A Canadian mother has found an unusual way to make sure her non-speaking autistic son always has a way to communicate with her, even when technology fails. Jessica Fletcher had a complete keyboard tattooed on her forearm after an incident with her 11-year-old son, Hunter, whose augmentative and alternative communication device ran out of battery during a meal. Hunter picked up a napkin, drew a keyboard and used it to communicate his order, giving his mother an idea for a permanent backup. Fletcher later worked with a tattoo artist to create a keyboard on her arm, complete with letters and symbols. Hunter’s first message using the tattoo was reportedly “Mama”, turning a practical solution into an emotional moment for both of them.
Canadian mom found a solution after her autistic son’s device died
Fletcher was eating out with Hunter when the battery on his AAC device reportedly died. The tablet allows him to select words and symbols to communicate, but without power, that option was suddenly unavailable. Hunter instead picked up a napkin, drew a keyboard on it and began pointing to the letters and symbols he needed to communicate his order. The simple workaround gave Fletcher a realisation that her son’s ability to communicate should not depend entirely on technology. She later told CTV News that the experience made her think about what would happen whenever his communication device failed. Fletcher decided to create a communication option that would never need charging. She worked with a tattoo artist to have a keyboard inked onto her forearm, allowing Hunter to tap individual letters to spell out messages. The design reportedly includes the alphabet as well as symbols such as a happy face, a sad face and an “I heart you” button. When Fletcher revealed the finished tattoo to Hunter, his first message was reportedly “Mama”. The tattoo was not intended to replace his regular AAC device. Instead, it gave him another option whenever the electronic system was unavailable.
The tattoo also gives them a private way to communicate
The unusual communication method has another advantage because it does not require Hunter’s messages to be spoken aloud. His electronic AAC device can produce spoken output, meaning people nearby may hear what he is communicating. By tapping letters on Fletcher’s arm, however, Hunter can communicate more quietly. The method can therefore give the mother and son a more private way to exchange messages, particularly when they are in public. Fletcher has said that removing communication barriers gives non-speaking people a greater opportunity to show others who they are and express themselves.
The keyboard idea spread beyond the family
Fletcher later posted a video of Hunter using the tattoo to communicate with her, and the clip attracted widespread attention online. The New York Post reported that she posted the video on Facebook on July 8 and that it went on to receive more than two million likes across social media. The response prompted other families and professionals to contact Fletcher about the idea. She subsequently partnered with a clothing company to create shirts featuring keyboard designs along the sleeve. Fletcher said parents, nurses, doctors and first responders from around the world had reached out about using similar ideas to help non-speaking autistic people communicate.
Hunter’s friends wanted keyboard shirts too
The idea also caught the attention of Hunter’s school friends. Fletcher said some of them wanted keyboard shirts so they could communicate with him on the playground and quietly share secrets with him. The response highlights that communication is about much more than expressing basic needs. For children, it can also involve making friends, sharing jokes, discussing feelings and participating in everyday social interactions. Fletcher has said she would endure “a thousand scars” if it meant Hunter could communicate with her, underscoring how important she considers accessible communication for her son.
What AAC means for non-speaking people
AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, covers a broad range of methods used by people who cannot rely on speech alone to communicate. These can include gestures, sign language, picture boards, communication books and electronic devices that produce spoken words. An electronic AAC tablet like Hunter’s is one form of this wider system. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association describes AAC as something that can supplement speech or provide an alternative means of communication. Fletcher’s tattoo is therefore best understood as a personal, low-tech backup rather than a replacement for an established AAC system.
A dead battery led to an unexpected communication solution
What began with a communication device running out of power during a meal ultimately led Fletcher to create a permanent backup for her son. The keyboard tattoo gives Hunter another way to express himself when his electronic device is unavailable and can also allow him to communicate privately with his mother. Its popularity online has brought wider attention to the importance of accessible communication for non-speaking people. For Fletcher, however, the idea remains rooted in a simple goal: making sure a dead battery or technology failure does not leave her son without a way to communicate.
