David chats with Lori Rogers, a parent advocate and co-founder of Positive Activity. Lori shares the profound journey of helping her son Craig, a brilliant non-speaker on the autism spectrum, to communicate through Spelling to Communicate (S2C). Despite early hardships, Lori’s story is one of advocacy, fundraising, and her unwavering belief in Craig’s potential. Discover how S2C transformed their lives and opened up new possibilities, and how Lori is now committed to spreading awareness and helping other families connect and communicate. The episode also touches on the importance of maintaining calm as a parent, the necessity of positive reframing, and the creation of supportive infrastructures for neurodivergent individuals.
More on Lori and Positive Activity: https://www.positiveactivity.net/
Topics
00:45 Meet Lori Rogers: A Journey of Advocacy
03:06 Early Challenges and Breakthroughs
05:38 Building a Supportive Community
08:31 Discovering Spelling to Communicate
17:39 The Power of Motor Planning
31:00 Discovering 'Underestimated' and Initial Skepticism
31:39 A Life-Changing Connection and New Challenges
32:25 The Speller Center Experience
33:34 Spreading the Word and Overcoming Doubts
34:29 Craig's Journey and Achievements
37:09 Advocacy and Public Speaking
39:09 Navigating Daily Challenges and Staying Positive
42:38 The Importance of Parental Support and Communication
49:40 Future Goals and Final Thoughts