Choosing to go Semi Verbal

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And the progress just keeps going. I asked my roommate today what it's like for him when I write/type instead of talk, and he said he kind of likes it because it takes the pressure off him to constantly be coming up with things to say. He's an extrovert and likes to talk, but has some difficulty with social skills too (he's not autistic, he has cerebral palsy). He gets super anxious when he feels like we "should" be having a conversation in order to conform to social norms, but neither of us can think of anything to say.

My new lifestyle isn't just benefiting me, it's helping those around me too

That is so awesome, StarTrekker.

I wish there was less stigma attached to using aides like Braille, closed captioning, AAC, walking sticks, etc. I know many people who doubt themselves if they are visually, hearing, or mobility impaired "enough" to qualify for aides. If you struggle, it's enough. Not to mention that these aides help with many more issues than most people think. For example, you do not need to have hearing loss to benefit from closed captioning.

That is very true. I find closed captioning helpful because often the dialogue blurs together and I have trouble understanding it. I should start using it more often. It is sad that there’s such a stigma attached to mobility and sensory aids (hearing aids, AAC, Braille,etc.) especially for younger people. In the US at least, the attitude seems to be that you should hold on to normalcy for as long as you can, no matter the cost. That can be so damaging to people.

When I was a kid and received 504 supports at school, I was so embarrassed by them because they marked me as different. I just wanted to be like everyone else, so I dropped them in ninth grade when I finally had a say in my support plan, and I can see now that that was a mistake. Needless to say after I got my diagnosis, I got them back for use at university.

I mentioned previously that I was anxious about introducing the AAC/writing idea to my family because I wasn't sure how they'd take it. I emailed my dad about it today, told him what I was doing and why, and asked what he thought about it. Honestly his response was amazing. He said, "I love the idea, nothing wrong with being a little different. If it helps you, great. And generally speaking, the kind of people with whom you would want to have regular interactions (on any level) will relish the confident individuality, the "vulnerability", and the honesty. All of these are good things in the eyes of good people. And the others, well ***k 'em, and you can tell them I said so."

I'm so lucky, because I know many people whose parents would dismiss them and tell them they're being absurd or silly, but to get that kind of support from my dad means everything to me.

Your dad sounds very cool. I am so glad that this is going so well for you, StarTrekker.

Hi startrekker,

I've been reading your updates on this topic with great interest. Since you haven't posted any new experiences, how is it going? Still using AAC, only having positive reactions?

Keep us updated!

Yes and yes, I have yet to have a negative encounter with anyone while using it. Somewhat amusingly, a cashier at a fast food place I visited assumed I was deaf. He turned the computer screen around to show me the price instead of telling me, and shouted "Thanks!" really loudly as I left... as if that would help if I were actually deaf!

I'm really noticing a difference in how much faster I can get my thoughts out using AAC than I can while speaking. My speech tends to be slow and laboured, and I'll pause in the middle of my sentences for up to 30 seconds or more as I try to find my next word, or piece together the tail end of the sentence (which ironically usually causes me to forget what the beginning of the sentence was!) I can access my words so much easier when writing, I don't forget what I was saying, and I can organise my thoughts far more coherently. It's working really well.

I'm considering getting a sticker or something for my boogie board that says something to the effect of, "I'm not deaf; I'm just not speaking right now. I can hear you" because yesterday was the second time a restaurant employee assumed I couldn't hear. She asked if I could sign, and I wrote that I can't, but that I can hear and am not deaf. I do want to learn ASL, I'm thinking about taking a course at my local community college in the summer.

I am glad to hear your experience with semi-verbalism is still going so well. Please keep us all informed about your adventures!