Aushay's Journey with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, CP, Autism and epilepsy

08/06/2026

Yesterday was one of those days that restores your faith in people.

I'm still sitting with the feeling of it all. The messages. The donations. The shares. The quiet acts of kindness from people who simply decided to show up.

When I launched this fundraiser, I had no idea how it would be received. Today, thanks to all of you, we're sitting at nearly $1,250 of our $1,900 goal. I honestly didn't know what to expect, and watching this community rally around Aushay and this journey has been incredibly moving.

I've always believed that communities are strongest when we carry one another. There are seasons when we're the ones offering, and seasons when we have to practice the far less comfortable art of receiving. As someone who has spent much of my life caring for others, I'll admit...the receiving part is not exactly my natural habitat. 😄

One of the teachings that has stayed with me over the years comes from karma yoga, the path of selfless service. To me, it means that generosity isn't a transaction. It doesn't stop with the person receiving it. It continues to ripple outward through the lives we touch.

The loop doesn't close with me.

Everything you're making possible will come home to Aushay. It will shape how I support him, deepen my understanding of communication access, and, I hope, become another way I can serve other families walking similar paths. That's the kind of ripple effect I want to be part of.

So thank you for creating such a wave of generosity. It was about so much more than dollars. It was a beautiful reminder of what becomes possible when a community chooses to show up for one another.

Now...let's see if we can bring this thing home. 😊

With a very full heart,

Nicole

❤️ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/61c67d057
🩵 Venmo option: https://venmo.com/u/Nicole-Hamilton-NTP

08/05/2026

I've been sitting with this post for a few days because I wasn't quite sure what to say.
First, thank you.
Because of your generosity, we've raised $450 toward getting me to the Spellers Freedom Conference. Every single donation has reminded me that Aushay is surrounded by people who believe in him, and I don't take that for granted.
Now we're in that funny middle part of a fundraiser. The excitement of launching has settled, but the goal is still ahead.
So I wanted to ask...
If you've been following along, is there anything you're curious about? About RPM, Spellers Method, why this conference matters, or why I feel so called to this work? I'd genuinely love to have that conversation.
The more I learn, the more I realize this isn't just about one conference.
It's about what it means to presume competence. It's about recognizing that for some nonspeaking individuals, the challenge may not be a lack of understanding but difficulty getting the body to reliably do what the mind intends. Once I began listening to nonspeaking communicators themselves, something shifted in me.
It's hard to unsee.
As Aushay's mom, I can't assume we've reached the end of what's possible. After nearly fifteen years of speech therapy, we've reached the end of one path. I simply want to learn what the next one might look like.
I've also realized something about community.
If just 100 people gave $10, we'd raise $1,000.
If 50 people gave $20, we'd raise the same amount.
Even a $5 gift moves us closer than we were yesterday.
It isn't about one person making a huge donation. It's about a lot of people believing that this journey is worth investing in.
If you've already donated, thank you. If you've shared the fundraiser, thank you. And if you've been waiting, this is your gentle invitation. Every contribution matters more than you know.
Most of all, thank you for believing in Aushay and for believing that communication is always worth pursuing.
❤️ Fundraiser link: https://gofund.me/9720541bb

07/24/2026

Today I'm asking for a little help from my community.

I've launched a fundraiser to help me attend the 2026 Spellers Freedom Conference in support of Aushay's communication journey. Rather than try to explain it all here, I'd love for you to take a moment to read our story in the campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to read, share, or support in whatever way you can. It truly means the world to our family.

❤️ Link in comments / below

Please Share far and wide. Anything beyond the goal will go to further training into these methods so I can become Aushay's communication facilitator.

Aushay's Journey with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, CP, Autism and epilepsy

Help Me Get to the 2026 Spellers Freedom Conference for Aushay … Nicole Hamilton needs your support for A New Chapter for Aushay's Communication Journey

04/21/2026

Check out our sweet boy being featured here! When the Ribcap helmet had been washed 50+ times they faded and so I went ahead and got a little creative.