Ok, I’m not the best person to be saying this, but the reason half of y’all* hate the new autistic Barbie doll is just aspie supremacy and racism.
Like, “oh no! For once a higher support needs, AAC using, autistic woman of colour is in the spotlight! God help us all!” (Sarcasm)
Seriously, the whole argument about how the doll sucks because autism “doesn’t have a look” is foolish. Autism does have a look, but it’s not one single look. Many high support needs individuals are visibly autistic, stop erasing their existence.
I’m not going into the racism part, because I’m still in the process of educating myself about the topic, but needless to say, I’ve seen some pretty outright racist comments and takes on this new doll.
*not all of you, but many of you.
(Capitalism and the whole deal with Mattel is a valid reason to not like the doll, however this post is not about that.)
1. shopping alone is hard for me; i’m usually overstimulated and it’s a series of complex steps that most adults don’t struggle with.
2. card readers are finicky. many card readers are different and require several different steps to complete a transaction. these steps vary by model and software.
2 and a half. i am rather clumsy, and if i am using cash to pay, it is hard to pull in and out of my wallet and change purse, especially while trying to find the right bills.
3. i often need help finding things in the store even if they’re right in front of me. it’s embarrassing for me too.
so with all of these factors, sometimes i AM the annoying customer who does things wrong at checkout or inconveniences staff.
i don’t expect anyone to be super fucking friendly all the time, especially not during a terrible shift during the holidays!
but it honestly feels like a slap in the face when i try to go shopping and i do something in the wrong order, or need help with the card reader, or counting money or something like that, or i take too long to type on my ipad, and an employee rolls their eyes at me or glares or huffs at me.
and then i go online and everyone’s complaining about how stupid customers stare at you when the card reader tells you to take your card or receipt and why are they so slow to understand, just do it right, etc.
i know food and customer service employees are underpaid and overworked, but a little grace goes a long way. we are all trying our best!
i can wear a giant I AM DISABLED, PLEASE BE PATIENT pin or a sunflower lanyard, but it doesn’t do much, and tbh, i don't think i should have to disclose that to receive grace.
i don't really know who i'm writing this post to, so as usual, if you resonate with it (or against it), feel free to chime in in the comments or reblogs.
again, maybe im just too sensitive or shouldnt be shopping alone if i can't handle this, but, idk.
ps - i also don't think it's a case of , "well you simply don't understand what it's like to work in an environment like that". i used to work long hours in food service as well. i do know.
fellow elopers, have you noticed that your elopment as an adult is different than when you were a kid? as a kid i just would not notice that i was separated from my group, but now as an adult i can notice and usually end up calling whoever i was with on my phone. its like, i still just walk the fuck off, but now i can catch myself
(idk if this even counts as elopement anymore because i can eventually notice that i've wondered off)
edit: i did elope regularly as a kid, and my parents even had to call the police a few times as they thought i was kidnapped. one time an entire park was looking for me. i know i used to elope, i just don't know if what i described above even still counts since i can catch myself before i get too far now.
“WHY NOT RED. WHY NOT PURPLE. HELL, GIMME BLACK. MAKE EVERYTHING THE COLOR OF MY HOPES AND DREAMS. MY GOALS AND MY ASPIRATIONS. MY FAILURES AND SHORTCOMINGS. MY MIND AND MY HEART. MY-“ I scream, as they drag me away.
Hi! Welcome to my blog! My name is Chrome, and if i am the only AAC user you know, you don't know enough AAC users
i'm in my 20s and my pronouns are it/pup/the dog or he/they.
This is my blog to talk about AAC. I am a full time AAC user and taught my self to use it.
I love asks but i can only answer from my experience. Please check out my FAQ at the bottom of this post as i may have answered your question already and you can get your answer faster!
also , please take the time to google something at least once before asking me! again, you may get your answer a lot faster, and it hurts my feelings when yall treat me like a search engine.
I do not have a DNI on this blog. if *i* break your DNI and you reblog from me i will just block you. per my main, sysmedicalism, bigotry and harm towards others will be sent headfirst into the void.
I hope something good happens to you today!
@cytochrome-symbolz AAC symbol blog open to anyone.
@cytochrome-sea Main blog
stuff about me and FAQ under the cut:
Please Note:
i am not only disabled by autism! i have schizophrenia and several other mental illnesses.
i am not high support needs. i am speaking from a relative place of privilege regarding my disabilities and am not a representative of all AAC users OR autistic people. i am white, and not physically disabled. again, if i am the only AAC user you know, you don't know enough AAC users!
please learn about the experiences of racialized autistic people, higher support needs autistics, and people who use AAC because of a different reason than autism.
the syntax and grammar of my posts may change depending on whether or not i am using a keyboard or my symbol based AAC to write posts. i usually go for the keyboard but not always. if that bugs you, i would ask you to try writing a single sentence with a symbol based AAC app before you pass judgement.
this blog is a very small window into my life. you don't know me as well as you think you do if you only know me from tumblr (or instagram). there is a lot of my life that i do not post about on social media. many people have tried to judge me based only on this blog and my instagram account. it does not go well for them.
i am a real person who sees your reblogs and comments and reposts. please consider your audience. that being said, i love being tagged, sent silly asks, etc!
FAQ:
can i use AAC if [reason] -> yes. for any reason, even if not related to difficulty speaking. AAC is not a limited resource that is taken away from people who need it. anyone can use it. it's not disrespectful unless you are using it to deliberately hurt someone (i do not even know how you would do that though)
what do i say instead of going nonverbal? -> some (not all) alternative terms to “going nonverbal” are: speech loss, speech loss episode, words offline, vocal rest, verbal shutdown, verbal rest
i don't know if i should send chrome an ask. here's a flow chart to tell you!
other questions i get:
do you have a list of free AAC apps? (check comments) (ask)
on "going nonverbal"
how do you set up a symbol based AAC grid (ask)
What is AAC? -> AAC awareness month 2024 mini zine
how can i get more comfy with using AAC? (ask)
my experience with having a developmental disability and a severe mental illness (post)
how i lost my voice (i may remake this post soon as the formatting is not accessible, which was my fault. it does have an image description tho)
if you can read and spell and type, why use symbol based AAC? (ask)
my sunflower lanyard (ask)
other favorite posts:
7-11 speaks louder than words (comic)
happy AAC awareness month 2025 (post)
what catatonia is like for me
MEGA ULTRA shoutout to @/dustbunnyaac for the adorable banner
