General & Nonspeaker Admission
General conference + Practitioner conference. This ticket is for Certified S2C Practitioners & S2C Practitioners in Training ONLY
Motormorphosis is the biggest conference for the nonspeaking community. This flagship conference is the first to give accurate and updated information on research, motor, policy, technology, regulation, and S2C. Each discussion topic is crucial in creating transformation throughout the spellerverse.
Friday kicks off with a full-day conference only for Certified S2C Practitioners in good standing and Practitioners currently in S2C training, where they will learn the latest strategies to support nonspeakers. Friday Night, we honor our spellers with a special party to kick off the rest of this fun-filled weekend.
In our general conference Saturday and Sunday, you will learn from spellers, families, researchers, and practitioners. During breaks, you can browse through a hand-picked collection of exhibitors joining the event. So join us to share in the festivities, learn, and interface with friends, family, practitioners, and allies throughout the Spellerverse.
Hyatt Regency Reston
Check out other local stays!
Sofia Ghassaei is a 23 year old poet and playwright from Seattle. Her creative work has been published in Spoon Knife, Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation, Hey Neighbor, Di lo que quieres decir 2023- Antología de siglemas 575, Neuroclastic, Teen Creative magazine, and presented at the Boards and Chords, Neurolyrical Cafe, SpellX, and the 2022-23 Lynx Amplify Project. Her first short play, Words Unheard, was performed by Seattle’s Theater of Possibility in 2022. Her second musical play, Love Letters, A True-ly Short Epistolary Romance, was performed by Theater of Possibility in 2023 and by Neurodivergent Plays in New York City in 2026. It is now available on YouTube. Her short story Pom’s Tales, will be published in 2026. She is a member of the Nonspeaking Leadership Council, and loves biking in her spare time. Sofia uses a letterboard to communicate.
The Nonspeaking Leadership Council (NLC) comprises nonspeakers over the age of 18 who can fluently communicate and have exceptional leadership skills and the ability to collaborate with individuals across the organization. The NLC provides direct input and guidance to I-ASC on its organizational operations and goals, which ensures I-ASC remains aligned with the needs of the nonspeaking community. The Nonspeaking Leadership Council members are paid for their services to advise the Board of Directors, the Practitioner Leadership Cadre, and the I-ASC Staff.
We invite you to support the I-ASC mission as a Motormorphosis Sponsor. Motormorphosis attracts attendees from national, international, and the greater Washington, D.C. metro areas. This is a terrific opportunity to make your business more visible to an active, knowledgeable, engaged, and well-connected community.
All sponsorship packages include: Sponsor logo on webpage (with link to website), on the photo backdrop, and in the conference magazine. All sponsors will also be mentioned by the host during the conference and receive recognition on I-ASC’s social media channels.
View the full sponsorship breakdown HERE
For additional pricing options, Please reach out to info@i-asc.org
I-ASC and Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network (S&A) are honored to recognize one exceptional advocate at the 10th Annual Motormorphosis Conference in memory of Landen Bosak, a beloved friend, artist, poet, speller, and passionate advocate for nonspeakers.
This award celebrates a non/minimal/unreliable speaker or AAC user who has made a significant impact advancing communication access.
We invite you to nominate an advocate whose contributions have helped uplift nonspeaking voices through leadership, mentorship, education, advocacy, presentations, policy work, community impact, and more.
The first-ever Landen Bosak Advocacy Award was presented at the 9th Annual Motormorphosis Conference to Danny Whitty, a fierce and compassionate advocate, a brilliant writer, and a powerful voice for the nonspeaking community.
Share your business with our loyal global network of nonspeakers at our flagship Motormorphosis Conference. During this two-day conference, you’ll be able to sell merchandise or share information about your organization or product with the spellerverse and the entire I-ASC community.
We only have a limited number of Vendor spaces available, so don’t wait!
Elizabeth Vosseller, the Executive Director of I-ASC and founder of Spelling to Communicate (S2C), is a native of Northern Virginia and is proud to call autism-friendly Herndon her hometown. Elizabeth has worked with individuals with complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995 in hospital, university, and private practice settings. In 2013, she began using Assistive Technology to teach students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate. Teaching motor versus cognition to access communication, meaningful education, and inclusion have been game changers for nonspeaking individuals. “26 letters equals infinite possibilities!” Since witnessing countless nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals successfully communicate and learn through spelling and typing, Elizabeth and I-ASC are committed to ensuring ALL nonspeaking individuals have access to communication through training, education, advocacy, and research. Elizabeth is honored to serve as the Executive Director for I-ASC.
Opening remarks
Debbie Spengler is an S2C Practitioner and member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre at I-ASC.
She's also a licensed marriage and family therapist and practices in the Los Angeles area.
Jess Sibley is an occupational therapist and registered Spelling to Communicate practitioner from Atlanta, GA. She began incorporating the letter boards into her sessions in 2014 and since then has become a mentor and support coach for I-ASC. Jess runs her private practice, Minds in Motion OT Inc., which focuses on supporting clients with developing the skills of purposeful movement for communication, meaningful activities and fitness and exercise. Over the course of her career she has become an ally to her clients and an advocate for those who are struggling with regulation challenges. She enjoys coaching parents and new CRP's and strongly believes a client will be most successful when they have trained CRP support accessible in all areas of their life. Finally, she supports the Atlanta community by organizing and supporting local events for the families and professionals through Every Voice Matters ATL.
This presentation explores the challenges that arise when working with clients and families navigating significant regulation difficulties and injurious actions, along with practical strategies for supporting them. We'll cover how to prepare for sessions with clients who need extra care and an intuitive approach to ensure successful sessions, even for new practitioners. We'll also walk through a toolkit of go-to strategies you can use to help foster safety and regulation for both clients and practitioners.
Sherri Taylor (RECE) is a certified S2C practitioner dedicated to supporting nonspeaking individuals in finding and using their voices through purposeful motor communication. With a background in education, movement, and advocacy, Sherri is passionate about fostering autonomy, preserving dignity, and building strong, respectful relationships with spellers and their families. She is committed to elevating nonspeaker voices and mentoring others in ethical, person-centered practice both as a member of I-ASC's Practitioner Leadership Cadre, I-ASC's S2C Faculty and in her private practice Spellers Connect.
Alex White is a 26-year-old with unreliable speech living in Orlando, Florida. He is new to advocacy and believes in the importance of nonspeakers showing their true selves, not just their outward words and bodies. Alex is published in the magazine In Words We Trust and participates in Neurolyrical Cafe. This is Alex’s first presentation at Motormorphosis, and it will not be his last. He couldn’t do it without his tribe of family and friends who support him every step of the way. He loves all things Disney and Star Wars.
Taking care of yourself and maintaining healthy boundaries to be the best practitioner for your spellers. Self-care, vicarious trauma, preventing burnout, and navigating emotionally complex family dynamics.
Kelley Howe is an occupational therapist and Certified Spelling to Communicate practitioner living in Knoxville, Tennessee. In her private practice, Adroit Therapy Services, Kelley supports her neurodiverse clients by helping them access reliable communication and teaching purposeful motor skills for all aspects of life. Kelley was first exposed to Spelling to Communicate in 2016 while working as an OT in Tampa, Florida. Since then, she has shifted her focus to helping her clients achieve true autonomy through reliable communication. In 2021, Kelley joined the I-ASC Leadership Cadre and now serves as a Cohort Leader and Mentor.
Effective motor coaching requires more than applying a standard set of supports. It demands thoughtful clinical reasoning and the ability to adapt strategies to meet each individual's needs. In this presentation, practitioners will strengthen their clinical reasoning by exploring how differences in motor present themselves. Through discussion, case examples, and practical application ideas, practitioners will examine how to individualize motor supports to promote greater access to purposeful motor skills.
Gigi is a certified S2C Practitioner, founder of The Spelling Studio, and a CRP mother of two nonspeakers in North County, San Diego. Hobbies include: oversharing.
“Meaningful progress happens when the adults surrounding a nonspeaking person work together. This session explores practical strategies for building trust, improving communication across disciplines, and creating consistent support. Attendees will leave with ideas for strengthening collaboration while keeping the individual at the center of every decision.”
Olivia is a certified S2C Practitioner, a Recreational Therapist, and a member of the I-ASC faculty. Olivia is located in Charlotte, NC, and supports nonspeakers through her practice, Brain2Body Therapy. Olivia is passionate about educating families and professionals on apraxia and Spelling to Communicate.
Katlyn is a certified S2C Practitioner, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, and a member of I-ASC faculty. She is passionate about presuming competence and helping spellers achieve their goals - whether that be through creative writing or motor coaching. She loves being a part of expanding access to reliable communication.
Practitioner to Practice Owner: Building Your S2C Practice takes a practical look at what it really means to move from providing sessions to running a business. Olivia and Katlyn will share lessons from their own experiences with setting up a practice, managing finances, creating policies and systems, finding clients, choosing a space, and deciding when and how to grow. Attendees will leave with useful ideas, real-life considerations, and a clearer picture of how to build a practice that fits their values, supports the people they serve, and remains sustainable over time.
Lakshmi Rao Sankar is a Certified S2C practitioner and has been a member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre since I-ASC’s inception. She has brought leadership to an international community engaged in communication access for the neurodiverse. She has led professional S2C training cohorts, and provided S2C practitioners-in-training with mentorship and guidance on core S2C principles and organization building. She is a regular presenter at webinars and has been a featured repeat presenter at Motormorphosis. Lakshmi is also a co-facilitator for the I-ASC Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, providing partnership to spellers in their movement to gain autonomy, access and agency.
In addition to her work at I-ASC, Lakshmi is Executive Director of CrimsonRise, an organization co-founded by spellers and their allies, providing S2C services to nonspeakers based in NYC. CrimsonRise is also an internship site for I-ASC, and many registered S2C practitioners on the team are clinical mentors to practitioners-in-training.
Lakshmi is also a partner and cofounder of Teamqore, where she consults with nonprofits in the areas of governance, strategic planning and development. She has also served, in leadership capacities, on the boards of Sakhi For South Asian Women, The Eden II Programs, the Foundation for the Advancement of Autistic Persons and On Your Mark.
Lakshmi has an MA in Sociology and an MBA in Human Resource Management. She loves to hike and travel with her family, and is an avid gardener. Her most favorite things to do include teaching curriculum-based
studies to spellers, and reading historical romances.
Lakshmi is mom to Tejas Rao Sankar, a nonspeaker serving on I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, advocate for autistics like himself, and a cofounder of CrimsonRise.
Debbie Spengler is an S2C Practitioner and member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre at I-ASC.
She's also a licensed marriage and family therapist and practices in the Los Angeles area.
Giorgena Sarantopoulos resides in Toronto, Ontario, where she was a legal professional for more than twenty years. That all changed when her eight-year old son’s voice was revealed through spelling. She has dedicated the past three years of her life to building her son’s capacity to communicate, and discovering and amplifying the voices of other nonspeaking individuals. Giorgena is passionate about inclusion in the schools and in the community, and is excited to learn more about Augmentative or Alternative Communication(AAC), and advocacy for the diverse population of individuals for whom speaking is not their primary means of communication. Giorgena brings more than twenty years experience in the legal field to IASC’s standardization initiatives. Giorgena adds “The thing that excites me most about I-ASC is that more and more lives will be changed by high quality S2C. Through high rigorous training and the development of standards for best practice, I-ASC aims to ensure high quality support for both nonspeaking individuals and their families.”
Lakshmi, Debbie, and Giorgena show how I-ASC prioritizes and puts Ethics into practice, from handbooks and training to how ethical violations in the field are addressed, drawing on real world examples of lessons learned along the way. The session also covers I-ASC’s current approach to handling allegations of abuse, giving practitioners a clear picture of what accountability looks like in action.
Katlyn is a certified S2C Practitioner, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, and a member of I-ASC faculty. She is passionate about presuming competence and helping spellers achieve their goals - whether that be through creative writing or motor coaching. She loves being a part of expanding access to reliable communication.
Getting over a plateau requires more than pushing harder. This session will explore how practitioners can recognize subtle patterns, preserve word boundaries, prevent early supports from becoming motor loops, and offer practical tips and strategies for navigating tricky situations while supporting spellers toward more fluent communication.
Torrie Moreton is a certified speech-language pathologist and the Co-Founder, Clinic Director, and Lead S2C Practitioner at The Griffin Promise Autism Clinic. With over 16 years of experience serving the autism community, Torrie is passionate about empowering nonspeaking and minimally speaking individuals through innovative communication methods. Her practice is rooted in a relationship-first philosophy, recognizing that meaningful connection is the foundation for effective support and growth. Torrie’s leadership, clinical expertise, and dedication to neurodiversity have made her a respected advocate and practitioner in the field of augmentative and alternative communication.
Mike Walker is a certified S2C Practitioner whose goal is helping as many nonspeakers as possible communicate through letter boarding, even if that means working 10+ hours a day! He became a full-time spelling practitioner after supporting nonspeakers of all ages in schools for 8 years. Mike discovered S2C in 2023 and immediately knew his next step: becoming a practitioner! When he isn’t at the office, he enjoys kayaking with a mountain view, eating a delicious meal, or running around with his dogs, Loki and Jolie!
Marquerette is a certified S2C Practitioner and I-ASC lesson grader, and is widely known as the unofficial lesson maven. If there is a lesson-related question floating around, half-formed, overthought, or in need of rescue, Marquerette is very likely your go-to person. She works at The Sisu Hub, the first centre in Africa providing age-appropriate education to nonspeakers, where she leads the Adult Group, The Sisu Insiders, a group that continually demonstrates the power of presuming competence and meaningful access to learning.
Beyond her day-to-day work, Marquerette is the founder of The Lesson Shelf, a trusted space for lesson writing tips, practical guidance, and genuinely great lessons that are built to work, not just look good on paper. She is deeply passionate about strong lesson design, thoughtful prompting, and supporting practitioners to feel confident, creative, and grounded in their lesson writing.
When she is not immersed in lessons and feedback, Marquerette can be found curled up with a book and her three Belgian Malinois, because a calm life was clearly never the goal. She is also well known for her excellent fiction book recommendations, so if you need a great read to escape into, she will happily point you in the right direction.
Meghan is a Certified S2C practitioner in Massachusetts. After working for 10 years in schools as a special educator she discovered S2C through a coworker. After going to New Directions Spelling Center and seeing a few spellers, she immediately knew she needed to become a practitioner and help uncover all the unheard voices. She is passionate about bringing spellers together, helping them create social connections, along side developing the skills for meaningful communication. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her children, crafting, hiking, camping, and all things outdoors.
Great groups don't happen by accident. Join experienced practitioners as they discuss how they structure engaging, meaningful groups that promote communication, connection, and participation while balancing individual needs, regulation, and support.
I am a proud 36-year-old minimally- and unreliably-speaking autistic writer, advocate, and friend living in San Diego, California. I am passionate about social justice, including sharing the voices of the nonspeaking world and advocating for our rights, dignity, and well-being! I am a member of the Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network, the board for Teva Community, and the advisory board for The Ohana Consortium. I also share perspectives of nonspeakers through my website (dannywithwords.com) and social media, including my Leo in Bloom project and The Ocean and Us podcast. I am also passionate about friendship, the ocean, cooking, and travel.
Noah Seback is a nonspeaking autistic, self-advocate, and lived experience expert. He serves the nonspeaking community from his home in Atlanta, GA but seeks to reach the world with his message of hope for nonspeakers living with unnoticed and untapped potential, no communication access, and runaway emotions and bodies. Through his mentoring business, qUirk, he offers his services as a Peer Support Specialist to come alongside peers, family members, and support personnel. He draws from his personal journey, one of barely surviving to thriving, to partner with them as they navigate their own unique autistic path. Noah also advocates, encourages, and educates anywhere, anytime, to anyone who will listen. A longtime supporter of I-ASC and its mission, he is an I-ASC blog and SpellX contributor and was a co-presenter at Motormorphosis Picnic 2021. He is also a proud and active member of I-ASC’s Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network. He has authored articles for Autism Parenting and Exceptional Needs Today magazines, being voted Top Young Voice Contributor 2021 for the latter. His original poetry was recently included in THE ENDING HASN’T HAPPENED YET, a disability anthology, and he has been interviewed on multiple podcasts. Noah routinely collaborates with like-minded professionals across various disciplines, their outreach striving to open minds and hearts to the neurodiversity of nonspeaking autistics like himself. When Noah is not passionately pursuing well-being for nonspeakers, he is known to have a biting-but-all-in-fun sense of humor and enjoys connecting with friends, grooving to tunes, and reveling in the great outdoors. But he places family and faith above all.
I am autistic and apraxic and have anxiety. I am unable to use my mouth to communicate and spent the first
25 years of my life locked in silence. I was unable to tell anyone what I thought, what I felt, or what I needed.
My school years were spent in special education with a curriculum focused on life skills, and I never received
academic instruction. It was excruciating.
Nine years ago, in 2017, I was first given the tools to communicate everything I wanted to say - not with my
mouth but by pointing to letters on an alphabet board. I celebrate that first day on the road to full
communication as my milestone bonus birthday, because my life was born anew then. It took me more than a
year to become proficient enough to carry on conversations with my immediate family and another year to feel
comfortable talking with friends and people I did not know.
I am so grateful that now I can tell my family when I have a headache and to talk with them and my therapist
about my anxiety. Without that ability, I would not get the treatment and tools that I need.
I love to take walks, hike in the woods, take canoe rides, eat good food (thanks, Mom!), listen to mysteries on
audiobooks, Zoom with family, hang out with friends in person and online, and play Scrabble with my Grandma
(who I beat only rarely). I currently live with my mom and dad.
I work as a Nonspeaking Coordinator for the Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network, the advocacy branch of
the International Association for Spelling as Communication. I also work with my nonspeaking colleagues in
SEEN (Spellers Empowering Education for Nonspeakers) to raise awareness in the Philadelphia area about
the capabilities of nonspeakers.
I have a full and rich life with good friends, fulfilling work and a loving family.
Stacy Mason is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in NY and a Certified Spelling to Communicate Practitioner. She is the mom of 2 Spellers, Trevor and Tyler Mason and is the owner and Director of Infinite Possibilities NY, a Psychotherapy and S2C Practice where she specializes in supporting the mental health of nonspeakers.
Monica van Schaik (they/them; MSW, RSW) is a queer, dyslexic social worker, therapist, Certified S2C Practitioner, and disability justice advocate. For over 20 years, Monica has worked alongside neurodivergent people and their families as a caregiver, accessibility workshop facilitator, Relationship Development Intervention™ (RDI) consultant, S2C practitioner, and therapist.
Monica is a proud co-founder of the Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network and founding Leadership Cadre member of the International Association for Spelling as Communication. Currently, they are focused on work in their private practice, Out of the Box Counseling & Collaborations in Kitchener, Ontario, located on the traditional territories of the Anishnaabe, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas, and Attawandronk peoples.
Monica’s work integrates therapeutic practice, advocacy, and community collaboration to support neurodivergent people in developing self-understanding, authentic communication, and meaningful connection as pathways toward wellbeing and collective transformation.
Sophie is one of the coordinators for the Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network. They first learned about S2C in 2014 when their younger sister learned to spell at Hirsch Academy in their hometown, Atlanta, GA. Sophie joined S&A as an ally in 2022 as a way to stay connected to the nonspeaking community after moving away from home, and became a coordinator for S&A in 2025. They love collaborating with so many incredible nonspeakers and allies through S&A. Through S&A, Sophie has learned so much about what it means to make spaces truly accessible to nonspeakers and is committed to bringing these lessons into their career as a social worker. Sophie currently works as an outpatient mental health therapist in Brooklyn, New York, and is passionate about inclusive and informed mental health care for nonspeakers. In their spare time, Sophie likes to read, cook, and spend time with family and friends.
Our spellers and allies aspire to be a true partnership. We advocate strongly for the belief that “nothing about us without us” and work together as a force to direct our advocacy. Our allies embrace this perspective, collaborating with spellers to share a mutual purpose and commitment to affect positive change for nonspeakers while forming friendships and having fun along the way.
It is crucially important for Practitioners to understand that there is a silent “E” right before the R in CRP. The silent E stands for “Emotional”.
CRPs receive lots of training on the C in CRP - teaching spellers to hold a pencil, point, use their eyes purposefully, maintain correct posture, initiate, develop stamina, etc. The R focus is largely on helping us be more engaged when we are lethargic, more calm when we are agitated, and more active when we are frozen.
But sometimes the lethargy, agitation and freezing are more significant and spellers get dysregulated. How can you help them?
This presentation is designed to help practitioners:
understand how spellers’ emotional turmoil can cause dysregulation
how you can recognize it
and what you can do to help spellers - including suggesting that they get the professional help they need to stay on track.
An evening of connection, creativity, and celebration for all ages.
Kick off the night with a warm welcome from your event hosts, S&A, as we come together to celebrate our incredible community.
Each table will feature engaging activities designed to spark conversation and creativity, including:
Silent Disco sponsored by Good Times Only
For those who want to dance, headsets will be available for a vibrant silent disco experience!
🎧 Headsets will be given first to nonspeakers, followed by siblings, and then family members if supplies allow.
We can't wait to share this joyful and inclusive evening with you—let's make it a night to remember!
Elizabeth Vosseller is a native of Northern Virginia and is proud to call autism-friendly, Herndon, her hometown. Elizabeth has worked with individuals with complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995 in hospital, university and private practice settings. In 2013, she began using Assistive Technology to teach students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate (S2C). Teaching motor versus cognition to access communication, meaningful education and inclusion has been a game changer for nonspeaking individuals. “26 letters equals infinite possibilities!” Since witnessing countless nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals successfully communicate and learn through spelling and typing, Elizabeth and I-ASC are committed to ensuring ALL nonspeaking individuals have access to communication through training, education, advocacy and research. Elizabeth is honored to serve as the Executive Director for I-ASC.
Opening Remarks
Our spellers and allies aspire to be a true partnership. We advocate strongly for the belief that “nothing about us without us” and work together as a force to direct our advocacy. Our allies embrace this perspective, collaborating with spellers to share a mutual purpose and commitment to affect positive change for nonspeakers while forming friendships and having fun along the way.
Divyesh is a nonspeaking individual from Tampa, FL, who can spell to communicate. His goal is to make primarily neurotypicals understand how we are on the inside. When he met Dana at her clinic, he knew his life would never be the same.
Will Hansen is 27 years old, living in Massachusetts, and has been a member of S&A for four years. Will says about S&A, “Getting to help other nonspeakers is wonderful.” Outside of S&A, Will writes poetry and has a poetry chapbook coming out soon.. Keep an eye out for his book!
Max is a 26 year old non speaker living in New York City. He is passionate about
communication access for all non speakers. He serves on the Communication
Equity Campaign as part of I-ASC’s Spellers and Allies Network. Additionally, he
has joined fellow non speakers to lobby lawmakers for communication rights for
disabled New Yorkers.
Max spends his time with his fellow spellers at CrimsonRise in Staten Island. He
loves surfing, the ocean and spending time with his friends.
This summer Max is working as an intern for Communication4All, sharpening his skills as a communication rights advocate and working to increase access to spelling.
Elizabeth Vosseller is a native of Northern Virginia and is proud to call autism-friendly, Herndon, her hometown. Elizabeth has worked with individuals with complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995 in hospital, university and private practice settings. In 2013, she began using Assistive Technology to teach students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate (S2C). Teaching motor versus cognition to access communication, meaningful education and inclusion has been a game changer for nonspeaking individuals. “26 letters equals infinite possibilities!” Since witnessing countless nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals successfully communicate and learn through spelling and typing, Elizabeth and I-ASC are committed to ensuring ALL nonspeaking individuals have access to communication through training, education, advocacy and research. Elizabeth is honored to serve as the Executive Director for I-ASC.
Advocacy is most powerful when it is informed, strategic, and responsible. This session explores how each of us can advance communication rights through thoughtful messaging, meaningful research, professional standards, and collaborative action that builds credibility and expands access.
Sarah has spent 20 years working across Life Sciences, Software, and Technology. As parent to an Autistic child, Sarah combined her professional and personal when founding BeMe.ai. She is a passionate advocate for the Autistic community and is driven to see a barrier free world for all. She holds a BSc in Human Biology from Western University, Canada and an MBA from ESMT European School of Management & Technology in Berlin, Germany.
The BeMe team is neurodiverse itself. At BeMe “We ARE the families we serve!”
Explore what’s new with the I-ASC S2C Platform powered by BeMe. Learn how the data gathered through the platform can strengthen our understanding of S2C, build broader acceptance, and help expand access to communication for nonspeakers. Practitioners, you're going to love the new practice management features.
Lakshmi Rao Sankar is a Certified S2C practitioner and has been a member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre since I-ASC’s inception. She has brought leadership to an international community engaged in communication access for the neurodiverse. She has led professional S2C training cohorts, and provided S2C practitioners-in-training with mentorship and guidance on core S2C principles and organization building. She is a regular presenter at webinars and has been a featured repeat presenter at Motormorphosis. Lakshmi is also a co-facilitator for the I-ASC Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, providing partnership to spellers in their movement to gain autonomy, access and agency.
In addition to her work at I-ASC, Lakshmi is Executive Director of CrimsonRise, an organization co-founded by spellers and their allies, providing S2C services to nonspeakers based in NYC. CrimsonRise is also an internship site for I-ASC, and many registered S2C practitioners on the team are clinical mentors to practitioners-in-training.
Lakshmi is also a partner and cofounder of Teamqore, where she consults with nonprofits in the areas of governance, strategic planning and development. She has also served, in leadership capacities, on the boards of Sakhi For South Asian Women, The Eden II Programs, the Foundation for the Advancement of Autistic Persons and On Your Mark.
Lakshmi has an MA in Sociology and an MBA in Human Resource Management. She loves to hike and travel with her family, and is an avid gardener. Her most favorite things to do include teaching curriculum-based
studies to spellers, and reading historical romances.
Lakshmi is mom to Tejas Rao Sankar, a nonspeaker serving on I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, advocate for autistics like himself, and a cofounder of CrimsonRise.
Ethan Nagy views himself as a renaissance man following his own interests, including history and math. Ethan is a published author, having contributed a chapter to the book Underestimated: An Autism Miracle. Joining the NLC is the perfect merging of his love of writing and his newfound passion for advocacy. Ethan resides in Oregon with his family.
Noah Seback is a nonspeaking autistic, self-advocate, and lived experience expert. He serves the nonspeaking community from his home in Atlanta, GA but seeks to reach the world with his message of hope for nonspeakers living with unnoticed and untapped potential, no communication access, and runaway emotions and bodies. Through his mentoring business, qUirk, he offers his services as a Peer Support Specialist to come alongside peers, family members, and support personnel. He draws from his personal journey, one of barely surviving to thriving, to partner with them as they navigate their own unique autistic path. Noah also advocates, encourages, and educates anywhere, anytime, to anyone who will listen. A longtime supporter of I-ASC and its mission, he is an I-ASC blog and SpellX contributor and was a co-presenter at Motormorphosis Picnic 2021. He is also a proud and active member of I-ASC’s Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network. He has authored articles for Autism Parenting and Exceptional Needs Today magazines, being voted Top Young Voice Contributor 2021 for the latter. His original poetry was recently included in THE ENDING HASN’T HAPPENED YET, a disability anthology, and he has been interviewed on multiple podcasts. Noah routinely collaborates with like-minded professionals across various disciplines, their outreach striving to open minds and hearts to the neurodiversity of nonspeaking autistics like himself. When Noah is not passionately pursuing well-being for nonspeakers, he is known to have a biting-but-all-in-fun sense of humor and enjoys connecting with friends, grooving to tunes, and reveling in the great outdoors. But he places family and faith above all.
Debbie Spengler is an S2C Practitioner and member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre at I-ASC.
She's also a licensed marriage and family therapist and practices in the Los Angeles area.
Regulation is at the heart of communication, connection, and access—yet it's often misunderstood or reduced to "calming down." This four-part seminar explores the full universe of regulation from the perspectives of spellers and practitioners. We begin with the neuroanatomy of regulation—what's actually happening in the brain and body—then move into co-regulation and counseling, translating neuroscience into relational practice. From there, we examine regulation through a trauma-informed lens, and close with a lived-experience perspective that brings the science and practice together in a deeply personal way.
See who will win the Annual Landen Bosak Advocacy Award from the Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network!
Sofia Ghassaei is a 23 year old poet and playwright from Seattle. Her creative work has been published in Spoon Knife, Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation, Hey Neighbor, Di lo que quieres decir 2023- Antología de siglemas 575, Neuroclastic, Teen Creative magazine, and presented at the Boards and Chords, Neurolyrical Cafe, SpellX, and the 2022-23 Lynx Amplify Project. Her first short play, Words Unheard, was performed by Seattle's Theater of Possibility in 2022. Her second musical play, Love Letters, A True-ly Short Epistolary Romance, was performed by Theater of Possibility in 2023 and by Neurodivergent Plays in New York City in 2026. It is now available on YouTube. Her short story Pom's Tales, will be published in 2026. She is a member of the Nonspeaking Leadership Council, and loves biking in her spare time. Sofia uses a letterboard to communicate.
Tejas Rao Sankar is proud to be a part of the Nonspeaking Leadership Cadre at I-ASC. Tejas is a nonspeaking autistic who spells to communicate. He is a passionate advocate for the rights of autistic nonspeakers. In addition to being in leadership roles, Tejas advocates through creating memes and blogs and by making presentations to audiences on the issues faced by autistics like himself, and the change he wants to see in the world. Tejas co-founded www.crimsonrise.org with his peers. This was based on a desire to bring communication access to nonspeakers. To create partnerships with community organizations, recreation centers, and providers of services to autistics with the aim of getting them to presume competence in and welcome nonspeakers who communicate through spelling. Tejas is part of the leadership team at CrimsonRise. He provides mentorship to new spellers, CRPs, and Practitioners in Training. Tejas spearheaded peer-to-peer counseling to provide counseling and regulation support to nonspeaking autistics based on his lived experience. Tejas has been a part of I-ASC’s Spellers & Allies, since its creation. This is a network that works to bring advocacy to spellers’ causes. Tejas has been a panelist presenter at conferences such as Innovations in Education in Atlanta, USA, and with I-ASC to international audiences. Tejas blogs include these with Neuroclastic and Learn from Autistics.
Massimo is a 21 years old nonspeaking autistic. He graduated with honours from high school.
He has a strong passion for Mathematics, and he is taking Mathematics and Computer Programming courses at university level. Massimo is a passionate advocate about civil rights and inclusion for all, and he is a member of I-ASC Spellers and Allies. He defines himself as a romantic traveller. In his free time he loves watching movies, listening to music and watching sports games. Massimo resides in Ontario, Canada
Gregory Tino is a nonspeaking autistic who has been spelling on a letterboard to communicate since 2017. He is an advocate for other nonspeakers, presents at conferences, and aims to educate people on the incredible capabilities of people with autism. He has written two books, The Land Called Boring, and The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks, and a third is in the works. He also has written the narrative for multiple videos on his YouTube channel, which is entitled, Gregory C Tino. In his free time, he enjoys writing for his blog, The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks on WordPress, spending time with family, and riding his bike.
Ava Guardado is a 21-year-old nonspeaking college student who uses spelling to communicate. She’s entering her senior year at Concordia University Irvine, where she’s majoring in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in creative writing and minoring in Biology and Psychology. Ava is passionate about music, swimming, horseback riding, and playing the piano — and she loves nothing more than spending time with her family and traveling. As she navigates adult life and higher education, Ava is finding her voice through writing, self-advocacy, and connection. She is excited to share her experiences pursuing an undergraduate degree and postgraduate opportunities for nonspeakers in her presentation with the Nonspeaking Leadership Committee, “Envisioning the Future”. She is also looking forward to sharing her reflections on “What I Would Tell My Younger Self.”
Noah Seback is a nonspeaking autistic, self-advocate, and lived experience expert. He serves the nonspeaking community from his home in Atlanta, GA but seeks to reach the world with his message of hope for nonspeakers living with unnoticed and untapped potential, no communication access, and runaway emotions and bodies. Through his mentoring business, qUirk, he offers his services as a Peer Support Specialist to come alongside peers, family members, and support personnel. He draws from his personal journey, one of barely surviving to thriving, to partner with them as they navigate their own unique autistic path. Noah also advocates, encourages, and educates anywhere, anytime, to anyone who will listen. A longtime supporter of I-ASC and its mission, he is an I-ASC blog and SpellX contributor and was a co-presenter at Motormorphosis Picnic 2021. He is also a proud and active member of I-ASC’s Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network. He has authored articles for Autism Parenting and Exceptional Needs Today magazines, being voted Top Young Voice Contributor 2021 for the latter. His original poetry was recently included in THE ENDING HASN’T HAPPENED YET, a disability anthology, and he has been interviewed on multiple podcasts. Noah routinely collaborates with like-minded professionals across various disciplines, their outreach striving to open minds and hearts to the neurodiversity of nonspeaking autistics like himself. When Noah is not passionately pursuing well-being for nonspeakers, he is known to have a biting-but-all-in-fun sense of humor and enjoys connecting with friends, grooving to tunes, and reveling in the great outdoors. But he places family and faith above all.
I am a 40 year old speller, published writer, disability justice advocate, presenter and educator, and ocean enthusiast based in San Diego. My regular advocacy work is through my Danny With Words social media accounts (blog, Facebook, Instagram) and Leo in Bloom Magazine, featuring works by nonspeaking autistics. I co-host the All Our Brave Hearts podcast, and teach courses to fellow spellers on poetry and goal setting. I am a member of Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, and Teva Community's Board of Directors. My writings have been published as a poetry chapbook as well as in Bon Appetit Magazine, OpenTable’s blog, Eat Club Magazine, and the Art of Autism.
Divyesh is a nonspeaking individual from Tampa, FL, who can spell to communicate. His goal is to make primarily neurotypicals understand how we are on the inside. When he met Dana at her clinic, he knew his life would never be the same.
Anna Napolitano is from Pennsylvania. She is a nonspeaking intelligent person who learned to spell to communicate five years ago. She is excited to serve on the I-ASC Nonspeaking Leadership Council to further the mission of increasing access to communication for all fellow nonspeakers. Through sharing her life-saving experience of finding her voice, she has helped open the door to communication fo others previously trapped in their silent prisons. Her work has just begun to make the world a better place for those who have so much to say but don’t have a way to express themselves.
Ethan Nagy views himself as a renaissance man following his own interests, including history and math. Ethan is a published author, having contributed a chapter to the book Underestimated: An Autism Miracle. Joining the NLC is the perfect merging of his love of writing and his newfound passion for advocacy. Ethan resides in Oregon with his family.
The Nonspeaking Leadership Council (NLC) comprises nonspeakers over the age of 18 who can fluently communicate and have exceptional leadership skills and the ability to collaborate with individuals across the organization. The NLC provides direct input and guidance to I-ASC on its organizational operations and goals, which ensures I-ASC remains aligned with the needs of the nonspeaking community. The Nonspeaking Leadership Council members are paid for their services to advise the Board of Directors, the Practitioner Leadership Cadre, and the I-ASC Staff.
Members of I-ASC’s Nonspeaking Leadership Council envision a future shaped by nonspeakers themselves. Through personal stories and advocacy, they explore relationships, education, careers, independent living, self-worth, and whats possible when working to exceed society’s expectations.
Vikram Jaswal is Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia and Editor in Chief of the Journal of Cognition and Development. He is a developmental psychologist whose work has addressed a range of topics in typical development, including in word learning, categorization, memory development, and social cognition. His current research focuses on communication and social interaction in autism. His work is inspired and informed by the lived experiences of autistic children and adults and their families.
Dr. Stewart Mostofsky is Director of the Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Professor of Neurology and of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University.
As a child neurologist and clinical researcher, Dr. Mostofsky has focused on working with, and helping to improve the lives of, people with neurodevelopmental disabilities. In his research, Dr. Mostofsky integrates innovative behavioral, neuroimaging and neurophysiologic methods to identify mechanisms underlying developmental brain disorders such as autism, ADHD and Tourette syndrome. He has engaged a particular focus on examining how alterations in sensory-motor function can help address clinical heterogeneity across these disorders in ways that can help improve targeted diagnosis and intervention.
Dr. Mostofsky has made impactful contributions to identifying patterns of impaired sensory-motor control and learning in children with autism. This work has been foundational towards understanding how autism-associated impairments in praxis, motor imitation and visual-motor integration contribute to challenges with acquiring skills crucial social-communicative and motor development. He is now leveraging these findings to develop engaging and scalable methods for improved autism diagnosis and intervention, including for those who are minimally speaking.
Dr. Mostofsky has also helped uncover anomalous patterns of motor function in ADHD, identifying biomarkers with potential to address ADHD heterogeneity in ways that can improve targeted intervention. Combining novel neurostimulation (TMS), behavioral and imaging methods, he has helped identify how deficits in motor control contribute to impulsive/hyperactive and inattentive behavior that defines ADHD as well as to adolescent outcomes affecting ADHD youth. Building on this foundation, Dr. Mostofsky has contributed to understanding of how novel movement-based interventions, including mindfulness, can help children with ADHD and their families.
" Emily Davis is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her research focuses on memory, attention, and language in neurotypical and neurodiverse populations across the lifespan. As part of an ongoing project at the Toronto Neuroimaging Centre, she is using MRI to investigate the neural basis of language processing in non-speaking autistic individuals. Her work aims to advance our understanding of language processing in this understudied population and inform more effective approaches to supporting communication access and inclusion.
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Dr. Mary Doherty is an autistic Consultant Anaesthetist and Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland. She is the founder of Autistic Doctors International and developed the Autistic SPACE framework for meeting the needs of autistic people in healthcare. Her research interests include healthcare for autistic people and experiences of autistic medical students and doctors, and she is currently exploring the experiences of autistic psychiatrists. As mother of 2 autistic young people, Mary is passionate about optimising mental and physical health for the autistic community. She believes that moving from traditional deficit framing of autism to a neurodiversity affirmative approach is the way forwards.
Join researchers from across the I-ASC community as they share updates on current and emerging studies related to communication, motor differences, and nonspeaking individuals. his session will explore recent findings, lessons learned, and the questions shaping the future of research in our field.
Certified I-ASC Practitioner for 3 years.
Based in the North Bay Area in Petaluma, CA
Have my own practice called Bay Area Spelling where I work with 25+ spellers a week.
Make friends…fast! Spellers will pair up for 15–20 minutes of conversation, then switch partners for another chance to connect. It’s a relaxed, fun way to meet new people and build friendships through spelling.
Kelly Berg lives in Herndon, Virginia, after spending nearly a decade overseas. In 2017, she was introduced to neighbors with a nonspeaking son and became aware of spelling as communication, as well as a friend of the local spelling community. After her daughter started full-time school, wanting to get back into the workforce and having a background in Communication Sciences and Disorders, she spent merely a few hours at Growing Kids Therapy Center and knew that she had found her home. Kelly is a Certified S2C Practitioner who is not only passionate about helping her clients build their communication skills but also about creating social events outside of scheduled clinic visits in which spellers can enjoy the company of other spellers as well their neurotypical peers. Kelly spent years in the not-for-profit sector, and is excited to merge this experience with her clinical expertise in her role as a member of the I-ASC Leadership Cadre. Kelly adds, “Having a daughter, I think the thing that motivates me the most is that I want every parent to truly know their child the way that I know my own. I want to help my nonspeaking clients build their communication skills so that this is possible, but I also want to ensure that every nonspeaker, in every corner of the world, has access to an effective method of communication.”
"Fluency is not built during one weekly session—it develops through
thousands of purposeful, well-supported practice opportunities in
everyday life. This presentation explores how families and
Communication Regulation Partners can build fluency through virtual
S2C support, even when their practitioner is miles away. Attendees
will learn how consistent practice, skilled feedback, regulation,
accurate motor coaching, accountability, and strong
practitioner-family partnerships help prevent small errors from
becoming lasting habits. We will also examine common shortcuts that
delay progress and discuss additional supports—including video review,
intensives, parent cohorts, and CRP training. Virtual does not mean
less; it means different advantages, different challenges, and the
same goal: purposeful, reliable, connected communication."
Donna Budway has served as a community organizer in Arlington for the past two decades. She is active in autism advocacy, hospice and tutoring for at risk students. Donna and her husband Robert have three children, their youngest Emma, a non-speaking autistic, is living and thriving in OSG’s first community, Gilliam Place, an affordable and inclusive community in Arlington. Donna is instrumental in her outreach of sharing the mission and the importance of making community. Her passion is in developing and sustaining inclusive settings and ensuring the well-being for adults of all abilities.
Emma Budway is a 29 year old unreliably speaking autistic who is passionate about advocating for equity and social justice issues. She is committed to making the world more accepting of the neurodiverse and advocating for inclusion of the nonspeaking community. Emma believes that everyone should be fully included in schools, housing and employment.
Charlie Colligan is a lifelong Herndon native/resident who is very happy to be a part of this panel. He is 26 years old and currently lives with his parents, two college-aged younger brothers, and a younger sister in high school. He has been a Service Source employee for a little over two years and is stationed at the Environmental Protection Agency mailroom.
His journey with S2C began in 2014, where he finally was able to share his voice. He has also enjoyed the opportunity to work with Vikram Jaswal’s group at UVA as well as subsequent studies.
He would like to encourage new spellers to use S2C as an opportunity to share their own feedback.
Olivia is a certified S2C Practitioner, a Recreational Therapist, and a member of the I-ASC faculty. Olivia is located in Charlotte, NC, and supports nonspeakers through her practice, Brain2Body Therapy. Olivia is passionate about educating families and professionals on apraxia and Spelling to Communicate.
Every environment presents unique opportunities and challenges. Join this diverse panel as they discuss what effective support looks like across home, school, work, and community settings, and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Vikram Jaswal is Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia and Editor in Chief of the Journal of Cognition and Development. He is a developmental psychologist whose work has addressed a range of topics in typical development, including in word learning, categorization, memory development, and social cognition. His current research focuses on communication and social interaction in autism. His work is inspired and informed by the lived experiences of autistic children and adults and their families.
Elizabeth Vosseller is a native of Northern Virginia and is proud to call autism-friendly, Herndon, her hometown. Elizabeth has worked with individuals with complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995 in hospital, university and private practice settings. In 2013, she began using Assistive Technology to teach students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate (S2C). Teaching motor versus cognition to access communication, meaningful education and inclusion has been a game changer for nonspeaking individuals. “26 letters equals infinite possibilities!” Since witnessing countless nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals successfully communicate and learn through spelling and typing, Elizabeth and I-ASC are committed to ensuring ALL nonspeaking individuals have access to communication through training, education, advocacy and research. Elizabeth is honored to serve as the Executive Director for I-ASC.
Kayden Stockwell is an autistic PhD candidate in developmental psychology at the University of Virginia. His recent work uses wearable heart sensors to investigate how social relationships may connect to regulation in nonspeaking autistic teens and adults. Kayden has also conducted research about (primarily speaking) autistic college students and the stigmatization of autistic people.
Michelle Ballan is Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Social Welfare, Professor of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine at Renaissance School of Medicine, and Program and Center Director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other related Disabilities (LEND) Center at Stony Brook University. Her practice, research, and teaching aim to ameliorate societal barriers impacting individuals with disabilities. Dr. Ballan has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations and is currently the Principal Investigator on federal and foundation grants from New York City Community Trust, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, National Science Foundation, and Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and Co-Investigator on a National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated project. Each targets reducing health disparities and improving quality of life for individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities and their families through an interdisciplinary lens. She is the recipient of several awards and distinctions including 2022 National Academies of Practice Fellow, 2020 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the 2020 Switzer Distinguished Level Research Fellowship.
Diwakar Krishnamurthy is a professor and research chair (Technologies to Foster Inclusion of Neurodivergent Individuals) at the University of Calgary. He leads a pioneering transdisciplinary research program developing technologies for nonspeaking autistic individuals - a historically underserved group with high support needs - using a community-driven approach. His team has created innovative Extended Reality (XR) solutions, including holographic and eye-gaze-based typing tools, to enhance communication outcomes for nonspeaking autistic individuals who communicate by spelling. His work has earned many recognitions, including the Parex Resources Innovation Fellowship (2023-25) and a finalist nomination in the 2023 ASTech Awards for social innovation and educational technologies.
Ever wondered what researchers really debate, what excites them, or what studies they want to conduct next? This panel brings together leading researchers for an open conversation about the biggest questions facing the field and the opportunities ahead.
Jess Sibley is an occupational therapist and registered Spelling to Communicate practitioner from Atlanta, GA. She began incorporating the letter boards into her sessions in 2014 and since then has become a mentor and support coach for I-ASC. Jess runs her private practice, Minds in Motion OT Inc., which focuses on supporting clients with developing the skills of purposeful movement for communication, meaningful activities and fitness and exercise. Over the course of her career she has become an ally to her clients and an advocate for those who are struggling with regulation challenges. She enjoys coaching parents and new CRP's and strongly believes a client will be most successful when they have trained CRP support accessible in all areas of their life. Finally, she supports the Atlanta community by organizing and supporting local events for the families and professionals through Every Voice Matters ATL.
This presentation breaks down the different types of movement we all engage in naturally throughout the day, and explores ways to build in consistent coaching, practice, and support for those with movement differences. We'll look at how to pick and choose what to work on and when, how to break tasks down into smaller components, the importance of layering in and fading out prompt support, and how to build motor skills through consistency and repetition. And if you and your speller have hit a wall on a motor task at home, let's problem-solve it together with our Panel of OTs!
Monica van Schaik (they/them; MSW, RSW) is a queer, dyslexic social worker, therapist, Certified S2C Practitioner, and disability justice advocate. For over 20 years, Monica has worked alongside neurodivergent people and their families as a caregiver, accessibility workshop facilitator, Relationship Development Intervention™ (RDI) consultant, S2C practitioner, and therapist.
Monica is a proud co-founder of the Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network and founding Leadership Cadre member of the International Association for Spelling as Communication. Currently, they are focused on work in their private practice, Out of the Box Counseling & Collaborations in Kitchener, Ontario, located on the traditional territories of the Anishnaabe, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas, and Attawandronk peoples.
Monica’s work integrates therapeutic practice, advocacy, and community collaboration to support neurodivergent people in developing self-understanding, authentic communication, and meaningful connection as pathways toward wellbeing and collective transformation.
Heather Sturner is a Certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) Practitioner, Certified Educator, former elementary school teacher, and member of the I-ASC Faculty. Before becoming an S2C practitioner, Heather spent years in the classroom teaching elementary students, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to meaningful, inclusive education for all learners.
As the proud aunt of a nonspeaker, Heather’s journey with S2C began through her own family’s experience. That personal connection fuels her dedication to helping nonspeakers gain access to reliable communication and age-appropriate educational opportunities.
Heather is the founder of Serenity S2C in Central Florida, where she works with nonspeakers and their families while educating parents, educators, and professionals about the importance of presuming competence and understanding purposeful motor challenges. She believes that regulation, connection, and strong relationships are the cornerstones of successful communication and learning.
Marjorie is a Certified S2C Practitioner and a member of I-ASC faculty. Marjorie is the founder of New Direction Spelling Center in Southborough, Massachusetts. Marjorie is the mother of Will, a nonspeaking advocate and poet. Marjorie enjoys reading, educating parents about S2C, and is an artist whose paintings have been shown in museums and magazines.
Tara Sayuri Whitty is also known as "Danny's sister." Her journey with S2C started in 2020 with her brother, Danny of Danny With Words, with whose encouragement she became a certified S2C practitioner in 2023. She works with spellers and their families in San Diego County and Temecula through her practice, Possibilities in Communication, which is heavily informed by her experiences as a family member to a speller. Besides S2C and supporting Danny's empire, she continues to work in her original field: marine conservation research, training, and project evaluation.
Aspen is a Las Vegas native, and proud mother of two young children. She is a certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) Practitioner and serves as the Director of Freed Academy and Dashing to Freedom in Las Vegas, where she is dedicated to empowering nonspeaking individuals through communication, education, and advocacy.
In addition to her work in the nonprofit and education space, Aspen operates two Las Vegas bars alongside her mother, blending her passion for hospitality, business leadership, and community engagement. Whether she’s supporting families, leading her organizations, or growing local businesses, Aspen is driven by a belief that meaningful connection and opportunity can change lives.
Dash DeLaCruz, known as dashthespellerofallspellers, is an 18-year-old Las Vegas native. When he’s not exploring forest trails or crafting jokes that make people smile, Dash is dedicated to making a difference in the nonspeaking community. As the founder of the nonprofit Dashing to Freedom and Freed Academy for Nonspeakers, he works to raise awareness, expand communication access, and create opportunities for nonspeaking individuals to be FREED from their silent prisons.
Anna Britton, LMSW, is a Tucson, Arizona–based Certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) Practitioner, owner of Spelling with Anna LLC, and co-founder and Vice President of Tucson Spellers, a nonprofit organization serving nonspeaking individuals and their families throughout Southern Arizona. She earned her Master of Social Work from Arizona State University with a specialization in Children, Youth, and Families and has supported autistic and neurodivergent individuals since 2016 in clinical, educational, and community-based settings. Through her clinical practice, nonprofit leadership, and advocacy, Anna is dedicated to and passionate about expanding access to reliable communication, promoting authentic inclusion, empowering nonspeaking individuals to lead self-determined and fulfilling lives, and helping families and communities create environments where nonspeakers are genuinely included, valued, and heard.
I am a 40 year old speller, published writer, disability justice advocate, presenter and educator, and ocean enthusiast based in San Diego. My regular advocacy work is through my Danny With Words social media accounts (blog, Facebook, Instagram) and Leo in Bloom Magazine, featuring works by nonspeaking autistics. I co-host the All Our Brave Hearts podcast, and teach courses to fellow spellers on poetry and goal setting. I am a member of Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, and Teva Community's Board of Directors. My writings have been published as a poetry chapbook as well as in Bon Appetit Magazine, OpenTable’s blog, Eat Club Magazine, and the Art of Autism.
Siblings often become trusted communication partners, advocates, and lifelong sources of friendship and support. Join spellers, siblings, and practitioners for a conversation about the unique role siblings play, the challenges and rewards of the journey, and ways families can foster strong sibling relationships across the lifespan.
Elizabeth Vosseller is a native of Northern Virginia and is proud to call autism-friendly, Herndon, her hometown. Elizabeth has worked with individuals with complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995 in hospital, university and private practice settings. In 2013, she began using Assistive Technology to teach students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate (S2C). Teaching motor versus cognition to access communication, meaningful education and inclusion has been a game changer for nonspeaking individuals. “26 letters equals infinite possibilities!” Since witnessing countless nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals successfully communicate and learn through spelling and typing, Elizabeth and I-ASC are committed to ensuring ALL nonspeaking individuals have access to communication through training, education, advocacy and research. Elizabeth is honored to serve as the Executive Director for I-ASC.
Sofia Ghassaei is a 23 year old poet and playwright from Seattle. Her creative work has been published in Spoon Knife, Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation, Hey Neighbor, Di lo que quieres decir 2023- Antología de siglemas 575, Neuroclastic, Teen Creative magazine, and presented at the Boards and Chords, Neurolyrical Cafe, SpellX, and the 2022-23 Lynx Amplify Project. Her first short play, Words Unheard, was performed by Seattle's Theater of Possibility in 2022. Her second musical play, Love Letters, A True-ly Short Epistolary Romance, was performed by Theater of Possibility in 2023 and by Neurodivergent Plays in New York City in 2026. It is now available on YouTube. Her short story Pom's Tales, will be published in 2026. She is a member of the Nonspeaking Leadership Council, and loves biking in her spare time. Sofia uses a letterboard to communicate.
Brain in black and white or Technicolor? Explore the phenomenon of synesthesia in nonspeakers in this session and take a trip through our minds.
Kelley Howe is an occupational therapist and registered Spelling to Communicate practitioner living in Knoxville, Tennessee. In her private practice, Adroit Therapy Services, Kelley supports her neurodiverse clients by helping them access reliable communication and teaching purposeful motor skills for all aspects of life. Kelley was first exposed to Spelling to Communicate in 2016 while working as an OT in Tampa, Florida. Since then, she has shifted her focus to helping her clients achieve true autonomy through reliable communication. In 2021, Kelley joined the I-ASC Leadership Cadre and now serves as a Cohort Leader and Mentor.
Research continually expands our understanding of the motor differences experienced by many nonspeaking individuals and we are finding new insights into how movement impacts all aspects of daily life. This presentation will explore current research from Dr. Brittany Travers at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, highlighting research projects related to purposeful motor control and their implications for daily activities. Designed for practitioners, families, and allies, this session will bridge research and practice by translating scientific findings into meaningful, actionable strategies.
Lakshmi Rao Sankar is a registered S2C practitioner and has been a member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre since I-ASC’s inception. She has brought leadership to an international community engaged in communication access for the neurodiverse. She has led professional S2C training cohorts, and provided S2C practitioners-in-training with mentorship and guidance on core S2C principles and organization building. She is a regular presenter at webinars and has been a featured repeat presenter at Motormorphosis. Lakshmi is also a co-facilitator for the I-ASC Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, providing partnership to spellers in their movement to gain autonomy, access and agency.
In addition to her work at I-ASC, Lakshmi is Executive Director of CrimsonRise, an organization co-founded by spellers and their allies, providing S2C services to nonspeakers based in NYC. CrimsonRise is also an internship site for I-ASC, and many registered S2C practitioners on the team are clinical mentors to practitioners-in-training.
Lakshmi is also a partner and cofounder of Teamqore, where she consults with nonprofits in the areas of governance, strategic planning and development. She has also served, in leadership capacities, on the boards of Sakhi For South Asian Women, The Eden II Programs, the Foundation for the Advancement of Autistic Persons and On Your Mark.
Lakshmi has an MA in Sociology and an MBA in Human Resource Management. She loves to hike and travel with her family, and is an avid gardener. Her most favorite things to do include teaching curriculum-based
studies to spellers, and reading historical romances.
Lakshmi is mom to Tejas Rao Sankar, a nonspeaker serving on I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, advocate for autistics like himself, and a cofounder of CrimsonRise.
"Debbie Spengler is an S2C Practitioner and member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre at I-ASC.
She's also a licensed marriage and family therapist and practices in the Los Angeles area. "
Giorgena Sarantopoulos resides in Toronto, Ontario, where she was a legal professional for more than twenty years. That all changed when her eight-year old son’s voice was revealed through spelling. She has dedicated the past three years of her life to building her son’s capacity to communicate, and discovering and amplifying the voices of other nonspeaking individuals. Giorgena is passionate about inclusion in the schools and in the community, and is excited to learn more about Augmentative or Alternative Communication(AAC), and advocacy for the diverse population of individuals for whom speaking is not their primary means of communication. Giorgena brings more than twenty years experience in the legal field to IASC’s standardization initiatives. Giorgena adds “The thing that excites me most about I-ASC is that more and more lives will be changed by high quality S2C. Through high rigorous training and the development of standards for best practice, I-ASC aims to ensure high quality support for both nonspeaking individuals and their families.”
This session helps parents and communication regulation partners (CRPs) understand what ethical practice means in Spelling to Communicate (S2C), going beyond the rules to explore the reasoning and care behind them, as well as the systems I-ASC has developed to uphold them. Attendees will also learn what red flags to look out for and how to safeguard the integrity and authenticity of their speller’s message as active partners in the communication process.
Monica van Schaik (they/them; MSW, RSW) is a queer, dyslexic social worker, therapist, Certified S2C Practitioner, and disability justice advocate. For over 20 years, Monica has worked alongside neurodivergent people and their families as a caregiver, accessibility workshop facilitator, Relationship Development Intervention™ (RDI) consultant, S2C practitioner, and therapist.
Monica is a proud co-founder of the Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network and founding Leadership Cadre member of the International Association for Spelling as Communication. Currently, they are focused on work in their private practice, Out of the Box Counseling & Collaborations in Kitchener, Ontario, located on the traditional territories of the Anishnaabe, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas, and Attawandronk peoples.
Monica’s work integrates therapeutic practice, advocacy, and community collaboration to support neurodivergent people in developing self-understanding, authentic communication, and meaningful connection as pathways toward wellbeing and collective transformation.
I am a 40 year old speller, published writer, disability justice advocate, presenter and educator, and ocean enthusiast based in San Diego. My regular advocacy work is through my Danny With Words social media accounts (blog, Facebook, Instagram) and Leo in Bloom Magazine, featuring works by nonspeaking autistics. I co-host the All Our Brave Hearts podcast, and teach courses to fellow spellers on poetry and goal setting. I am a member of Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, and Teva Community's Board of Directors. My writings have been published as a poetry chapbook as well as in Bon Appetit Magazine, OpenTable’s blog, Eat Club Magazine, and the Art of Autism.
I’m a 17-year-old Australian Autistic nonspeaker who communicates with a letterboard. I love to bushwalk, advocate for Autistic nonspeakers' human rights, communicate with people and learn about the world.
At just 15, I became the first nonspeaking individual to address South Australia’s Parliament via letterboard, proposing an Autism and Neurodiversity Academy of Excellence to revolutionise teacher training. My ideas have earned me a $10,000 scholarship, influenced the Australian National Autism Strategy, and led to meetings with key political leaders. I am the youngest and first ever nonspeaking Autistic person selected for the South Australian Disability Minister's Advisory Council.
As a result of my advocacy work the Attorney General listed me as an inspirational South Australian on the Government's website. I am an Ambassador for Walking SA, regularly appear in the media and have presented nationally and internationally. I am also an entrepreneur and content creator and a consultant for National Parks SA, producing the world's first trail guide spelled by a nonspeaker to improve access for autistic people. I dream of becoming the world's first Autistic nonspeaking hiking guide.
You can find my advocacy work by visiting www.thestoryspeller.com and on Instagram @iamthestoryspeller
Matthew is a nonspeaking autistic who spells and types to communicate. Spelling to Communicate (S2C) provided a life-altering breakthrough for Matthew at the age of 12. This technique has allowed him to become fully mainstreamed in school. With access to a letterboard and keyboard in the classroom, at the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School (PPACS), Matthew was able to take Honors and AP Classes. S2C also enabled him to express himself artistically as a Fine Arts major, argue in Debate Club, discuss novels in Book Club, serve in leadership positions (Secretary and Vice President) in National Honor Society, and “talk” with friends at lunch. Currently, Matthew is thrilled to be taking 3-4 college classes per semester at Temple University, while still at PPACS as a high school student. Using the letterboard and keyboard at college, he has been able to fully participate in classroom discussion, take tests, write term papers, and demonstrate his love of learning. He hopes to transition into an undergraduate degree program with special focus in the field of Communications. Matthew has been a proud member of a local advocacy group called SEEN (Spellers Empowering Education for Nonspeakers). His dream is to be an example to other nonspeakers and inspire them to access the education they want and deserve.
My name is Geo Nelson
Established 2013
I’ve got mystery, intrigue, and deprecating humor
Unedited around friends
These words become notes inside me
Like notes in a song
Leading across this noisy internal land
Geo over and out
iosemt.substack.com
Sarah is a nonspeaking autistic who has been Spelling to Communicate since 2017. She is an advocate for her fellow nonspeakers as a member of I-ASC's Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network and SEEN (Spellers Empowering Education for Nonspeakers). Sarah has contributed to articles, blogs, conferences, and webinars to ensure nonspeakers are represented and have access to effective communication. When not doing advocacy work, Sarah enjoys reading, socializing with nonspeaking friends, and spending time with family. She blogs regularly on her website, Sarah Spells to Speak.
Gregory Tino is a nonspeaking autistic who has been spelling on a letterboard to communicate since 2017. He is an advocate for other nonspeakers, presents at conferences, and aims to educate people on the incredible capabilities of people with autism. He has written two books, The Land Called Boring, and The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks, and a third is in the works. He also has written the narrative for multiple videos on his YouTube channel, which is entitled, Gregory C Tino. In his free time, he enjoys writing for his blog, The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks on WordPress, spending time with family, and riding his bike.
Before we support communication, we bring our nervous system into the room. This presentation explores how CRP energy, regulation, and attunement influence speller access, motor planning, and trust. Through concepts such as co-regulation, neuroception, and the vagus nerve, we will examine how communication partners can support the body by first becoming aware of their own presence.
Jack Haynes is a 24‑year‑old nonspeaker, speller, and advocate who understands firsthand that when it comes to bodies in motion, one size absolutely does not fit all. He is passionate about songwriting, poetry, entrepreneurship, nature, and spending time with friends. This upcoming fall, he will begin his college journey, where he intends to major in English with a concentration in creative writing and minor in mathematics. Jack looks forward to using his unique perspective and love for language to drive meaningful change.
Emma is a certified occupational therapist and certified S2C Practitioner. Her work focuses on self-regulation, co-regulation, motor support, and helping spellers build confidence in themselves and their communication. When people feel safe, connected, and truly understood, everything changes. Emma is deeply committed to supporting spellers and their families through the hard, messy, and beautiful parts of the journey.Emma is a certified occupational therapist and certified S2C Practitioner. Her work focuses on self-regulation, co-regulation, motor support, and helping spellers build confidence in themselves and their communication. When people feel safe, connected, and truly understood, everything changes. Emma is deeply committed to supporting spellers and their families through the hard, messy, and beautiful parts of the journey.
Peyton is an 18 year-old advocate and rising senior from Knoxville Tennessee, who started spelling to communicate at the age of 10. His introduction to being able to communicate with spelling was a turning point enabling him to articulate his thoughts, needs and wants which opened many opportunities. Peyton remains committed to supporting others and his community who face barriers with communication. His challenges with motor control is a daily struggle, but his hope is to show that despite his challenges, non-speakers belong in an academic and social activity setting.
Jerzie-Ann Coppola, PhD, MS, OTR/L, is the founder and director of Live Love Grow Therapy (OTx, LLC) and has over 24 years of experience in pediatric occupational therapy. She earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Scranton and her PhD in Health Science from Seton Hall University. Dr. Coppola is an MNRI® Core Specialist and instructor through the Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute, as well as a Spelling to Communicate (S2C) practitioner through I-ASC. Her clinical work focuses on reflex integration and purposeful motor development to support communication and functional growth across the lifespan. Her previous experience includes serving as adjunct faculty in occupational therapy at the University of Scranton, as well as work in school-based therapy, early intervention, and vision therapy. She also serves as a board member of the North East Regional Early Intervention Collaborative.
No two bodies move, regulate, or respond in exactly the same way. Join experienced practitioners and spellers as they explore the individualized motor, sensory, and regulatory strategies that support communication, participation, and success across a wide range of bodies.
Marquerette is a certified S2C Practitioner, I-ASC lesson grader, and the unofficial lesson maven. If there's a lesson question that needs answering, she's probably the person to ask. She works at The Sisu Hub, Africa's first centre providing age appropriate education to nonspeakers, where she leads the Adult Group, The Sisu Insiders, continually demonstrating the power of presuming competence and meaningful access to learning.
She is also the founder of The Lesson Shelf, a trusted resource for lesson writing tips, practical guidance, and high quality lessons. Passionate about thoughtful lesson design and strong prompting, she loves helping practitioners become confident and creative lesson writers.
When she's not immersed in lessons and feedback, you'll find her reading with her three Belgian Malinois, because a quiet life was clearly never the plan. She's also known for her excellent fiction recommendations, so if you're looking for your next great read, she's always happy to help.
Ava Guardado is a 21-year-old nonspeaking college student who uses spelling to communicate. She’s entering her senior year at Concordia University Irvine, where she’s majoring in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in creative writing and minoring in Biology and Psychology. Ava is passionate about music, swimming, horseback riding, and playing the piano — and she loves nothing more than spending time with her family and traveling. As she navigates adult life and higher education, Ava is finding her voice through writing, self-advocacy, and connection. She is excited to share her experiences pursuing an undergraduate degree and postgraduate opportunities for nonspeakers in her presentation with the Nonspeaking Leadership Committee, “Envisioning the Future”. She is also looking forward to sharing her reflections on “What I Would Tell My Younger Self.”
Kade Brandhagen is a 27 year old nonspeaking autistic, motivational speaker, advocate and mentor. He was introduced to his first letterboard when he was 17, but it was met with resistance in the school setting and was denied a meaningful education. He cares deeply for the nonspeaking community and wants to help change the future, ensuring communication and education unlike the challenges he endured. Kade’s mission is to help others like him unleash their true voices and to encourage new spellers on their journeys. Kade has presented at numerous events to parents, schools, speech therapists, ABA companies and at national conferences for autism and spellers. He was interviewed by the local and national news and he is passionate about bringing the nonspeaking autism community together with events and groups for support. He has a Facebook blog, “Kade’s Love Perspective on Autism”. In his free time, Kade enjoys swimming, surfing, bowling, speller get togethers and traveling with his family.
I am Omer Hashmi, a 33-year-old, minimally speaking autistic. I live in Northern Virginia, enjoy listening to and playing music, studying history, writing poetry, and travelling with family. I’m not a huge fan of sports but I enjoy playing basketball, cycling, swimming, and hill walking. I started spelling in 2024, and it has opened a new world for me, allowing me to pursue higher education, where I recently started taking classes for a bachelor’s degree in social sciences. My goal is to apply my skills toward helping other nonspeakers. I recently took a course on entrepreneurship which has further ignited my passion to support those who are suffering from loneliness, driven by feelings of isolation and lack of companionship.
I am a 35 Year old man with Apraxia, and I have a lot to say. I reside in Nashua, NH where our spellers community is growing.
I have been spelling to communicate since 2022. I was 31 years old when my parents discovered this method. It is never too late. It has become a daily practice.
I have many goals and dreams. I want to show my intelligence to the world,
receive a high school diploma, teach nonspeakers
learn to play guitar, use a keyboard independently,
write a book.
I love spending time with family, playing basketball, swimming in the ocean, playing soccer and frisbee, exercising and hiking. I enjoy meeting my Speller friends on zoom and in person.
I am excited to learn more history and experience more of Dr. Joe Dispenza.
If you could talk to your younger self, what would you say? Join a panel of adult nonspeaking communicators as they reflect on the lessons they've learned, the challenges they've overcome, and the wisdom they hope the next generation carries forward.
Katlyn is a certified S2C Practitioner, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, and a member of I-ASC faculty. She is passionate about presuming competence and helping spellers achieve their goals - whether that be through creative writing or motor coaching. She loves being a part of expanding access to reliable communication.
Alexa is the director of Untangled S2C in Richmond, Virginia. She has a Master's in Public Health, specializing in Physical Activity. She has always had a passion for working with the disability community, specifically in policy work. One of the most important parts of policy work is getting to know the community you are serving and learning about their needs. Once she learned about the nonspeaking community she knew she wanted to work with these individuals to enhance their communication skills so that one day they may represent themselves and fellow nonspekers when it comes to policies that impact their lives.
Before we support communication, we bring our nervous system into the room. This presentation explores how CRP energy, regulation, and attunement influence speller access, motor planning, and trust. Through concepts such as co-regulation, neuroception, and the vagus nerve, we will examine how communication partners can support the body by first becoming aware of their own presence.
Lakshmi Rao Sankar is a registered S2C practitioner and has been a member of the Practitioner Leadership Cadre since I-ASC’s inception. She has brought leadership to an international community engaged in communication access for the neurodiverse. She has led professional S2C training cohorts, and provided S2C practitioners-in-training with mentorship and guidance on core S2C principles and organization building. She is a regular presenter at webinars and has been a featured repeat presenter at Motormorphosis. Lakshmi is also a co-facilitator for the I-ASC Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, providing partnership to spellers in their movement to gain autonomy, access and agency.
In addition to her work at I-ASC, Lakshmi is Executive Director of CrimsonRise, an organization co-founded by spellers and their allies, providing S2C services to nonspeakers based in NYC. CrimsonRise is also an internship site for I-ASC, and many registered S2C practitioners on the team are clinical mentors to practitioners-in-training.
Lakshmi is also a partner and cofounder of Teamqore, where she consults with nonprofits in the areas of governance, strategic planning and development. She has also served, in leadership capacities, on the boards of Sakhi For South Asian Women, The Eden II Programs, the Foundation for the Advancement of Autistic Persons and On Your Mark.
Lakshmi has an MA in Sociology and an MBA in Human Resource Management. She loves to hike and travel with her family, and is an avid gardener. Her most favorite things to do include teaching curriculum-based
studies to spellers, and reading historical romances.
Lakshmi is mom to Tejas Rao Sankar, a nonspeaker serving on I-ASC's Nonspeaking Leadership Council, advocate for autistics like himself, and a cofounder of CrimsonRise.
Jess Sibley is an occupational therapist and registered Spelling to Communicate practitioner from Atlanta, GA. She began incorporating the letter boards into her sessions in 2014 and since then has become a mentor and support coach for I-ASC. Jess runs her private practice, Minds in Motion OT Inc., which focuses on supporting clients with developing the skills of purposeful movement for communication, meaningful activities and fitness and exercise. Over the course of her career she has become an ally to her clients and an advocate for those who are struggling with regulation challenges. She enjoys coaching parents and new CRP's and strongly believes a client will be most successful when they have trained CRP support accessible in all areas of their life. Finally, she supports the Atlanta community by organizing and supporting local events for the families and professionals through Every Voice Matters ATL.
Autistic catatonia — a serious, underrecognized movement and regulation syndrome that goes far beyond typical autistic experience and is often mistaken for behavior. The presentation covers what it looks like, how it's diagnosed, and the main treatments, all illustrated through case studies from the presenters' own experiences. Case studies documented from the field will be presented. These case studies frame therapeutic strategies for families and practitioners to use in support of autistic individuals diagnosed with Catatonia.
Grant Blasko (he/him) is a full-time AAC user, nonspeaking autistic advocate, and a student at the University of Washington. Diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia at age two, Grant's early school experiences deeply motivated his advocacy and shaped his academic journey. Today, Grant uses frameworks from the interdisciplinary social sciences and disability studies to investigate systemic barriers affecting people with communication disabilities. He participates in neurodiversity-focused research collaborations, serves on the CommunicationFIRST Advisory Council and TASH's National Communication Access Workgroup. Along with peer-reviewed scholarly work in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Journal (2025), some of his speaking highlights include INSAR 2025, the Stanford Neurodiversity Conference 2025, the NIDCD's Non-Speaking Individuals with Autism workshop (2023), and The Future of AAC Research Summit (2024), where he also served on the planning committee. Grant is a recipient of the 2024 University of Washington’s DO-IT Trailblazer Award for advocacy leadership and the 2026 Dennis Lang Student Award for Disability Studies. This is Grant’s 6th time attending and 3rd time as a speaker at Motormorphosis.
Gregory Tino is a nonspeaking autistic who has been spelling on a letterboard to communicate since 2017. He is an advocate for other nonspeakers, presents at conferences, and aims to educate people on the incredible capabilities of people with autism. He has written two books, The Land Called Boring, and The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks, and a third is in the works. He also has written the narrative for multiple videos on his YouTube channel, which is entitled, Gregory C Tino. In his free time, he enjoys writing for his blog, The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks on WordPress, spending time with family, and riding his bike.
Isaiah Tien Grewal is a Trainee in the Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Fellowship Program and a Neurodiversity and Disability Specialist at Bened Life. He works on research teams at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, the University of Toronto (UofT), the SBM School of Social Welfare (SSW), and the TYPE Project. He holds an Undergraduate Certificate from Harvard Extension School and appears in the award-winning short film LISTEN, produced by Communication First. He contributed to 'Leaders Around Me: Autobiographies of Autistics Who Type, Point, and Spell to Communicate' and 'Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy.' He was featured in the UofT Magazine and the News of the SBM SSW. He has been spelling to communicate since 2015.
Matt began using AAC at age five through training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. At age six he wrote his first poem, “Trapped in Silence”. He has been an active speaker, poet and writer, and has completed a book, The Possibility of Joy, which tells the story of his journey. Matt is the subject and narrator of the Emmy winning PBS documentary My Voice: One Man's Journey to Overcome the Silence of Autism. As part of his advocacy work, he has co-founded the non-profit Typing to Speak, spoken at Yale University, presented his poetry professionally, been interviewed on radio and podcasts, presented at many conferences, and is an Autism National Committee board member. He is currently working on exercises to help communicators learn how to use AAC with greater ease. Matt is working on his speaking voice and calls himself an emerging speaker.
Independent typing is not an endpoint but another stage of growth. Through personal stories and practical insights, this panel explores the evolving nature of communication, independence, interdependence, and self-determination.
Join us virtually for the biggest conference for the nonspeaking community—right from the comfort of your home. Dive into a weekend packed with expert presentations, invaluable insights, and the latest updates on research, motor strategies, policy,
technology, and S2C—all essential to creating change throughout the Spellerverse.
For years, Motormorphosis has been the beacon of accurate and updated information on research, motor skills, policy, technology, regulation, and the incredible world of S2C (Spelling to Communicate). Now, you can experience this amazing conference online and ON-DEMAND!
The line-up consists of 20 great presentations featuring Elizabeth Torres, CrimsonRise CoFounders, and Angie Kim. Bonus materials included!
Special Offer for Conference Attendees: To our cherished Motormorphosis in-person conference attendees, we have something special in store for you! You’ll receive FREE access to this incredible resource. Keep an eye on your inbox for details on how to claim your complimentary access.
Contact I-ASC directly at info@i-asc.org or 703-454-0202.
Our website is full of information, however, if you have a specific question, email us at info@I-asc.org.
PLEASE DO! Seminars and break-out sessions are geared toward all participants; nonspeaking communicators, family, and professionals. We are not able to offer respite. An adult must accompany children under the age of 18.
Due to the many food preferences and allergies of our attendees, we do not provide meals at the conference.
However, the conference location is within the Reston Town Shopping Center. You can find dining options here
Lodging and transportation rates are best obtained based on individual needs and preferred vendors.
The Hyatt Regency Reston has an attached parking garage available to guests for a fee. There are other garages in the Reston Town Center for a fee on weekdays and are free on weekends.
Yes! However, each attendee must register to participate in this event.
Attendees 18 and over are required to present one form of photo ID.
You may receive a 50% refund if you email us before June 1st at info@I-ASC.org. Unfortunately, we cannot refund full ticket prices due to reservations and commitments made to our vendors once your reservation is purchased.
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