoken language too. You're now like 3/4 of the way to having solid Deaf representation.)

Nonverbal characters who are physically capable of making noise, like grunting, laughing, squealing, etc. even though they can't actually speak. These sounds can be communicative or non-communicative.

Or using echolalia, accidental mouth words, or other non-communicative speech in the case of autistic or intellectually disabled characters!

nonverbal nonspeaking characters with other nonverbal nonspeaking friends! who nonverbal nonspeaking bc similar disability but similar n different experiences ! different disability (maybe VASTLY different disability) but also with similar experiences!!

AAC learning curve! most people won’t be able pick up any AAC & be instantly fluent in it. this may be possible for people w already good cognitive & language & motor abilities & already literate n using spelling / typing based AAC, but that not majority of AAC users, & especially not if we talk abt symbol based AAC, which person just described will still take a long while to learn to comfortably use & see as own voice. and, plus, lots of disability that cause people to need AAC, often also impact AAC use, like intellectual / cognitive abilities, language abilities, motor abilities, visual, illiterate or learning to read learning language, etc.

wider variety of high tech AAC! text based & symbol based, but also like switches! scanning! eyegaze / eye tracking! head tracking! etc!

characters where cannot communicate independently or AAC not perfect fix! need communication partners, need partner explain what they communicating to others, need them explain things to self, need prompting, need modeling, etc. or cannot make grammatically correct sentences with good social back n forth exchange no matter communication method. or cannot communicate with language at all. or AAC too slow to use n get frustrated n refuse to use, etc.

in general more realistic details of nonverbal nonspeaking experiences! AAC taking time, not being perfectly understood, charging device, other symptoms of disability that also cause nonverbal nonspeaking, etc. like AHA can still communicate with my mouth full take that!!! but alas can’t when hands dirty or full or occupied (if use direct access via fingers) n can only vaguely gesture n noise. or eye gaze AAC struggling under bright sun or low light, etc.

^ & especially nonverbal nonspeaking joy! AAC joy!

& intersectionabilities! like a nonverbal nonspeaking character who come out as trans by change their voice on AAC ;)

accidentally made it half abt AAC, but also: nonverbal nonspeaking experiences beyond AAC!!!!!

is not rude for have nonverbal characters what communicate different even when use AAC.

can see here from how Radio type is not use all 'good grammar' english and is okay.

same with have nonverbal character also have problems understand language. Need short sentences, slower talking, simple language.

also (for nonverbal bc autism) echolalia what is communicative & not communicative. Sometimes Radio say (with mouth voice) echolalia because want say something. (Point @ friend cat & say 'buh-buh' because want 2 say 'look your cat is over there.' But sometimes say 'pockit' because reach into pocket for something and say on accident/not mean to.)

also also not unrealistic for language ability change in short time (hours/days), especially if have disability what makes symptoms up & down.

Aroace + snakes + snails for the anon!!

Behold, Raven!

Baby Raven just beginning to experiment with androgyny vs Big Raven who says ‘fuck off’ to people who believe all nonbinary people owe you androgyny.