HOME | DD

Description
Characters:
Bellarose Desjardins (he/him) ref; Bellarose (digital reference sheet) - owned by me
Cerisier Desjardins (he/him) ref; Cerisier version 2020 (digital reference sheet) - owned by me

Yes, I am back with another weeklong challenge x'D
April 2 is World Autism Acceptance Day (which is why Autism Awareness Month is seen as April ) and for this reason I've decided to celebrate this year in a bit different way than yesteryear

To everybody who may not know: I am autistic
I have diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at the age of 11 (since last year I've looked at my old papers and yes, I was indeed diagnosed in 2006 aka around me being 11 years old) yet have low support needs in my daily life

You may all have heard the old saying that you write what you know? Well, the same is true for me and my original characters
The next week I'll be drawing a character of mine for each day and describe to you which part of their personality and/or backstory I believe may have been affected by my experiences as an autistic AFAB person

Today we have the Desjardins brothers and nonverbal autistic people

I wasn't sure if I was going to include this one since I myself am not nonverbal, so I feel less confident in describing and representing the experience in a respectful way. I've tried my best so if I have overstepped please let me know and I'll change it

Autism Spectrum Disorder is by the name a spectrum; no one individual is the same or have the same difficulties. On one plan autistic people will differ is their amount of language. Some will have a rich or normal size vocabulary while others may find it difficult to utter more than a single word if non at all.
That said nonverbal autistic people are still that: people. They still have complex inner lives, thoughts and feelings that they will share to us in other ways than verbally. Electronic helping devices, chalkboards or other ways of writing, typing or making sound can be a huge help in making the life of a nonverbal autistic easier. Even if this isn't an option taking the time and patience to learn the language of a nonverbal autistic person can be rewarding for both <3

I am not sure I'd classify Bellarose or Cerisier as autistic myself since them being mute is a part of their species yet their struggles are the same: since none of them speak, and especially Cerisier that cannot write either, they risk of being misunderstood as unintelligent or immature: sadly this can be seen in Sia's movie Music, a movie I've yet to see anybody - autistic or not - recommending or lking, and I do not recommend checking it out either :'D

For more information about autism I recommend you check out the Autistic Self Advocatory Network, autisticadvocacy.org/ , an organisation run by autistic people

For more links you can check out my entry for last year's Autism Acceptance Month:

Disclaimer: Please be cautious about Autism Awareness Month and Austim Speaks
Not many within the autistic community likes this organisation (Autism Speaks) since they have a very bad name and a history of fearmongering, making autism out to be the enemy, spending close to no money on helping autistic people and having no autistic people involved in their leadership - Autism Awareness Month is related to this organisation, so is the colour blue and the puzzlepiece logo

Instead please share your support through Autism Acceptance Month symbolised with the colour of red and the rainbow infinity symbol

Bellarose and Cerisier are teavrees, a semi-closed species by Hannah-VanBrunt
You are not allowed to create your own without permission

OC sketch from 03/30 2021 - paper size: A4

Description
Characters:
Bellarose Desjardins (he/him) ref; Bellarose (digital reference sheet) - owned by me
Cerisier Desjardins (he/him) ref; Cerisier version 2020 (digital reference sheet) - owned by me

Yes, I am back with another weeklong challenge x'D
April 2 is World Autism Acceptance Day (which is why Autism Awareness Month is seen as April ) and for this reason I've decided to celebrate this year in a bit different way than yesteryear

To everybody who may not know: I am autistic
I have diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at the age of 11 (since last year I've looked at my old papers and yes, I was indeed diagnosed in 2006 aka around me being 11 years old) yet have low support needs in my daily life

You may all have heard the old saying that you write what you know? Well, the same is true for me and my original characters
The next week I'll be drawing a character of mine for each day and describe to you which part of their personality and/or backstory I believe may have been affected by my experiences as an autistic AFAB person

Today we have the Desjardins brothers and nonverbal autistic people

I wasn't sure if I was going to include this one since I myself am not nonverbal, so I feel less confident in describing and representing the experience in a respectful way. I've tried my best so if I have overstepped please let me know and I'll change it

Autism Spectrum Disorder is by the name a spectrum; no one individual is the same or have the same difficulties. On one plan autistic people will differ is their amount of language. Some will have a rich or normal size vocabulary while others may find it difficult to utter more than a single word if non at all.
That said nonverbal autistic people are still that: people. They still have complex inner lives, thoughts and feelings that they will share to us in other ways than verbally. Electronic helping devices, chalkboards or other ways of writing, typing or making sound can be a huge help in making the life of a nonverbal autistic easier. Even if this isn't an option taking the time and patience to learn the language of a nonverbal autistic person can be rewarding for both <3

I am not sure I'd classify Bellarose or Cerisier as autistic myself since them being mute is a part of their species yet their struggles are the same: since none of them speak, and especially Cerisier that cannot write either, they risk of being misunderstood as unintelligent or immature: sadly this can be seen in Sia's movie Music, a movie I've yet to see anybody - autistic or not - recommending or lking, and I do not recommend checking it out either :'D

For more information about autism I recommend you check out the Autistic Self Advocatory Network, autisticadvocacy.org/ , an organisation run by autistic people

For more links you can check out my entry for last year's Autism Acceptance Month:

Disclaimer: Please be cautious about Autism Awareness Month and Austim Speaks
Not many within the autistic community likes this organisation (Autism Speaks) since they have a very bad name and a history of fearmongering, making autism out to be the enemy, spending close to no money on helping autistic people and having no autistic people involved in their leadership - Autism Awareness Month is related to this organisation, so is the colour blue and the puzzlepiece logo

Instead please share your support through Autism Acceptance Month symbolised with the colour of red and the rainbow infinity symbol

Bellarose and Cerisier are teavrees, a semi-closed species by Hannah-VanBrunt
You are not allowed to create your own without permission

OC sketch from 03/30 2021 - paper size: A4