Response to Kripke-Ludwig re: “Including Speaking and Nonspeaking Autistic Voice in Research”

Thank you for sharing your feedback ¹ on my Perspective piece titled, “Including Speaking and Nonspeaking Autistic Voice in Research.” ²

In this piece I invite readers to contemplate ableist norms that equate speaking voice with rational voice, where ableism often protects narrow and one-sided rules and expectations regarding legitimate forms of communication. I also encourage nonautistic readers to reflect on their own listening practices and consider how these might affect the inclusion of speaking and nonspeaking voice and essentially the acceptance of other ways of being in the world.

I advocate that communication is a shared responsibility between both listeners and speakers and suggest that through the practice of ethical listening, opportunity exists for listeners to open themselves up to unique representations of human knowledge and experience that are outside of spoken words. As you have described, I do not mean to suggest that nonspeaking voice is exclusively made up of “patterns of sound, gesture, movement, and silence” or that augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) replaces all native language of minimally or nonspeaking people. Instead, I defend that autistic voice is a self-identified mode of expression, which may include speaking and nonspeaking patterns of sound, gesture, movement, and silence. ¹ Although I did not discuss the arts in my original article, painting, drawing, and other expressionistic forms ought to be considered in our discussion of alternative forms of legitimate autistic communication; a position that appears to align with your literary suggestions on the topic of communication alternatives.

In summary, I do not argue for researchers to focus on interpreting the body language of nonspeaking autistic individuals. Instead, I encourage researchers to pause and reflect on how their own listening practices lead to the muting or exclusion of autistic voice in research. In addition, I urge researchers to take responsibility for improving research practices that acknowledge and respect multiple forms of autistic communication.