I’m feeling kinda bold today and wrote a thread on Bluesky about nappies, toileting, sensory stuff and whatnot.
It’s not my first time writing about underwear. But it’s a lot more developed than before.
So much so I’m suggesting a new term! Augmentative & Alternative Underwear or AAU for short.
It’s like AAC, but for underwear. Lemme explain.
AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) tools are things which help me to communicate. In my case, it’s a few different apps and other things.
In the thread I wrote:
Nappies are a lot like my AAC. Enabling technologies which takes some aspect of my life and makes it easier.
AAC stops a bad day becoming a really bad day by giving me options.
Nappies much the same. It takes a day ending disaster & turns it into a minor detail.
While it happens to be nappies for me, it might be something completely different for someone else.
I’ve gone with underwear because it’s a much broader topic than just toileting.
Underwear covers things like texture, absorption, physical accessibility, sizing, wicking & washing…
It’s intentionally broad. I think most people use AAU without noticing it. Things like period products and cycling shorts…. That’s AAU in action.
This mirrors how AAC tools vary too, from dedicated apps for generating speech few people use, right the way through to instant messaging tools like WhatsApp and iMessage used by millions.
I summed it up in the thread as:
Discussion of nappies, underwear & the sensory side of toileting is rare or totally ignored
The assumption that ‘always dry’ is the only sensible goal is so pervasive the spoon cost is never considered
Reality is much more nuanced & well worth exploring.
By giving it a name within a broader context I’m hoping it’s something people will start talking about. Hell. Maybe there will be a proper professional conference about it one day.
Being able to discuss the tools we use freely and without shame is critical if we want to remove daft barriers and enable folks to thrive.
It also comes with a change of lens… mirroring similar changes in the AAC community:
Borrowing form my thread again, I wrote:
AAC used to be the ‘last resort’, with mouth words assumed to be superior & the only sensible goal
These days we know that communication works best when AAC is offered early & without judgement
I’m just applying the same lens to underwear. There’s no need to reserve tools for the ‘last resort’ case.
It will vary from person to person. The nappies example isn’t subtle. But It could also be seamless sensory pants, loose fitting boxers, swim shorts without net lining etc etc.
Personally, it’s because I’m frustrated that discussion of effective tools isn’t out in the open.
I wish I’d found information about this stuff much sooner, I wish there was a name for it for it so I could just ask about it on Bluesky.
In a broader sense, I think it’s good for society to be more open about these things. We’re an aging society. The more absorbent end of AAU things is an ever growing need. That’s before we get into the impact on neurodivergent people and disabled folks.
Being able to say ‘AAU is important to me’ is so helpful. It can start a useful chat.
I didn’t wake up today with this topic in mind. I woke up today comfy, well rested and excited for the day ahead… mostly cause of the underwear i chose last night.
Tackling shame starts with owning the language and celebrating our differences.
Let’s get on with it. If anyone out there fancies a talk about this at an event of conference. Lemme know. I’ll deliver something for free.
With all that said… Time to bounce on with the rest of my day. I’ve got heaps of nerdy stuff to do. As always, feel free to prod me on Bluesky if ya have any questions :)
