Group Discussion: How has your life changed since you've had access to communication?

Joe: My life makes me so happy now in ways I could never have imagined before. I am happy now because I have agency over my life. This agency is because I can now communicate. I loved learning how to spell. I mean building the neural motor pathways that let me untangle the messages that go between my brain and body. I have always had full thought and language. Before when I had no way to express it I felt so frustrated and alone.

Alex D.: I had similar feelings. Having no way to communicate my thoughts was so isolating. Imagine waking up with no voice. My voice does not cooperate with my mind. My body does not either. Thought is locked inside. By practice and hard work I learned to spell on a letterboard. My life has never been the same.

Rose: I may cry sharing this. I was so deeply sad before spelling. I loved my family but they did not know me. I was a stranger to all people. I am better now. I feel in control of my life now. It is like sunshine after all darkness. It is hope and love and connection. I am free now I can share my mind.

Jack: Happy to hear how similar our experiences are. Sunshine after darkness is exactly how it feels. I have always done enough talking to make my point. Like if Mom asks if I want pizza or pasta I can choose, but that is the limit of my accurate speech. Now there is no limit.

Maudey: I am so glad we are talking about this. It is important. It is great we can all communicate now but it is important to state how traumatizing it is to be trapped in your body. We all lived like that for so long.

Alex D.: That is so true. And it has impacts even now. Always grateful but man do I wish I had access to communication earlier. I am passionate about speller advocacy for exactly that reason. It is good to think that parents of other autists can read this and help their kid learn to spell, and that my autist friends and I can help make that happen.

Joe: That is my feeling too. It is why our struggle can be worthwhile. I really have hope this project can help others. It is my goal to help people learn the truth of us. We are in thought the same as anyone we just say it differently.

Rose: Yes to all this. We can make the lives of others so much better by sharing our stories. No one should have to live without communication.

Maudey: That is a good way to look at it. The struggles we faced can help the whole world open their eyes.

Jack: I love these conversations. It is like a wave of love to know you all understand what I have been through and to understand your journey too. Our community keeps getting bigger and it is all love.

Christopher: Wow you all have such powerful thoughts. I really felt what Rose said about sadness. I was so sad my family did not really know me before even though there was only love between us they did not know my mind until I learned to spell. One thing I love now is making my mom laugh with the things I spell. I love that they know I am funny. I am glad they know who I am because I can share my soul now.