This is a style of communicating which lots of neurodivergent people prefer – including myself. Asynchronous communication is when you send a message without expecting an immediate response. Examples: receiving an email and responding minutes, hours, days later / responding to a text later in the day / getting back to someone / waiting until you’ve got home from work to call someone / sending a response 2 minutes later. There are many advantages to this method but the main one is that the person has time to process the information and plan what it is they want to say. Real-time communication is often rapid and demanding. Executive functioning and language processing differences mean that for neurodivergent people responding quickly can be a huge difficulty.
Communication Features | AutisticSLT
Synchronous communication (immediate responses like in a conversation) can cause significant anxiety for an autistic person because not enough time is given for them to process and plan what they want to say. It’s why job interviews are incredibly difficult for autistic people because they have to think on the spot and produce responses immediately.
Consider an asynchronous or a hybrid option. The pace of most synchronous (real-time) meetings favors people who can speak fluently. That disadvantages us.¹ Asynchronous meetings (e.g., by email or instant messaging) allow us to take as much time as we need to respond, and don’t require us to be ready to communicate at a specific time, among other benefits. If asynchronous communication can achieve the purpose of the meeting, consider offering it as an option or as an alternative.
Best Practices for Online Meetings with AAC Users
For some purposes, you can also avoid using a meeting platform altogether by choosing an asynchronous way to meet instead, through email or instant messaging (like texting, Slack, WhatsApp, or Messenger) or even in a Google Doc. Asynchronous meetings allow AAC users who need time to process, compose, and type their thoughts to participate when they are able, at their own pace.
There are other advantages to asynchronous meetings. For starters, there’s no need to worry about time zone or scheduling conflicts. People who would otherwise not be able to make a scheduled meeting (maybe they can’t take time off work, or have to care for a loved one) can still participate fully. And with plenty of space and time to talk and view all sides of a discussion, the asynchronous option can be a good option for groups to make democratic decisions. Nondisabled people benefit from plenty of time to think, too.
Asynchronous options are available even if you’re running a public event like a webinar. For example, someone who needs to use AAC to be understood might prefer to participate or share their views via a prerecorded video.
Best Practices for Online Meetings with AAC Users
