Autism Acceptance Month 2024

Welcome to the Land of Autistic Communication

Mountains of Echolalia

Echolalia is the process of repeating words or sounds (without someone else asking you to).

For example, song lyrics, single words, lines from movies or television, and non-word noises or sounds.

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Full time AAC town

Some autistic people cannot or do not use spoken language to communicate.

They can then use different forms of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), for example symbol or text based apps, communication boards, sign language or other methods of speaking.

Archipelago of Speech

Many autistic people exist in the space between nonspeaking and fully speaking. These islands cover some of the space between nonspeaking and fully speaking.

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Scripting Loch

Scripting refers to planned-out language — it could be an essential conversation, a calming monologue, or an in-joke! These scripts can be elaborate or simple, phrases rehearsed and memorized, or mental notes and bullet points.

A Literal Forest

Autistic people tend to interpret language word-for-word, in a literal way. They don’t automatically understand what’s implied, only what’s actually said. They can often find it difficult to consider context or interpret hidden meaning.

Non-Linear Stream

Autistic people think and process information in their own way.
Because of how their brain is wired, their thought process often seems non-linear, and they can seem to “take the long way around” to their point when they talk.

River of Directness

Many autistic people find implications, hints, and assumptions challenging to interpret. They tend to be more direct in their communication, use less subtlety or coded language, and speak bluntly.

Part-Time AAC Path

Some autistic people use spoken language sometimes, or even most times, but not always. They might use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) when speech is not the best option for them.

Processing Time Glacier

Because of the amount of information the autistic brain absorbs and the way the connections in the brain work, autistic people often need extra time to process information and to respond.

Meadows of Vocal Stims

Vocal stimming is when somebody is stimming by making different sounds with their mouth or throat, grunting, singing songs, or saying comforting words or phrases.

Situational Mutism Cove

Situational mutism, also known as selective mutism, happens when a person’s anxiety response prevents them from speaking, even if they want to.

Hills of Verbal Loops

Some autistic people repeat themselves with the exact words, or repeat the same thought with varied phrasing. They may have no idea they’ve been repeating themselves.