Canada: Mother tattoos keyboard to communicate with non-verbal son

A Canadian mother, Jessica, has tattooed a keyboard onto her left arm to facilitate communication with her 11-year-old autistic son, Hunter Fletcher.

Hunter, who is non-verbal, primarily relies on an iPad with an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) application to express himself. The idea for the tattoo arose when his device ran out of battery at a restaurant. After Hunter drew a keyboard layout on a piece of paper to point to letters, Jessica decided to permanentize the layout on her arm.

The tattoo provides a waterproof, always-available communication tool that does not require charging. Jessica chose her left arm to ensure stability when Hunter points to letters and to accommodate their seating arrangements in public spaces like cinemas. This solution also allows for communication during activities where electronics cannot be used, such as swimming.