As a Person With Autism, I Spend Lots of Time Studying, Attending Class — and Explaining That I Am Not Deaf
December 28, 2017
By: Jordyn Zimmerman
Source: The Hechinger Report
Have you ever tried having a conversation with someone on campus, when they hesitantly and ever-so-awkwardly start signing to you? Or have you ever asked another student a question and had them respond to you in writing?
When I think of these experiences, I always laugh at how uninformed people are about individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
My AAC device is an iPad. As I told readers in a previous Hechinger Report article, I experienced a communication breakthrough at age 18 when I began using the iPad and was finally able to express my personal thoughts and share what I know. I had previously been unable to express most of my thoughts verbally. Many professionals, such as teachers and doctors, were unable to see how intelligent I was…