Writing has always been one of the ways I’ve connected with people and challenged assumptions about disability. But writing doesn’t come easily to me.
As someone who is non-verbal and uses AAC to communicate, putting my thoughts into written form can take a lot of time and energy. I also type with one finger, which means writing even a short piece can take much longer than people might expect. Often I know exactly what I want to say, but getting those thoughts from my head onto the page can be a slow and sometimes frustrating process. By the time I’ve finished writing, editing, and restructuring a blog, I can feel exhausted.
Over the years, support workers have often assisted me with writing when I’ve needed it. However, one of my goals has always been to become as self-sufficient as possible. I have always looked for ways to rely less on other people where I can. Writing is no different. That’s why I have decided that I will start using ChatGPT as a tool to help me write my blogs.
English has always been a struggle for me, even though I don’t have a learning disability. Sometimes I wonder whether aspects of my cerebral palsy contribute to those difficulties. One thing that makes writing particularly challenging is that I can’t easily read sentences back in my head the way many people seem to. I can have a clear idea of what I want to say, but knowing whether it flows well or sounds right can be much harder. That often means I spend a lot more time writing than most people would.
I want to be clear about something: ChatGPT won’t be replacing my voice. The stories, opinions, experiences, and ideas will still be mine. What it will do is help me organise my thoughts, improve the flow of my writing, and turn rough notes into something that’s easier for people to read.
In many ways, I see it as no different from using spellcheck, grammar tools, or having someone help edit a draft. The difference is that ChatGPT can do it much faster and whenever I need it.
I also understand that AI isn’t perfect. Sometimes ChatGPT can be repetitive, use too many words, or sound a bit robotic. That’s one of the reasons I still review everything before I publish it. I’ll do my best to pick up those moments and edit them out, but I know I’ll probably miss some from time to time.
One of the biggest barriers people with disability face is access. We often have to work harder and longer to achieve the same outcomes as everyone else. Technology has always helped level the playing field, whether that’s wheelchairs, communication devices, environmental controls, or accessible transport. For me, AI is becoming another accessibility tool.
As a non-verbal person, I already rely on technology every day to communicate. Without technology, many of my thoughts, opinions, jokes, frustrations, and ideas would never be heard. Using AI feels like a natural extension of that. It’s not speaking for me; it’s assisting me communicate more efficiently. It allows me to spend less time wrestling with sentence structure and typing every single word, and more time focusing on the message I want to share.
In fact, I see ChatGPT as giving me more independence and I’m hoping this means I’ll be able to write more often, share more stories, and contribute more conversations about disability, independence, and inclusion.
1 thought on “Why I’m About to Start Using ChatGPT to Assist Write My Blogs”
Thanks for sharing Jono, you have made me reflect on AI as AT!