Father Gets Alphabet Tattoo to Help Nonverbal Son with Autism Communicate

Dan Harris, a resident of Peterborough, got an alphabet tattoo on his arm to ensure that he can always communicate with his 10-year-old son Joshie, who is nonverbal due to autism. The Harris family is actively advocating for the rights of nonverbal children and working to make communication easier for them.

 

 

Like many children with autism, Joshie uses an iPad with specialized software for daily communication. He selects images and words to express his thoughts, such as when he wants to ask for pizza. However, Dan Harris became concerned about the possibility of the device running out of battery or losing signal, which would leave Joshie unable to communicate. To prevent this, Harris decided to tattoo the 26 letters of the English alphabet on his left arm, ensuring that Joshie can always share his thoughts.

 

 

“A Global Trend”

Harris, who is also the founder of the charity Neurodiversity in Business, admitted that he had previously avoided tattoos, believing them to be unprofessional. However, his priority shifted to ensuring that his son can communicate in any situation, and this decision has since changed his perspective.

“We’ve been in situations where Joshie’s iPad ran out of battery, and we couldn’t communicate with him,” Harris shared. “As parents, it’s heartbreaking because we can see how desperately he wants to say something.”

 

 

Now, Harris and his son are leading a global campaign that inspires parents around the world to seek creative solutions for communicating with their children. “What Joshie started has become a global trend. I’m proud that he’s leading this fight,” Harris said.

Currently, Dan Harris is collaborating with London Mayor Sadiq Khan to make the city more inclusive for people with developmental differences.