Sam talks about autism and communication
Communication as an autistic person can come with many challenges, more so when spoken language isn't always possible.
As a late diagnosed autistic person, I often wondered, pre diagnosis, why did I lose my ability to use spoken language during times of heightened stress, conflict, mental illness, or in busy environments. It was incredibly frustrating, but I just could not get the words in my head to make a sound out of my mouth. Often when this happened people would become hostile towards me which only aggravated my inability to speak.
It was only when I received my autism diagnosis in 2020 that my communication styles made sense to me. I wasn't trying to be difficult but my brain was just wired differently and so it affects the way I communicate.
During my life I have used a variety of ways to communicate, and I think it would be helpful if I share some of the ones that have helped me to get across the words, I was unable to speak.
As a starting point, spoken language is my preferred method of communication day to day. It is the way I will communicate most of my thoughts, wants and needs. I find it effective the majority of the time but there are times when what I say can be taken out of context. Sometimes what I am saying can come across as rude or blunt but truthfully, I don't mean to be. As a society I think neurotypical people don't always 'say it as it is' and can try to sugar coat what they are trying to say, whereas neurodivergent people can often say it more directly.
In my view, there is a lot of unpicking needing to happen when having conversations with neurotypical people because they don't always say what they mean. From my own experience this can become exhausting and can drain my social battery. Usually, I find it much easier to talk to other neurodivergent people because spoken conversations are less likely to have sentences that need to be unpicked for their true meaning. Misinterpretation can cause some hostility within a conversation but to minimise any potential conflict I think it's important to be curious and ask for clarification if you need it.
Another main way that I communicate is through artwork and poetry. My artwork mostly communicates my struggles and what is going on in my head. During 2023 there was a prolonged period of time where I was nonspeaking, but I had an intense need to communicate. It was through art that I was able to communicate my difficulties. The 'dark and disturbing' artwork had a much deeper meaning and reflected what I was experiencing inside my head. It was a way to communicate with family and health professionals so that I received the correct help and support whilst being nonspeaking. My artwork gave me some relief during a time where I felt incredibly isolated due to being nonspeaking.
During times of high stress or mental illness I will use my Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) cards. These have been made by myself to allow me to get across my wants or needs whilst I am in a difficult situation. These have been very effective for family, friends and professionals as they are easy to interpret and clearly show what I need to communicate.
One form of communication that didn't work for me was a text to speak app. Although it allowed my family and myself to hear a voice to express my thoughts it didn't work for us. I understand that some of the autistic community find the text to speak apps really beneficial, however, they just didn't work for me. Sometimes with communication we have to try a variety of formats to find what suits us as an individual. There are so many different ways to communicate, even by body movements, blinking, Makaton, the list could go on, so if you try one and it doesn't work, there are lots of others that can be trialled.
Everywhere I go I carry a pen and paper because I don't know if a situation will arise where I will enter shutdown, thus impacting my ability to use spoken language. In the past, when I haven't had access to a pen and paper, I have used my phone to type what I would have written on paper. This is a fairly quick and direct way of seeking support, especially if I wasn't prepared for a stressful environment.
Since having the correct support in place from The Autism Wellbeing Project I haven't had to use a pen and paper to communicate my needs for a long time. I have found that my confidence with speaking in front of people has improved but I also know that if a time came where I needed to use a different communication style, this would not hinder the support I receive. Everyone's voice deserves to be heard, no matter what communication style they use. It is about adapting the environment and making reasonable adjustments so that every individual can communicate in their preferred way, effectively and not hindered due to time constraints or not being given the tools they need to express themselves.
