My Words are My Voice: Words from the Nonspeaking Autism Community

"Once I sluggishly died to the idea of talking, my mind was free to roam."

These powerful words, penned by Richie, a non-speaking autistic individual, struck a chord deep within me. As someone blessed with the ability to speak freely, I found myself reflecting on the privilege I often take for granted.

This poem can be heard along with many other profound writings on a podcast titled “My Words Are My Voice: the (un)spoken words from individuals within the autism community.”

Listen to "My Words are My Voice" on Spotify

You might wonder, how can we listen to poems written by those who don't speak or who speak minimally. The answer lies in the dedication of one father with a distinctive New York accent and a dream to share his son’s beautiful writings - and more importantly, his intelligence and communication abilities - with a wider audience.

This dad and this son I am referring to just happen to be my father and my brother.

Rich Specht and Miranda Cobo

This podcast, launched in May 2023 by Richard Specht, offers nonspeaking, minimally-speaking, or unreliably speaking individuals the opportunity to submit their writings or poetry to be read aloud and shared. Many of these brilliant minds use multimodal communication approaches, spelling with stencils, laminate boards, or keyboards.

Curious about the driving force behind this project, I sat down with my dad for a heart-to-heart interview. His passion was palpable as he shared his motivations:

"Most people don't realize the intellectual ability non-speakers have," he explained. "This population of 31 million worldwide isn't being recognized or respected for who they truly are. This podcast is their voice."

When I asked about the message he hopes to convey, his answer was simple yet powerful: "Include these individuals in our daily lives, treat them with respect and dignity, and always presume competence."

Has the podcast changed his perspective? "Reading their writings continues to humble me," he admitted.

The journey hasn't been without challenges. Navigating the world of social media and podcasting was daunting for my dad. But the results have been astounding. To date, listeners from 24 countries outside the US have tuned in, proving there's a genuine hunger for these unheard voices from the nonspeaking autism community.

Rich records the podcast

I hope this story inspires you to check out "My Words Are My Voice." Follow the podcast on social media to stay updated with the latest contributors. And if you're a member of this community feeling inspired to share your thoughts, don't hesitate to email mywordsrmyvoice@gmail.com.

Remember, everyone deserves the chance to have their voice heard, regardless of how that voice manifests. By listening to these unspoken words, we open ourselves to new perspectives and deepen our understanding of the diverse ways humans experience and interact with the world. 

Let’s work together to create a more inclusive society where every voice, spoken and unspoken, is valued, respected, and celebrated!

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Miranda Cobo is an Educational Specialist at Reach Every Voice. She is the leader of our weekday Co-Op program and also provides one-on-one communication instruction for students in our Gaithersburg and Annapolis locations. You can book online consultations with Miranda or any of our REV staff here.