
Reach Every Voice is a team of educators with decades of experience providing AAC instruction for nonspeaking and partially speaking autistic learners in Maryland. We offer one-on-one communication instruction, adapted grade-level curriculum, communication partner training, professional development for educators, and school consultation. Our practices draw from multiple evidence-based strategies, centered on a text-based, multimodal AAC approach that meets each learner where they are
Some communication approaches prescribe a rigid, step-by-step recipe for using their tools and instructional methods. At Reach Every Voice, we take a different path. Our practices are informed by multiple evidence-based strategies, drawing from a variety of sources to meet each learner where they are.
We know every student is unique — and most communicate in multiple and varied ways. That’s why our instruction centers on a text-based, multimodal AAC approach, empowering learners to express themselves authentically, confidently, and effectively.
Rooted Here. Reaching Further.
REV AccessAbility is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has supported text-based multimodal communication since 2017.
We strive to provide access to more training, coaching, and practice opportunities and to work to make these more affordable for all stakeholders.


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![We need to let go of the image of an ideal learner being someone who is seated, holding their body still, and quietly looking at the teacher.
Too often we hear teachers say, "We have to get behavior under control first." And as a result, we're restricting the opportunities we provide that student.
Students don't need to "look like" they're listening in order to learn.
Sitting at a desk should not be a prerequisite for access to education.
[id: a teal and blue background with a white post it paper clipped in the middle. The words on the post-it say, "Reminder: Students don't need to Students don't need to "look like" they're listening in order to learn. Sitting at a desk should not be a prerequisite for access to education."]
#PresumeCompetence
#AccessToEducation
#RethinkAutism
#AutismEducation
#SpecialEducation
#UniversalDesignForLearning](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/495463093_1267995258662752_5560990932467775899_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=iwzzaCHzZrsQ7kNvwFEaFeb&_nc_oc=Adpm5GrfHnv4mYNuZSB90l3boSMlEbF6UDbd43ikzlBPQwFck_dQp0o9fml56U-96nI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGnQd5ihwRpVr5AfnexeBaGDhxEhT_xyoh8wk0eDOY-l9-PJRhqOIvLuI_RhBRygAlcS5Cdy9ke&oh=00_Af13eHb-4YxPorVfzBwusPqbfP2uKF5EdfQabAdzbWFZ7g&oe=69D9C004)
![From our student TJ:
"Dear Teachers,
How you view me sets the stage for what I believe I can and can not do. Focusing on my limited capabilities has given me vast gaps in knowledge and self-confidence. How awful to always wonder how my life might differ given someone who truly believed in my understanding."
TJ Thompson
REV Student
[id: a gray background with bold white letters reading "Dear Teachers" above a cutout of TJ, a young man with shoulder-length dark hair and gray shirt. TJ's words are printed in white next to him. The words "listen to all voices" and the reach every voice website are at the top of the image]
#DearTeachers #PresumeCompetence #CommunicationAccess #ReachEveryVoice #NonSpeakingDoesNotEqualNonThinking #InclusiveEducation #AutismEducation](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/494417303_1264617142333897_995765287074636133_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=tKVbHTxvEcIQ7kNvwF9PHCb&_nc_oc=AdqsKmqK9h4hC8uz-BiXrtRq_66yZrcC0yV3k-BPX5qYlf7BUR8COis9z8fXwA4iaVw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQG2JnHUmOHdDJp6ConXol83YSOP41nv7wb5jm_vSNfJk_INL5ofZ0wKYoGYPXgAcudZAqe-C2LX&oh=00_Af25hWgOJUlcVqd2hAopWBp8UvTK_TILa5jhU2_G9vYcqg&oe=69D9DE1A)
![How much do you know about dyspraxia?
Students with verbal dyspraxia experience a partial loss of control over the execution of voluntary muscle movements needed to control speech.
Some people may not be able to produce many sounds at all. Others may have a lot of speech but aren't able to control the words their mouths say.
This could look like repetition of the same word, phrase, thing they just heard, or line from a TV show over and over. Many dyspraxic students describe their speech as "unreliable."
We need to be careful about the assumptions we make as a society that very much privileges spoken language above other forms of alternative communication.
"Don't assume that my speech is actually speaking my thoughts. More often than not I'm only stuck in an OCD loop. Let's stop listening to the inane stuff that I can't do anything about. Instead something typing shows is how my voice is only in my letters."
Trevor Byrd, REV Student
[id: a photograph of Trevor typing on a keyboard propped up by Lisa. Their communication device is also on the table in front of them. Both Trevor and Lisa are wearing teal shirts and black masks. The text of Trevor's quote above is printed on the image.]
#GoRedInstead #AutismAwarenessAndAcceptance #AutismAwarenessMonth #autism #AutismAwareness #MultimodalCommunication #NonSpeakingDoesNotEqualNonThinking #NonspeakingAutism #InclusiveEducation #SpecialEducation #NonverbalAutism #PresumeCompetence #Apraxia #ApraxiaAwareness #dyspraxia](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/494130346_1264465952349016_1185415317059317047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Ip5nW02yXKgQ7kNvwE7srjz&_nc_oc=AdrmLPT0RpT_oKFIQJa6EDudweMhNyKOWjjuDO0_NbTR-KPJShqSfJ-3GLjirSj5zpA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGBKwc6nSZwJls2se7i0y8aFGTt5tIC60GpgTQe2-YxvzwbkNni2rv95VR9FvX1RnMZITBBT3FT&oh=00_Af0qZiwHqHIOGr3dl-KBS2WykJHRBStyYR6K2-1zpu5Y3w&oe=69D9E1BC)
![There's this mistaken idea out there that people who talk about presuming competence believe that all nonspeaking kids are "locked in geniuses."
That's presuming KNOWLEDGE and it's not the same as presuming COMPETENCE.
We don't know what we don't know. A lot of times our students know so much more than we would suspect - because they've been listening to everyone talk about and around them for years - but there's a lot they don't know, particularly if they've been in a segregated classroom learning the same repetitive skills day after day for years on end.
So instead of assuming that they KNOW everything, we're assuming that they CAN LEARN anything.
This presumption of competence is the foundation of our Accessible Academics course. This is a self-paced, ten module course that starts with the ideas of presuming competence and understanding motor/movement differences and builds to explain and model how to adapt age-appropriate academic tasks for students who communicate by making choices.
Struggling on how to teach phonics to a nonspeaking student? We cover that.
Not sure how to have nonspeaking students with motor difficulties use visual representations to model math equations? (We see you GenX and Millennials who have NO IDEA about this new Common Core math...) We'll show you how to do that.
Stuck on how to give nonspeaking students a meaningful voice in the creative writing process? Yup. We do that, too.
Additionally, we have an entire module devoted to language you can use to ask for specific accommodations, supplementary services, and meaningful IEP goals that align to real objectives but are accessible to complex communicators.
The best part? Your course access never expires!
learn more or sign up at:
www.reacheveryvoice.org/accessible-academics-course
[image id: a gray background with teal and dark gray accents with a pop up "reminder" window that says presuming competence does not equal presuming knowledge]
#PresumeCompetence #NonspeakingAutism #AutismAwareness #AccessibleEducation #AdaptedInstruction #Educators #Teachers #SpecialEducationTeachers #AutismEducators #AutismTeachers](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/494399406_1264609139001364_3943271829463850224_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=tcJ5hSGW_SIQ7kNvwGVzz8A&_nc_oc=AdoxOPc8YQDNGnU-GGwpXX5S33ANTG_A3SWnYPQYzceX1vC-N0LuUdYU81MuYXW6aSg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQF-oA6WOxh4X1JSlSjhK8bi6OsyOodCeYO1nFEMSQ-ZbDzsqH-8l_5UDTY7iFXmwoC43ocSCYnp&oh=00_Af0NsdAvdOXLDPg_mDiViSDFeR-0asGSaML9CuCS5ohd4A&oe=69D9F1D7)
![How much agency do your autistic students and loved ones have? The ability to be in control of our own choices is something most nondisabled people take for granted.
Ask yourself:
How am I teaching skills that lead to more agency?
How am I honoring my students' voices and wishes?
Do I ask permission before sharing words they spell or type?
How much of MY narrative is making its way into this student's story?
"Lots of the frustration in my life comes from being misrepresented by those supporting me. The life-changing act of controlling my own life story is not something I take for granted. My very hard won agency is my introduction to feeling more respected as an intelligent human who deserves privacy."
Nick Barry, REV Student
[id: Nick, a young man in a blue polo shirt is looking at a communication board. The text next to him are his own words, and are typed in white.]
#GoRedInstead #NonverbalAutism #PresumeCompetence #NonSpeakingDoesNotEqualNonThinking #Agency #Autonomy #Autistic #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #ReachEveryVoice](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/494151310_1263763952419216_1326368850865728830_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=fSMZ3g56cAQQ7kNvwFEEy9K&_nc_oc=Adq9BWsLO8qDbat7N7Zf70f01atw-dRHDWJEcCtDDHbbGucXjAqMnblZFy9FurrLEVI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEEyCzWFuhPiiBM76TMrJVMcJoi9SikQOgpQ0CB0yN5dmay662DX9mza4zb7rzcEjmxOgzA9o6q&oh=00_Af3N4c9D1zAvFPEDGUXNqsnQao6OWHkccp2wTRNBXoBPug&oe=69D9F254)

![Our student Nick Barry has been asking his peers what they wished their teachers knew.
In his new series, "Dear Teachers," Nick shares his friends' words of wisdom for the educators working with nonspeaking and minimally speaking students.
Help us amplify their reach and share these posts.
Nick starts us off by sharing his own thoughts:
"Dear Teachers,
Hugely important to not equate speech with intelligence. If your students script and echo, believe they have the capacity for deeper thought and very real education, even if they can't yet tell you. You hold the literal keys to barriers that kept me from studying true topics in school: free others from counting and calendar time jail."
Nick Barry
REV Student
[id: a gray background with bold white letters reading "Dear Teachers" above a cutout of Nick, a smiling man with short dark hair and an olive green shirt. He is wearing a TASH presenter badge on Mardi Gras beads. Nick's words are printed in white next to him. The words "listen to all voices" and the reach every voice website are at the top of the image]
#DearTeachers #PresumeCompetence #CommunicationAccess #ReachEveryVoice #NonSpeakingDoesNotEqualNonThinking #InclusiveEducation #AutismEducation](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/494534761_1263451069117171_7363084148496941085_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=XAVQPncfb_oQ7kNvwFGpYwn&_nc_oc=AdqXZDn9Yb-y6fDENVlzHvOg9VGAbhwFmrzsdSFcDM0Aufi5u7dq6vXtq6pNh4VCbzk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGSJncMtMooofqERXxir4S2ltmpvpE4H-M5CemXL1XDxinCuuc3sKnyMeATeT923pcSUgROvE_E&oh=00_Af04Hb2MW9mFANlf_ikmQLFWuivdCtJ6eLyZSK-QlCEa6Q&oe=69D9EB5B)
![Sensory motor differences often get mistaken for behaviors. When we label them purely as "behaviors," we are insinuating that our students are being difficult. In fact, their sensory systems are causing problems in their ability to maintain regulation and focus in that moment.
"Yes, controlling my body is sometimes too hard and I jump out of my chair or vocalize loudly. But the teachers and students have come to understand that I'm not intentionally misbehaving, but rather temporarily losing the battle between mind and body. They know that I am always listening. I can be jumping up and down and if the teacher asks me a question, I hear it and answer."
Mike Keller, college student
[id: a photo of Mike sitting behind a laptop. The words from his quote are typed on the left half of the photograph]
#ActuallyAutistic #PresumeCompetence #NonverbalAutism #Autism #Apraxia #Dyspraxia #BrainBodyDisconnect #NonSpeakingAutism #ReachEveryVoice](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/491138390_1258729072922704_8642268041928778942_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=zINueqc53tgQ7kNvwGAM40k&_nc_oc=AdoGZZwM3TBNzuD4kK8-WJfE5kEXmFqW8uDuM7MPh5Ky57IJgD1mq2bcGaZFh4x4ZuI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFy0p5fphZmVq6vPEYNLdt3AQWL0q2dyxJCfReo75OAWINuh4juI2mdOGEa9xwf3sGoQDlWnWWZ&oh=00_Af1frb0b8LnpMGaPV3nmkk06_3czHGbsbk5RjyNHlTy6TA&oe=69D9DBF6)


![So April begins tomorrow, and we just wanted to let you know we're going to continue to do what we always do at Reach Every Voice: continue to amplify autistic voices.
We believe in listening to ALL voices.
Check back with us throughout the month as we hold the mic up to the powerful words written by our students and community members.
[id: a black background with red and white quote accents. The words above are shared on the image along with the Reach Every Voice logo]
Hashtags for increased visibility.
#AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAcceptanceMonth #NonVerbalAutism #GoRedInstead #Autism #AutismParents #AutismEducators](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/658993201_1562127699249505_6099938804362943240_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=tROfefr1RJEQ7kNvwGz3wwt&_nc_oc=AdoyVicUlM3htRCY4RNBmCDxz7QpkL5CD6JMCiSTO0MMPP1ZU8-t0zJMoVTdf5220bw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=XWV_xIFYvhusP7UiLSjrhA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGIU-xtPQTN7Yf2ijT1aJevLDZTWewuVA7CcszWj3qrP_luBcrbamM3NBi3tC7piTXSBa4SLSBf&oh=00_Af1kfbKZ_was664EodzyQVhHkzSbJ0NRAJ1woSRoGyYzLg&oe=69D9C69E)