Beyond Speech Therapy Center

06/17/2026

****update he got his coffee cake dinner!!!***

What a way to start the day! Nolan’s siblings came to participate in his spelling session for the first time today. Here’s a snippet of the conversation (shared with Nolan’s permission, of course):

Sam: What would you like to do today with your siblings?

Nolan: Id like to answer their burning questions.

Landen: Are you going to write another song?

No lol jk

Im ready! You need to help now!

Sam: Any ideas for what you’d want the song to be about?

Im thinking maybe times together.

Like start with younger life when we couldn’t chat then to now.

Chase: Do you have a favorite star wars character?

Nolan: Normally I’d not like villains however Darth Vader is vibes.

Callie: What dinner and dessert do you like?

I want to try coffee cake.

Mom: you’ve had coffee cake. You love it.

Nolan: No for dinner

😂😂😂

THIS is what it’s all about! ❤️

06/16/2026

This is why we have mixed feelings about the phrase “all behavior is communication.”

While it’s often well-intentioned, it can lead us to assume that every action is purposeful and meant to communicate something specific. And that’s not always true.

Especially with nonspeakers, we have to be really careful about assigning meaning to every behavior/action we see.

Sometimes what looks like a “behavior” has much more to do with sensory overwhelm, motor challenges, emotional regulation, anxiety, fatigue, or cognitive load than a conscious attempt to communicate a message.

That doesn’t mean the experience behind the behavior isn’t important - it absolutely is. But action does not always equal intention.

When we immediately assume a behavior is communicating something specific, we can miss what’s actually going on.

Instead of asking, “What is this behavior trying to tell me?” sometimes a better question is, “What might be making this hard right now?”

Curiosity will get us a lot further than assumptions.

Not every action reflects a person's thoughts, intentions, or desires.

For many Apraxic and nonspeaking individuals, many behaviors are driven by motor, sensory, emotional, or regulatory challenges rather than purposeful communication.

When a person becomes overwhelmed by sensory input, motor demands, emotions, or cognitive load, the nervous system can become dysregulated.

In these moments, the body may react in ways that appear sudden, impulsive, intense, or confusing. These reactions are often not intentional messages. Instead, they are signs that the nervous system is overwhelmed and struggling to regain regulation.

Understanding this distinction can help us respond with greater empathy, support, and respect.

06/15/2026

These two spellers both celebrate birthdays this week, and today they exchanged birthday messages and asked to take a picture together. 📸

Moments like this are why community matters. Watching relationships grow between spellers is such a gift. 🎁

Happy birthday to two incredible humans. We’re so glad to celebrate you!! 🎉

06/15/2026

After our last post, a lot of the conversation focused on the support.

But what really changed?

❌ Intelligence

❌ Understanding

❌ Desire to communicate

Those things were there from the beginning.

What changed was her ability to get her body to do what her brain was asking it to do.

Same communicator. Different motor abilities.

In 5 years she increased:

✅ Regulation

✅ Motor planning

✅ Initiation

✅ Endurance

✅ Accuracy

✅ Self-correction

You may also notice that the amount of support changed over time.

In the beginning, she needed much more support to accurately find letters and coordinate her movements. Those supports helped her build the motor skills needed for purposeful communication. As those skills developed, that support was able to move further and further back.

Progress wasn’t one big breakthrough.

It was thousands of tiny gains built over years.

Emily isn’t an exception. She’s an example of what’s possible when motor skills are developed over time and competence is presumed.

She wasn’t learning what to say.

She was learning how to get her body to say it.

06/10/2026

What can happen in 5 years?

Emily’s journey from early spelling to communicating complex thoughts using a keyboard.

The final clip features a message Emily typed:

“For years I estimated how long before people learned unrendered assumptions about nonspeakers are totally inaccurate. Tediously impatiently waiting for thoughts to be communicated. I’m living the reality I modestly dreamt of. There’s something I think everyone should hear. If my only chance to communicate meant doubters and skeptics had judgments about my authenticity, then so be it. None of them can delineate my progress.”

06/08/2026

July 1st meeting at the center to get all the details! We’d love to have you! ❤️

We need volunteers! ❤️

Our upcoming golf outing will be our major fundraising event of the year and it’s what helps make BSI scholarships possible for families in our community.

Most volunteer opportunities take just 2–3 hours, and many happen before the event itself.

Join us for a volunteer meeting:

📅 Wednesday, July 1
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Beyond Speech Therapy Center
🍽 Dinner provided

Bring a friend or family member who might be interested in helping! The more volunteers we have, the more families we’re able to support. 💙

PM or comment with any questions!

06/06/2026

This community >>>

05/22/2026

In 2 weeks! Don’t forget to RSVP by text: 330-299-5121. No cost. All family members welcome 💙

🦙 We are so excited for this one! Join us at Pure Passions Farm in Kent for a relaxed afternoon created especially for non-speaking and minimally speaking individuals and their families.

Expect alpacas and other animals to pet, popcorn + drinks, space to unwind, and a chance to connect with other families in the community. Siblings and whole families are absolutely welcome. 💙

📅 Saturday, June 6th
🕜 1:30–4:30 PM
📍 Pure Passions Farm | Kent, Ohio

✨ No charge to attend

📲 RSVP by texting 330-299-5121 and please include how many people will be attending.

Hosted by Beyond Speech Initiative (BSI)

05/21/2026

Such a great explanation of why spelling methodologies are so different than more traditional therapy approaches 👏