Throughout my youth and into adulthood, I’ve dealt with apraxia of speech, which means my brain struggles with the motor skills needed for speaking. Despite undergoing more speech therapy than most, surprisingly I’m not particularly good with words. So, I’ve created a set of diacritic symbols—called Impeds—that alter pronunciations. Impeds showcase twenty-two unique symbols that represent any individual speech impediment.

These symbols allow writers to express lisps, stutters, and other speech patterns, whether their own or those of a character in the media. The ability to illustrate these speech patterns in written form—such as in subtitles for deaf individuals or to improve Siri and Alexa’s clarity around impediments—is necessary for enhancing accessibility. This helps normalise these mannerisms and build confidence in speech-impaired individuals.

Impeds are perfect for making initial connections on LinkedIn, Instagram—and maybe even Tinder? Enabling you to reply proudly as the most authentic version of yourself by reducing harmful assumptions and preconceptions.