When Hunter’s tablet died at a restaurant, his mum reached for pen and paper. What happened next led Jessica Fletcher to put a keyboard tattoo on her forearm so her 11-year-old autistic son would always have a way to communicate.
Hunter is nonverbal and usually uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication, or AAC, device, a tablet that lets him select words and symbols. During the restaurant visit, the device’s battery died, leaving him without his usual way to express himself.
Jessica drew the alphabet on a piece of paper so Hunter could spell out what he wanted to eat. Instead, he flipped the paper over, drew a keyboard from memory and “typed” his order with his finger.
“That sparked the idea for me that I can’t limit him to technology because technology does fail us,” she said.
Jessica then worked with a tattoo artist to place a keyboard on her forearm. The design includes letters, a happy face, a sad face and an “I heart you” button, so Hunter can express words and emotions when they are together.
The tattoo also gives Hunter a quieter and more private way to communicate. Instead of using an AAC device that speaks each selected word aloud, he can tap letters on his mother’s arm.
Jessica said the tattoo means more than convenience.
“When we remove communication barriers, we’re giving non speakers the chance to show us who they really are,” she said.
A video of Hunter using the tattooed keyboard has drawn millions of views and more than 1.5 million likes on social media. It includes the message: “Some mothers carry their children. Some mothers carry the words their children cannot say.”
Jessica has also partnered with a clothing company to create shirts with a keyboard printed down the sleeve for families, caregivers and professionals.
“I have fellow autism parents, nurses, doctors, first responders all over the world reaching out wanting shirts with it on the sleeve, and tattoo artists all over the world now offering to do it for free for parents of non speaking children,” she said.
Maddy Dever, chair of the National Autism Network and parent to four autistic young adults, said many nonverbal children need the right communication method to show what they can do.
“So many people, when they’re given the avenue that works, oh my god we find out how intelligent these kids are,” Dever said.
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