David shares a heartfelt recount of his two-week advocacy journey with his non-speaking son Stone. Starting in Atlanta and ending in New York City, David and Stone met with congressional leaders, gave inspiring presentations to professional groups, and connected with non-speaking families at the Presume Competence Fest. The episode highlights their efforts to promote communication rights for non-speakers and the power of direct advocacy. David is joined by fellow podcaster David Yas to reflect on the memorable moments and the impact of their experiences.

Topics

00:00 Starting the Day of Advocacy

01:02 Welcome to the Lighter Side of the Spectrum

01:43 A Special Journey with Stone

03:38 Traveling with Autism

06:11 TSA Cares and Sunflower Program

09:28 Speaking Engagement in Atlanta

15:06 Presume Competence Fest

15:56 Connecting with the Non-Speaking Community

21:37 Fun in Atlanta

22:14 Advocacy on Capitol Hill

24:10 Reflecting on the Journey to Congress

24:37 Meeting with Congresswoman Schreyer

26:26 Highlighting the Spelling Curriculum

27:22 Engaging with Speech Language Pathologists

28:31 Meeting with Senator Cantwell's Office

29:59 Presentation at Berson PR and Communications

30:45 Stone's Bold Statement

34:01 Visiting the Statue of Liberty

34:20 Navigating New York City

36:55 The 9/11 Memorial Visit

37:21 Managing Emotions and Behaviors

42:35 Future Plans and Goals

44:36 Listener Feedback and Engagement