hey, as April is autism month and I am autistic...
Autistic characters in and around Aros Against Fate:
Daanah: she/her; 15 when the story begins; main character through all 3 books; level 1, low support needs, speaking; has a service dog
Zhe'Ärani (for intimates)/Ć i Arroakhai KjĂș (for others): she/her or they/them; 17 when the story begins; main character through all 3 books; level 1, low support needs, usually speaking (typically signs, as she is Deaf) but experiences speech loss under stress
Sei: she/her; approximately 18 when the story begins; main character through books 2 and 3; level 3, high support needs, nonverbal; has comorbid borderline intellectual disability; has two professional caregivers, uses a high-tech AAC tablet, uses a gait trainer or a posterior walking frame
TalĂ: they/them (or others with people they're close with); 15 when the story begins; Daanah's best friend and other main character Halek's younger sibling; level 1, low support needs, speaking; uses incontinence pads, needs some accommodations at school but only gets them with certain teachers
LÄ«s: he/him at first and eventually he/they/she/xe/fae; approximately 17 when the story begins; Zhe'Ärani's close friend; level 2, medium support needs, speaking but has selective mutism; doesn't have official carers but his friends help him with most IADLs and he is suffering a lot from not having as much support as he needs with personal grooming
Roo: she/her; almost 13 when the story begins; Halek's younger sister; level 2, high support needs (rendered more complex by her moderate-to-severe physical disabilities), nonverbal; uses a high-tech symbol-based AAC tablet and is cared for by her family members in regards to IADLs and most BADLs
MĂĂșren: she/her; in her 50s; Halekâs mother; level 1, lower support needs (as a baseline with regards to her autism, though her overall support needs become temporarily higher when she is experiencing a particularly bad chronic illness flare up or a bad mood episode or bad psychotic episode), speaking; has informal/semi-formalized accommodations at work with her coworkers and direct supervisors and any students/lab assistants/research assistants who join the team
Juni: ze/hir; in hir 80s; Halekâs maternal grandkether (part of his household); level 1, low support needs, verbal
Saujei: she/her; middle aged; Halekâs maternal aunt (part of his household); level 3, very high support needs, no language use and very minimal language understanding; has profound intellectual disability; cared for by her family members at home and by professionals at the day program she attends, uses multiple types of mobility aids including an adaptive stroller
Retmiq: he/him; 19; another Initiate at the same Temple as ZheâÄrani; level 1, low support needs, speaking
Ghurvi'airra: she/her; around 17; one of ZheâÄraniâs best friends from home
ÄvolĂș: they/them; around 17; one of ZheâÄraniâs best friends from home
Ektanai: they/it; 19; Halekâs friend & former cellmate; level 1, low support needs, speaking
Luivo: variously, he/they/she; Halekâs step-cousin; around 17 when the story begins; level 3, high support needs, nonverbal; has severe intellectual disability; cared for by family members, uses pictures including their own art to aid in communication from both sides, attends a weekly art program for cognitively disabled teens and a daily social & respite care program for autistic youth in the afternoons
Amadi: they/them; Halekâs friend; adult; level 2, lower support needs, nonverbal; uses a high-tech AAC
ElĂšrĂ: he/him; immortal + very old; associated with Halekâs family; level 1, verbal
Reika: she/her; Saujeiâs best friend; level 3, high support needs, nonverbal; has severe intellectual disability
Kep: he/him; mid-teens; Luivoâs companion at the cognitive-disability-focused art program they go to; level 1 or 2, high support needs; has moderate brain damage
Jaision: she/her; 16 at the start of the story; Seiâs sister; level 3, high support needs, nonverbal; has an unknown degree of intellectual disability (it is hard to test for because itâs unclear whether she canât comprehend things or is just not very receptive to other people)
JÄn-TajanÄ: she/they/he; around 8; Seiâs sibling; level 2, moderate-to-high support needs, semiverbal; uses an AAC tablet and has a professional caregiver
HaisĆ«: she/her; adult; Seiâs aunt; level 1, low support needs
Yalau: she/her; around 11; Seiâs cousin; level 3, high support needs, nonverbal
Trais: ze/hir to everyone except maybe herself (complicated situation); around 19 or 20; Daanahâs colleague; level 1 except in the communication area, low-to-moderate support needs, nonverbal; mostly uses a small portable chalkboard to communicate with writing, wears a bandana around her neck to wipe away drool