The Therapy Gallows: Where Communication Dangles on a Thread

The Therapy Gallows: Where Communication Dangles on a Thread

Greetings, fellow neurodivergent comrades! Gather ‘round, for tonight’s tale is a grim one – a journey into the therapy gallows, where conformity is the executioner and our unique communication styles dangle precariously on a thread.

The Sentence: A Life of “Normal” Speech 

Imagine a kangaroo condemned for not hopping. Imagine the absurdity of forcing this majestic creature to scuttle on all fours, simply because it doesn’t conform to some arbitrary standard of locomotion. That’s the absurdity of traditional speech therapy for many of us. Our natural way of expressing ourselves – the vibrant tapestry of gestures, sounds, and yes, even the occasional joyous shriek – is deemed a crime. The sentence? A lifetime of forced conformity, striving to speak in a way that feels as foreign as a parrot impersonating Shakespeare.

The Wardens of “Normalcy”: Therapists with Checklists and Clipboards 

 These well-meaning, yet often misguided, wardens wield clipboards and flashcards like instruments of torture. Drills, endless repetition, and a suffocating focus on “normalcy” – their methods leave us feeling like caged birds, yearning to sing our own songs but forced to mimic the monotonous chirps expected by the system.

The Gallows Humor: A Coping Mechanism in a Surreal World 

In the face of this absurdity, some of us develop gallows humor. We laugh at the flashcards depicting objects most of us wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole (seriously, who needs a picture of a stapler to communicate?). We joke about the robotic voices expected of us, because frankly, the alternative – silence – seems more appealing than becoming emotionless speech machines.

The Execution (or Perhaps, the Escape): When Therapy Becomes a Sham 

But the humor can’t mask the frustration. The therapy sessions become a monotonous execution ground for our true voices. Some of us, weary and defeated, simply shut down. Others, fueled by a rebellious spirit, escape the gallows altogether, finding solace in alternative communication methods or simply abandoning the system entirely.

But Wait, There’s Hope: Breaking the Chains of Conformity 

Here’s the truth, comrades: the sentence is unjust. There’s no shame in our unique communication styles. The world needs the symphony of neurodivergent voices, not a chorus of robotic drones.

A Call to Action: Redefining Communication Success 

Let’s dismantle the gallows of conformity! We, the neurodivergent, demand a new definition of communication success. It’s not about fitting into a rigid mold; it’s about fostering understanding, celebrating individuality, and empowering us to express ourselves authentically. Therapists, we urge you to be the key-masters, not the executioners. Listen to our stories, not just our words. Embrace the full spectrum of communication, and together, let’s build a world where neurodiversity is not a sentence, but a vibrant symphony.

Remember, our voices, unique and powerful, deserve to be heard. Let’s keep singing, keep signing, keep expressing ourselves in all our glorious neurodivergent ways. The world needs our music, so let it play on!