Welcome to Episode 228 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week on Autism Parenting Secrets, we’re joined by Dr. Dana Johnson, a true pioneer in the world of communication for nonspeaking individuals. 

Dr. Dana is the founder of the Spellers Center and Invictus Academy in Tampa Bay, Florida, and co-founder of the Spellers Method alongside Dawnmarie Gaivin (featured in Episode 213).

With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in helping nonspeaking, unreliably speaking, and minimally speaking individuals find their voice through spelling and typing. 

Dr. Dana's work extends to producing the award-winning documentary SPELLERS, serving as executive producer of UNDERESTIMATED: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers, and co-authoring The Spellers Guidebook: Practical Advice for Parents and Students. 

Her journey began as an occupational therapist in public schools, and she continues to make a profound impact through her private practice.

The secret this week is ... 

It’s A Brain/Body DISCONNECT

You'll Discover:

• What Exactly Is APRAXIA (3:42)
• The Beliefs To Adopt First (9:23)
• An Enhanced Version of OT (18:09)
• The Impact of Vision (21:38)
• The 4 Ways We Move (30:06)
• Why You Must Presume Competence (32:47)
• How To Coach The Body (37:56)
• The Power of Belief And An Individualized Approach (42:17)

About Our Guest:

Dr. Dana Johnson, PhD, MS, OTR/L, is the Founder of Spellers Center, Tampa; Founder of Invictus Academy, Tampa Bay; and co-founder of the Spellers MethodTM. Dr. Johnson has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and a Ph.D in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Development. She is a producer of the award-winning documentary SPELLERS, an executive producer of UNDERESTIMATED: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers, and co-author of The Spellers Guidebook: Practical Advice for Parents and Students. Dr. Johnson has worked with individuals with motor and sensory differences for almost 20 years and currently specializes in supporting nonspeaking, unreliably speaking, and minimally speaking individuals to utilize spelling and typing as a form of communication. Dr. Johnson started her career as an occupational therapist supporting children in the public school system, then moved to private practice working with individuals with autism, apraxia, and other sensory-motor differences. You can learn more about her at www.spellers.com

References in The Episode:

• Autism Parenting Secrets Episode 213, Presume Competence, Here’s How with Dawnmarie Gaivin
• Ido in Autismland: Climbing Out of Autism’s Silent Prison by Ido Kedar
• Dr. Elizabeth Torres

Additional Resources:

• Unlock the power of personalized 1-on-1 support; visit allinparentcoaching.com/intensive
• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

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