The Spellers' Holiday Guide

Joe: The holidays are hard. Other family who don’t see us are often around. Sometimes those people think we are different than we are. I mean they don’t know me like my real support system does. 

Christopher: Always spelling for new people is nervous. A person might not get it. Like my family has been great and it still feels high stakes to spell in front of them. 

Jack: I think how families treat autistic family members is really important. It is important to talk to us in an age appropriate way. Lots of people talk down to me like I am young but I am a grown adult and am interested in the things other young adults are interested in. 

Maude: That is a good point but I think it happens even more to me because I am a girl. It makes me feel helpless. Just having a way to show my maturity is important. By typing my words I can show who I really am to those who want to listen. 

Christopher: A helpful thing to remember Is that we are always listening. 

Joe: Listening and understanding. Some people in my family talk about me like I am deaf. It is hard to be around those people. 

Jack: I hope people will read these thoughts and consider their behavior around those who are different. 

Dylan: I am grateful my immediate family is supportive but holidays make me self conscious. Others are there who don’t know how to act around me. 

Rose: That is why this discussion is great. Some people don’t know to act like you would around anyone else. Even though it will take me longer to respond and I won’t use my speaking voice I can still respond and I want to be part of the conversation. 

Maude: Yes and also people should talk to us and not about us. Even when people are nice, it goes to my heart when someone talks like I can’t understand. 

Joe: That is a good thing for people to get. I feel like some people hear it a hundred times and still don’t get it. 

Jack: I think that is why it is so important for us to do things like this. We can be the best advocates for the whole spelling community. 

Dylan: Yes we are the best ones to advocate because we are the ones living it. 

Rose: I agree. I love that I am a part of a community of spellers and also a part of the global spelling community. 

Maude: The mind of the world needs adjusting. Others need to learn that there is more to autism than most NT (neurotypical) people can understand. 

Joe: I think people can understand that there is so much they don’t understand. That is it. Just don’t assume you get it.

Jack: I agree. I think the more we share each of our voices, we can make the whole world more in tune.