“Everybody” includes kids like Nova, who are autistic and nonverbal. Many autistic people are nonverbal and therefore use other methods of communication. Unfortunately, for a long time, the options for nonverbal people were limited. Nowadays, a broader understanding of autism and much better technology have made it possible for someone like Nova to carry around a tablet or speech device that can help her speak to others by touching buttons, using pre-programmed words or pictures, or typing the words out. Many of these devices and programs feature small images called PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) that can be used individually or to create sentences. American Sign Language or Signed Exact English are other possible communication methods for nonverbal people. These methods are great not only for nonverbal autistic children, but for people who struggle to communicate verbally for any reason, including those who have had strokes and those with Apraxia of Speech.

One misconception is that people who are nonverbal are also unable to understand what is being said to them, which is why a lot of adults in Nova’s life have addressed her in loud voices with short, basic sentences. It is important to her that Bridget has never done that, nor does Francine. It is also important to Nova that people read novels to her, instead of the books with few words that she’s used to getting from teachers. There are a lot of autistic middle schoolers who prefer chapter books to picture books, including kids like Nova who can’t read them independently yet—not that there’s anything wrong with loving picture books!

When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon in 1969, he said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” On the recording, the “a” is hard to hear, and as a result, his famous words are among the most misquoted of all time. I decided to have Bridget keep the “a” because she and Nova know how frustrating it is to be misunderstood.

Since the word “autism” was first used as a diagnosis over a century ago, the definition and criteria have changed considerably. When Nova was in school, much less was understood about autism, which had only been added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as an independent disorder in 1980. Some of what people believed at that time is now known to be incorrect. In 1991, the federal government made autism a Special Education category, which has helped more kids on the spectrum to be given a diagnosis and get the personalized education and assistive technology they need. When Nova was twelve, around one in 1,000 children in America were diagnosed with autism. As of 2018, thanks to an expanded criteria and better understanding, that number is around one in 45.