Frequently Asked Questions

What are Penny's cards?

Penny’s cards are her chosen form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, or AAC. Many non-speaking people choose electronic options as well, but these are what work for “the Penny way.”

What is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)?

This is an outdated and harmful form of therapy, which, unfortunately, treats autism like a condition to be cured rather than an alternative neurotype that occurs naturally in humans. Ian and Mick, Penny’s dads, have chosen not to enroll Penny in ABA.

Why a non-speaking character?

Many writers describe getting to know their characters in the way Michelangelo described “revealing” a sculpture that already yearned to be free inside the marble. Though autistic creator Andrés Eduardo was not non-verbal as a child, they describe writing Penny this way as well. In the process, a non-profit organization specializing in non-speaking conditions very generously gave us a full round of notes on our script.

Why do Ian and Mick use AAC cards with Penny?

Ian and Mick understand that communication is a fundamental human (and dinosaur!) right. With Blue’s help, they learned that even without speech she needed immediate access to robust communication. This means a system with enough words to express feelings, make choices, and refuse things she doesn’t like.

Will Penny ever speak?

We don’t know! Some non-speaking people do develop speech later in life, while others never do. Either path is valid! What matters most is that Penny always has access to the tools she needs to communicate her way, and that the people around her (like us!) are always listening.

How can I learn more about supporting non-speaking people?

We recommend starting with the Autism Self-Advocacy Network, or ASAN. They are an organization which advocates for autistic children AND adults, which, crucially, is run by people who are on the spectrum themselves.

For non-speaking conditions specifically, we recommend CommunicationFIRST, an organization whose mission is to “advance the rights, autonomy, opportunity, and dignity of people with speech-related disabilities.”