Wordy Words

For the kids who can hold a book and turn the pages, watching a movie that animates the book is an easy activity that helps with reading skills. This only works for the versions of the movie that follow along with the book. Scholastic sells many children’s books that come with a DVD.  You may also be able to get some at your local library.

If your child is unable to hold a book, but can watch TV, consider turning on the subtitle feature on your streaming services.  Even kids who were previously non-speaking* have developed the ability to spell out their thoughts or use communication devices with a combination of words and pictures…it’s worth a try to see if they might enjoy having the words written on the screen.

*Non-Speaking v Non-Verbal

I’m not a fan of speech police…you won’t find me telling you which words to use and not use.  Some members of our special community refer to themselves as autistic proudly, as well they should.  I have heard neurotypical people scolding others that they should be using ‘person-centric’ language, meaning we should be saying ‘people with autism’ as opposed to autistic person. Across the English language, we put adjectives first.  We don’t say, “I’d like the ball that is blue.” We say, “I’d like the blue ball.”  Putting the word autistic before person does not imply that you think the person you’re speaking about is less human…just like putting the word blue before ball doesn’t mean you think the ball is less of a ball.

So, in a rare moment, I want to share with you why I choose to say non-speaking as opposed to non-verbal. Before Mikey was in preschool, he could not say words.  One night, he was in the bath and he took some foam letters and put the word C-O-W on the wall of the bathtub. I freaked out! I was so excited!  Michael was verbal. He heard words and understood them. He could not speak those words (yet), and up until that very moment, he couldn’t spell the words…but he wasn’t non-verbal. 

The truth is, we can’t be sure what is happening inside our kids’ heads.  I respectfully ask you to hold the possibility that your child may be verbal, but non-speaking.  As is my general rule, I don’t think we need to challenge everyone else on the language they choose, but in this instance, I wanted you to know why I chose the words I did.  I hope it can help to reframe the way we see those who do not speak. They may have so much more going on in their beautiful minds than they can express.

Or as Dr Suess Might Say

Maybe words that are spoken share things that we know,

But maybe not EVERYTHING we think we can show.