Access to communication that others will hear, understand, and respect is a privilege most of us take for granted. But for some people who cannot use their mouths to communicate reliably, and who haven't been given effective alternative supports, personal support for their communication is access to hope, to a life worth living. This is what Aaron, 24, has to say about his experience before and after accessing reliable communication.

I'm a 24 year old Autistic man whose voice comes from a letterboard. People haven't always seen my mind in its full display because they only viewed me through what they saw. Nobody could see that I could do and understand so much more than they believed. Letterboards have given me so much hope that I had never felt before. People never knew how awesome my mind was until letterboards. Nobody could see my smarts and so they didn't teach me as much as I wished for. Now with letterboards I have hope for my future.

Aaron uses a letterboard to point out each letter to communicate. While he's working on developing typing skills to communicate independently, he currently needs a communication partner with him to use the letterboard. This communication partner also provides supports in daily activities to help develop new motor skills to expand the types of activities Aaron can participate in. 

With your help, we can increase the amount of time Aaron has access to his communication partner. Every $25 we receive is another hour of support. We're hoping to combine this fundraiser with other funding sources so that Aaron can communicate his "awesome mind" more than just an hour or two a week. In Aaron's words, "I'm hoping to have him as much as possible."