While I Do Get Your Point, I Still Don't Think It Is Reasonable To Call Any Sign Language Useless, Especially

Growing up is realizing that, as a neurodivergent or disabled person, you'll always have to assume certain actions as mistakes, even if they were caused by your condition(s).

Whether you have some control over it or not, it doesn't really matter most times. If you try to justify it, people will tell you you use your condition(s) as an excuse for everything.

They want you to adapt yourself to their world and often they don't realize they're being ableistic.

But they are.

We constantly have to change ourselves, because the world won't change for us, while they get a chance to be themselves out there.

It isn't fair, but it's the way of the world, I suppose.

It was made by neurotypicals, for neurotypicals.

By able-bodied, for able-bodied.

Dear fellow writers,

‘Said’ is beautiful. Please use it more. It isn’t anything to be feared of hated. It’s not boring or overused. It makes all the other dialogue tags more special when they’re used on occasion.

‘Said’ makes your writing less cluttered. It can be a simple way of reminding the reader who is talking without bombarding them with synonyms.

“Use it along with action to make it more interesting,” she said, picking up her pencil.

He smirked, and said, “Or with expressions and body language.”

“Or,” she said, “just as a quick reminder of who is talking.”

“And if you know who is talking, a dialogue isn’t always necessary.”

Of course you can use other dialogue tags, but please don’t exclude ‘said’. It’s heartbroken from being ignored.

‘Said’ is beautiful.

Meltdowns aren't tantrums.

Burnout isn't procrastination.

Stims aren't pointless.

Shutdowns aren't just lack of attention.

Verbal shutdowns aren't a "silence treatment".

Hyperfixations aren't useless.

Special interests are more than obsessions.

Phobias aren't regular fears.

Panic attacks aren't controllable.

Self-harm isn't a trend.

For narrative: if you find it too confusing to use multiple pronouns for the same character when there are a lot of characters present and acting, you can switch pronouns each chapter — in chapter X you only use "he/him" and in chapter Y only "they/them", for example.

For dialogue: make a list of which pronouns you think other characters should address them by — this is also a nice detail about how your other characters view non-binarity (if it isn't normalized in the story) and even how they view the NB themself. While one character will use multiple pronouns for them, others might choose to only use one.

It's not that difficult, really

We need more non-binary characters who use multiple pronouns.

I understand why we often advise binary writers to only use they/them for non-binary characters and how it can be a little confusing to have multiple pronouns being used for a single character in narrative, but there's ways to make it less confusing and we should remind the world that:

1. not all enbies use they/them pronouns

2. not all enbies use ONLY they/them pronouns

Multiple pronouns, both for non-binary and even for binary characters is just accurate representation.

Most autistic writers will advise you to have, at the very least, two autistic characters in your story, if you want to have any at all, and I'd say this applies to pretty much every marginalized community and minority.

Stereotypes are easier to fight if you have multiple examples of a community in your story and show how different two or more individuals can be despite the one or few thing(s) they have in common.

A reminder to all the self-diagnosed neurodivergents out there: the people who tell you you're not "qualified enough" to know what you have are themselves not qualified enough to say you don't have it.

You know yourself more than anyone else ever will.

If you do your research and don't immediately jump into conclusions, your self-diagnose is valid.

You're not harming anyone with it, so don't listen to assholes saying you're taking something away from "actual neurodivergents".

You're not taking anything away from anyone.

For July 2024 we're keeping the party going here at the Prompt foundry, celebrating diversity, solidarity, and triumphs won in the fight for rights as we roll right from Queer Pride in June to Disability Pride in July with Pride 2 Disability Boogaloo!

If you use this list, please tag me here @thepromptfoundry, I’d love to see your writing and art!

Feel free to combine different days' prompts with each other, or combine them with other seasonal events! Use your OCs, your favorite characters from media, your own experiences, whatever tickles your fancy.

Respond to as many prompts as you want or as interest you, don’t worry about missing or skipping any. Remember, this is supposed to be fun!

If you have any questions or musings, check our FAQ, and if you don't find your answer, shoot me an ask.

Plain text list below the cut:

1 We’ve always been here 2 Growing up disabled 3 Mobility aides 4 Curb-cut effect 5 Memory loss 6 Dignity 7 Limb difference 8 Sensory sensitivity 9 Autonomy 10 Invisible disability 11 Family 12 Nonverbal 13 Communication 14 Deaf or Hard of Hearing 15 Support 16 Technology 17 Pain 18 Rest 19 Facial difference 20 Space for us 21 Neurological disability 22 Neurodiversity 23 Becoming disabled 24 Allergy 25 Chronic condition 26 Genetics 27 Skin difference 28 Maintenance 29 Respecting limits 30 Solidarity 31 A future for us

Have fun!

Also this autism acceptance and awareness month please stop using the term going Nonverbal or going nonspeaking when you are having a temporary loss of speech. Use a term like verbal shutdown or speech loss episode instead. As a Nonverbal autistic I am tired of speaking people using the term Nonverbal or nonspeaking to describe their verbal shutdowns

“You shouldn’t self-ID as ADHD/autistic, you’re turning a very real mental condition into a trend” Ok then stop saying delulu. Stop speculating on which cluster C personality disorder the criminals you hear about on the news have. Stop saying “schizoposting” and “acoustic” and “is it restarted?” Stop using “psycopath” and “sociopath” as catch-all ways of calling someone a bad person. Stop saying “the intrusive thoughts won” when you bleach your hair and then turn your nose up at people who suffer from very real, very scary urges of physical/sexual violence. Stop saying “I’m so OCD” as a way of calling yourself neat. Stop treating BPD/ASPD/Bipolar as inherently abusive. Stop saying “OP I am living in your walls” without tagging for unreality. Stop diagnosing complete strangers you’ve never met on r/AITA with NPD.

You first. If you don’t want our disabilities to be treated like trends then stop belittling and minimising them. I’ll NEVER judge a person for trying find labels for their symptoms when an apathetic, racist, sexist, ableist healthcare system refuses to. But I will absolutely judge a hypocrite. Which a lot of you are

"The actor did really well, we can almost feel what it is like to live as an autistic."

Right... And I definitely don't know what that's like...

(I'm in, guys; they haven't caught me yet)