David chats with Lori Rogers, a parent advocate and co-founder of Positive Activity. Lori shares the profound journey of helping her son Craig, a brilliant non-speaker on the autism spectrum, to communicate through Spelling to Communicate (S2C). Despite early hardships, Lori’s story is one of advocacy, fundraising, and her unwavering belief in Craig’s potential. Discover how S2C transformed their lives and opened up new possibilities, and how Lori is now committed to spreading awareness and helping other families connect and communicate. The episode also touches on the importance of maintaining calm as a parent, the necessity of positive reframing, and the creation of supportive infrastructures for neurodivergent individuals.

More on Lori and Positive Activity: https://www.positiveactivity.net/

Topics

00:45 Meet Lori Rogers: A Journey of Advocacy

03:06 Early Challenges and Breakthroughs

05:38 Building a Supportive Community

08:31 Discovering Spelling to Communicate

17:39 The Power of Motor Planning

31:00 Discovering 'Underestimated' and Initial Skepticism

31:39 A Life-Changing Connection and New Challenges

32:25 The Speller Center Experience

33:34 Spreading the Word and Overcoming Doubts

34:29 Craig's Journey and Achievements

37:09 Advocacy and Public Speaking

39:09 Navigating Daily Challenges and Staying Positive

42:38 The Importance of Parental Support and Communication

49:40 Future Goals and Final Thoughts