Talktistic: how autistic speech variants facilitate communication

Speech patterns that are commonly associated with autistic individuals, like hyper-articulation, echolalia, and literality serve communicative functions that are often overlooked. These speech patterns are pathologized in allistic (non autistic) communities, causing indelible harm to everyone who internalizes the concept of a 'lesser' form of language. Originally published as an Instagram campaign, this project works to decenter allistic normativity and reframe autistic speech variants through an assets based lens. With examples from popular media and research based in both scholarly and in-community perspectives, this work provides tools to autistic people that aid them in recognizing and valuing their language.