In Our Words: Speaking While Autistic - a podcast by WNYC Studios

On Tuesday’s episode we talked to Michelle Dunn and Larry Harris, a researcher and former NFL-player-turned-opera singer who teamed up to create a new technique to help people with autism calibrate their voice and speech patterns.

We wanted to know what it was like for people with autism to communicate and if they changed the way they speak. Here we talk to families at an autism conference (click here to listen) where Harris and Dunn presented their method, "Music of Speech," which will also be the title of their book. And we hear from some Only Human listeners and people with autism about their own journeys.

Alan Baker, 24, California

Alan Baker and his coach at a Train4Autism race.
(courtesy of the Baker family.)

“I feel sometimes [a social situation] is one that I know the ropes to and sometimes it is one that I may need a little help with. I may need a little help when I meet someone new.”

Daniel Combs, 10, Arkansas

10-year-old Daniel Combs.
(courtesy of the Combs family.)

“Sometimes I feel very different because I don't always know what my school friends are talking about. I don't always get their jokes. I like to talk about facts and knowing everything about one particular subject. My friends talk about sports. I don't know who Lebron James is, or care who won the Super Bowl. My friends sometimes tell me that I'm loud when I talk, and I don't always look right at them when talking either. I'm just glad that the cool guys at my school accept me in their group.”

Justin Coleman, 34, Texas

Justin Coleman, pictured during an obstacle race here, wants to help kids with autism gain confidence through physical activity.
(courtesy of Justin Coleman.)

“It took me all through high school to deal with the struggle, both with the social interactions, but also when it came to the verbalization aspect. I actually had to force myself to think slower and allow my words to come out better and more clearly. I am planning on going back to college to study kinesiology so that I can help to open up a gym for mainly kids on the autism spectrum to help them not only work on their health, but also to help them gain more confidence in themselves.

However, now I struggle with my lungs when it comes to speaking because at times I talk so much that I run out of breathe and it causes me to yawn, as funny as that might sound. But overall, when I talk, most people never even know that I am autistic.”

Chris Hall, 22, Massachusetts

Chris Hall builds computers for students with autism through his organization, Computers for the Autistic Foundation.
(courtesy of Chris Hall.)

“It is hard at times to do things, but in life we all have days where we are not able to do everything. I live my days day by day, doing my work building PC's for those with autism who are in need of a computer for their education and their social life. It’s like anyone else who communicates -- some things are hard to understand, but when told the right way is easy to understand.”

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