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Stories
Check out our many communication stories from the perspective of Communication Mentors, users of AT/AAC, family members, and other communication supporters, and take a moment to share your own communication story!
Get complete information on submitting your own story here. Please choose whichever format works best for you: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Joanie Fisher - Creating an Awareness
The Communication Mentors' Network has created an awareness for Joanie and many others that communication can open doors and work miracles for people! People are being heard and respected, and everyone grows from this.
Read Joanie's story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Julie Sozio - Slowly, but Surely
Julie found that being a Communication Mentor helped her to communicate long held beliefs about how people's behaviors need to be recognized as communication. Slowly, but surely, she has been helping others to understand this so that more individuals can be heard.
Check out Julie's story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Laura Zibrat - Facilitating the Fire in My Belly
After attending a Communication Conclave, Laura felt the need to get involved with the Communicaiton Mentors' Network. She had a fire in her belly and began spreading it around her organization, through her trainings and meetings, and with the staff and the individuals they support.
Read Laura's full story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Michelle Sparling - Employment Is Possible
Following her belief that employment is possible for all, Michelle has been investigating assistive technology and creative supports to help people pusue their personal employment dreams, including people who do not use the spoken word to communicate.
Find out more about Michelle here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Diane Pepper - Subtle Communications
Diane tells about Deanna's sometimes overlooked attempts at communicating. Deanna has many ways of communicating, but if people don't notice, then she's likely to just give up. We all need to be more aware of people's more "subtle communications".
Read Diane's complete story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Roy Diamond - Infinitely Grateful
Roy's son, Jacob, used Facilitated Communication (FC) to tell people various things about himself. At age 18, he is expressing himself "like a typical teenager", for which he and his family are very thankful.
Check out Roy's story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Chandi Rajapatirana - Breaking Free From a Silent Abyss
After 17 years of being "held hostage" by autism, ,Chandi and his family stumbled upon Facilitated Communication (FC). Suddenly, his brain "lit up like a neon sign", and he finally had a way to communicate. Since then, Chandi has been on an incredible journey, told here in articles from Sri Lanka's "The Sunday Times" and "Time" magazine.
Read the article from "The Sunday Times" here.
Read the article from "Time" magazine here.
Rosa McAllister - Mentors' Network Boosts Communication
Rosa shares information about the Communication Mentors' Network in the "Community Services Reporter", a publication of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). The article starts on page 2 of the "Community Services Reporter".
Read the article here: (PDF)
Nancy Cader - Capable of So Much More
During a meeting to review their approach to communication, Nancy and a young man had their first true conversation, and it became clear that he was "capable of so much more than anyone was giving him credit for."
Check out Nancy's full story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Jessica Stover - Everyone Communicates
Jessica had to change her way of thinking to imagine the possibilities that come with communication support. Embracing the idea of possibility has altered her lilfe and showed her that everyone communicates!
Read Jessica's story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Shauna Roman - Right the Wrongs of the World
Shauna has found that we need to open up to the possibility that we aren’t even close to figuring out the people we support. If we allow ourselves, we can get to a new world where people are people, an even playing field where we are all on the same team.
Find out more about Shauna here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Michelle Baker - Listen and Observe
Communicating with people is a part of who Michelle is, and now she pays more attention to the little things that are too often dismissed as "nothing".
Check out Michelle's story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Joe Murphy - Too Many People Have No Say in Their Own Lives
Joe's passion to put himself "out of work" by helping everyone to find their voice has led to personal changes, challenges, and proud moments.
Learn more about Joe here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Mark Reeves - Communicate and Have a Real Life
Communicating through AT has helped Mark "become a real person" with "a real life". By being a Communication Mentor, he can help offer hope to others that they too can show their abilities and find a means to communicate.
Read Mark's full story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Lovette Sumner - Joy and Satisfaction
Being a Communication Mentor gives Lovette the chance to teach and learn about different ways of communicating. There truly is joy and satisfaction when a person's communication needs are met.
Check out Lovette's full story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Doris Kalina - Support, Choice, and Control
Assisting people to seek employment exposed Doris to a variety of communication systems, and brought out the excitement in seeing people express themselves, make choices, and take control of their lives.
Check out Doris's story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Lee Flad - Communication’s Power
People had a belief in Lee, and she had a belief in people and potential. She has found accomplishments and the greater good, as well as the power of communication.
Read Lee's complete story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Cindy Evitts - There Has to Be a Better Way
Seeing the type of care people were receiving in residential settings led Cindy to believe there had to be a better way to meet people's needs and desires...like listening, respecting choices, and remembering that there is more than one way to do something.
Check out Cindy's full story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
Diane Singleton - Better Communication and Understanding
The need for knowledge and a love of people drives Diane to find better ways of communicating and understanding. On her journey, she has learned not to take anything at face value anymore.
Read Diane's full story here: (PDF) (Word) (Text)
More stories to come...please check back later!