![🐟 Review after a hiatus so long you could fill a river between two points in time. I got this pocketbook from Iris, an autistic poet and scholar I really respect. This article was translated into Indonesian and will be featured in @iwecpublishing 's upcoming children's literature magazine.
🐳🪼 #BookReview #BooksOfInstagram
Recently the word ‘autistic’ has risen in derogatory usage among Gen Z and Gen Alpha culture; people have also started adopting the word ‘acoustic’ as a slur, a deliberate mispronunciation of autistic without any synonymous connection to the word. This word is often used to call someone, whether they may be autistic or not, who “says/does something ridiculously stupid or ignorant” (Urban Dictionary, 2016) or who appears or behaves ‘differently’ from most neurotypical people. Even though some may say these are ‘just’ words, we have witnessed from many news reports that word choice regarding numerous world crises shapes our perception of who to side with and who to oppose. Language tints how we view the world, and it is also who to equip the most humanity with.
Inclusion begins with precise, yet sensitive understanding and employment of language. Because of that, effective communication with all groups of people is pertinent. IS THAT CLEAR? (2020) by language experts Zanne Gaynor and Kathryn Alevizos and autism consultant Joe Butler is a practical guidebook which urges neurotypical people to reexamine the way they’ve been interacting with neurodiverse, particularly autistic, people. From verbal and written communication, visual aids, online conversations, to presentations, this book provides useful, applicable tips on how to navigate better interactions in multiple social situations. Past the desired respect we should afford every living being, we need to rethink our methods of using language in our daily conversations more carefully—not policing or surveilling in oppressive manners—but by being reflective, mindful. Language is always a tricky element to navigate and wield in this world, but as Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) once said: "There are as many languages as there are people in the world."
[continued in the comments]](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/682622600_18096943913276899_6972160673075211746_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_p1170x1170_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ig_cache_key=Mzg4NTk3NTc1OTE5NDYzMTQ1NQ%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkZFRUQueHBpZHMuMTM1MC5zZHIucmVndWxhcl9waG90by5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=veli2vkAWngQ7kNvwFruQuM&_nc_oc=AdpaZB9nuNKX0374K9-4jWhWdaa1v4NEbB-DkC1RKlwmjzL2cReAFSe7cbBPGw1d0ODM1PFbY2-900jzLMXE_Eb1&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=ctCKI3zm5gdhR70UJ0_YAQ&_nc_ss=70580&oh=00_AQSS_bc-CvN1DorzfgjPoK8E8YLfcl7pqNitSkMe--ISfw&oe=6AF2B827)
🐳🪼 #BookReview #BooksOfInstagram
Recently the word ‘autistic’ has risen in derogatory usage among Gen Z and Gen Alpha culture; people have also started adopting the word ‘acoustic’ as a slur, a deliberate mispronunciation of autistic without any synonymous connection to the word. This word is often used to call someone, whether they may be autistic or not, who “says/does something ridiculously stupid or ignorant” (Urban Dictionary, 2016) or who appears or behaves ‘differently’ from most neurotypical people. Even though some may say these are ‘just’ words, we have witnessed from many news reports that word choice regarding numerous world crises shapes our perception of who to side with and who to oppose. Language tints how we view the world, and it is also who to equip the most humanity with.
Inclusion begins with precise, yet sensitive understanding and employment of language. Because of that, effective communication with all groups of people is pertinent. IS THAT CLEAR? (2020) by language experts Zanne Gaynor and Kathryn Alevizos and autism consultant Joe Butler is a practical guidebook which urges neurotypical people to reexamine the way they’ve been interacting with neurodiverse, particularly autistic, people. From verbal and written communication, visual aids, online conversations, to presentations, this book provides useful, applicable tips on how to navigate better interactions in multiple social situations. Past the desired respect we should afford every living being, we need to rethink our methods of using language in our daily conversations more carefully—not policing or surveilling in oppressive manners—but by being reflective, mindful. Language is always a tricky element to navigate and wield in this world, but as Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) once said: "There are as many languages as there are people in the world."
[continued in the comments]
6 months agosilkcuttofu
[2/2] Why must we care about how we communicate with autistic people? For starters, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1 in 127 people in the world is autistic, although numbers are expected to be higher as it does not include those who have not been diagnosed. Based on those statistics, we encounter more autistic people than we realise. From my experience in teaching—despite not teaching exclusively autistic children, but a diverse assembly of neurotypical and neurodiverse students—I have found these communication tips have also helped me interact with my non-autistic students more effectively and connect with them better. Moreover, learning how to communicate more mindfully with diverse bodyminds will end up opening up worlds of connection that we hadn’t accessed before.
6 months agosilkcuttofu
[1/2] Do our phrasings engender double interpretations? Are we specific with the information that we need? Are we using too many filler words or figurative language? Being aware of surrounding noise, activities, sensory stimulants which can be overwhelming and distracting for autistic people. Changing demands into softer ways which open space and time for them to consider, self-regulate and make decisions without feeling forced into corners. In an interaction, what matters first is not our initial intentions, but rather the effect(s) those methods have affected upon the recipient. Most importantly, we must remember that engagement with autistic people doesn’t render our conversations devoid of humour, meandering pace, or tangential topics. In the first few conversations, the key is to value different identities and bodymind capacities, to stay curious and learn about each other (after all, what is learning if not a sign of love?). Then you (plural) might have begun to map out a dynamic that works and includes both sides!
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