Today’s episode provides a reflective look at the internal life of a child labeled as non-speaking during the early 1970s. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, challenges the notion that silence equals a lack of activity, instead comparing it to winter where life is vibrant but hidden beneath the surface. Whilst adults originally praised this quietness as good behavior, her narrative reveals that she was actively gathering language and processing the world. By reframing this period of audible stillness, Dr. Hoerricks emphasises that non-verbal states are seasons of growth rather than voids of existence. This perspective shifts the focus from clinical labels to the rich, underground experiences of those who do not communicate through traditional speech.

Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/non-speaking-field-notes-from-the

Let me know what you think.

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