Dates:
September 11th, 6:30-7:30 PM
September 18th, 6:30-7:30 PM
September 25th, 6:30-7:30 PM
October 2nd, 6:30-7:30 PM
*This session is for ADOLESCENTS and ADULTS, ages 12 years and Up.
The ACCESS Communication Support Training is a four-week program designed specifically for families who want to better understand and support nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking autistic individuals. Our approach is rooted in the belief that every person has the capacity for communication when given the right support and tools.
Why We Do This
Many nonspeaking autistic individuals experience apraxia —a motor planning difference that makes it difficult for the brain and body to coordinate the precise movements required for reliable speech and movement. This is not a lack of intelligence or understanding; it is a movement disability. Traditional behavior-based approaches often misinterpret these struggles as noncompliance, rather than recognizing them as genuine motor challenges. Traditional Special Education approaches often misinterpret the person's capacity for language to learn or communicate.
At ACCESS, we help families shift their perspective from "management” of the nonspeaker, minimal speaker, or unreliable speaker's behaviors to movement-based communication support. By addressing the sensory-motor differences that underlie apraxia, families can begin to see their loved one’s true competence and provide pathways for authentic expression.
What Families Will Learn
Over four weeks, participants will:
Understand Apraxia and Motor Differences – Learn why speech isn’t always possible and how motor planning challenges impact communication.
Presume Competence – Discover the power of approaching your loved one as capable and intelligent, regardless of their ability to speak.
Build Supportive Partnerships – Practice co-regulation strategies and develop the skills to be an effective Communication/Regulation Partner (CRP).
Get Started with ACCESS Communication – Receive hands-on training in Communication Support, introducing spelling/typing through purposeful pointing at choices and letters as reliable ways to communicate.
Adopt the ACCESS Philosophy – Learn how mutual respect and co-regulation lay the foundation, autonomy, and trust lay the foundation for reliable communication, motor learning, and ultimately autonomy for the nonspeaking child or adult.
Program Structure
Format: 4 weekly sessions, with interactive lessons, practice, and reflection
Who It’s For: Parents, siblings, caregivers, and anyone supporting nonspeaking autistic individuals. The nonspeaking adolescent or adult is also to attend.
Outcome: Families leave equipped with both the mindset and practical tools to begin a multi-modal communication journey built on trust, respect, and movement-based understanding
✨ This training is not just about teaching methods—it’s about transforming the way families view communication and ability, unlocking opportunities for connection, learning, and self-expression.
Register here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/communication-training-4-week-session
For more information:
visit: www.optimalaccess.org
email:
YWRtaW4gfCBvcHRpbWFsYWNjZXNzICEgb3Jn
phone: 812-490-9401
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