Dan Harris, a father from Peterborough, has taken an extraordinary step to ensure constant communication with his 10-year-old non-speaking autistic son, Joshie. To help his son, Harris tattooed the entire alphabet on his arm, providing a permanent way for them to communicate.
Joshie uses an iPad, called a “talker,” equipped with advanced software to identify pictures and words, which helps him express his needs. However, Harris was concerned about the potential failure of the iPad’s signal or battery during crucial moments, prompting him to get the tattoo.
“Joshie doesn’t communicate in the usual way,” Harris explained. “He uses his iPad to tell us things, like when he wants pizza or to show images of his favorite people. But in situations where the device fails, like in the middle of a forest or at a beach, we can’t communicate, and it’s heartbreaking to see his frustration.”
Harris’ tattoo, which consists of the 26 letters of the English alphabet arranged in a square on his left arm, now provides a reliable communication tool for Joshie. “Now, I have this permanent solution so Joshie can always ‘speak’ to me, even without technology.”
In addition to being a devoted father, Harris is the founder of Neurodiversity in Business, a charity promoting awareness of neurodiversity. He expressed how privileged he feels to campaign alongside Joshie, whom he calls a “little superhero.”
“I didn’t have any visible tattoos before because I thought it wouldn’t be professional,” Harris admitted. “But this is bigger than that—ensuring Joshie can communicate at all times is what matters most. Plus, if it sparks conversations about the tattoo’s purpose, that aligns with our mission to raise awareness.”
Harris added that Joshie’s influence has sparked a global movement, with people adopting similar approaches to support non-speaking individuals. Harris and Joshie are now collaborating with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to make London a more inclusive city for everyone.
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