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PT I could say Motormorphosis certainly didn’t disappoint, but that would be the understatement of the year! I am still reliving the weekend in my brain, every precious moment, surrounded by friends, peers, supporters, and basically people who just understand. I met friends in person who I have only ever met on Zoom, and all of them were even nicer than I could have imagined.
I am a proud member of Spellers & Allies. During our recent meetings we had brainstormed ideas about what we wanted our Motormorphosis social event to look like. Doing this can ensure a good time for everyone since all of us have differing wants and needs. Doing this can ensure a good time for everyone since all of us have differing wants and needs. Our social event took place the evening before the conference began. We gathered in a room to talk to each other and played games as an ice breaker.
I am usually anxious in social settings, but not this one! Everyone was so excited and happy to be there. Being all together after years of COVID isolation felt so good. Being there with peers whom I admire and work along with on our advocacy goals was a dream come true. Communication and friendship filled the room. I am so glad we decided to include non S&A spellers to our social event. It was so nice meeting new faces! We are always looking for new members to help us with our advocacy goals. Having more members and lots of differing points of view helps to make us a more accurate representation of nonspeakers worldwide, so please consider joining us!
A swim party at the hotel pool followed our get together, and BOY, for a group of nonspeakers, we are LOUD! Controlled chaos, but fun none-the-less! I heard there was a live Neurolyrical Cafe followed by a dance party which I am sure was fun, but I was too tired to attend.
I, as well as other S&A members on our committee, worked on our breakout session presentation for the conference titled Spellers & Allies in Action. In the presentation we explained our group’s innerworkings and introduced everyone to our members. The ending proved most lively as we showed our SpellX song and video as everyone sang and swayed to the music like at a concert!
No one can tell me we are not a fun bunch! S&A has done many virtual presentations to therapists, school boards, health services, conferences, and schools, to name a few. Please reach out if you know someone who would be interested in hosting us. You can contact us at spellers-allies@i-asc.org.
It was the best weekend I have had in a long time. A weekend of friends, fun, positivity, and bright futures. Autism and I have found our family, and we finally belong somewhere.
It sure feels good!
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 his goal is to educate people on the incredible capabilities of people with autism. He has written four books, The Land Called Boring , The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks , The Autistic Boy In The Unruly Body , and Santa’s Gift . He also has written the narrative for multiple videos on his YouTube channel which is entitled Gregory C Tino. He is a proud member of the Spellers & Allies advocacy group and SEEN (Spellers Empowering Education for Nonspeakers). In his free time he enjoys writing for his blog The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks on WordPress and spending time with family and his Inside Voice friends.
