Try to think like the average person who knows nothing about autism. For my son's info card I put something like "I will reply or answer your questions, but I need a little extra time and encouragement." This explains my son's abilities, and asks the other person to be kind and understanding. I'm not sure how else to shorten that. Maybe "I can speak. Patience and understanding, please."

Having labels in shirts, or cards in pockets can really provide a little peace-of-mind in addition to educating people about autism. Good job!

Another thing that worked well for us was shoe ID tags. http://www.mypreciouskid.com/ID-shoes-tags.html My son refused to wear the ID bracelet/anklet. Between the shirt labels and shoe tags...we're covered!

I would write it as if I was explaining autism to a child, might not make sense but by your own experience I know you have expereinced hot child-like adults can be when it comes to children with special needs. Do not worry about the stares from ignorant people. I don't say ignorant in a bad way...they just don't understand. I can honestly tell just by the way people look if they are ignorant or if they have experience with a child who has special needs. I remember I had to tell someone at a grocery store that my son is autistic and they said "I'm sorry." I know I'm not the only one out here who has had that happen. Now the old me would have had to get escorted out the store in handcuffs. But I am not that person anymore so I politely explained to her that I was not "sorry" my son is autistic but I also made sure she understood that by saying those two words together can be very offensive to parents like myself...I always try to educate as many ignorant people as I can so that maybe next time they see another parent like me they will not make them feel as though they have a scarlet letter on their shirts.

I would use the words "limited language" and then further explain what that means.

I have heard that some folks have put a Medic-Alter (similar to the ones for Diabetes, or other allergy) bracelet on their children, so that the public can see that there is a condition they need to be aware of. We had this happen in PA where an Autistic man was shot by police because they had no way to know what was wrong, only the behavior displayed which they reacted too wrongly.