Freeing the Mind: A Nonspeaking Autistic’s Case for Presuming Competence

• By: Elsa Jean Pace Nonspeaking Autistic Self-Advocate
• July 9th, 2026
• aac communication, apraxia, autism education, autistic self-advocacy, letter board, motor planning, nonspeaking autistic, presuming competence, Summer 2026 Issue
• 8    0

Many nonspeakers are still locked in the prison of their own mind. Nonspeakers are underestimated because our bodies and brains are disconnected. Our minds work, but not with our body, so people conclude we are unintelligent. Apraxia is not well understood by parents, teachers, therapists, and the...

You Are the Expert on Your Preferred and Effective Communication – “Le Pape v. Lower Merion School District,” a Landmark Civil Rights Case

• By: Nicole Reimann, JD Reimann Law Group
• July 9th, 2026
• ADA accommodations, augmentative communication, autism education, civil rights, disability law, IDEA, letter board, nonspeaking students, Summer 2026 Issue
• 5    0

Alex Le Pape was in high school when he told Lower Merion School District that a letter board was his preferred and effective means of communication and asked to use it throughout the school day. At an age when most students are simply trying to navigate adolescence, with that request, Alex began...