Autism Parenting Secrets

Presume COMPETENCE, Here’s How

Episode Summary

Dawnmarie Gaivin, the inspiring founder of Spellers Center San Diego, joins us. Dawnmarie's children inspired her specific passion to support all nonspeakers in the development of purposeful motor skills and a reliable form of communication. Dawnmarie’s work was featured in the 2023 documentary SPELLERS, which revealed how spelling and typing can truly liberate nonspeakers. The secret this week is… Presume COMPETENCE, Here’s How

Episode Notes

Welcome to Episode 213 of Autism Parenting Secrets.

Today, I’m joined by Dawnmarie Gaivin, Founder & Executive Director of Spellers Center San Diego in Oceanside, CA.

Dawnmarie was a trauma & transplant RN for over 11 years. In 2005, her first son was diagnosed with autism, followed by her second son a year later. Her eldest, Evan (20), is a fluent letterboard communicator, and her younger son, Trey (19), uses multiple communication methods.

Dawnmarie, a former DIR/Floortime® provider and cofounder of the Spellers MethodTM, is now an Assistive Technology Specialist. In 2021, Jamison Handley and his dad, JB, wrote “Underestimated” about their journey learning to spell with her. JB shared their story in Episode 38.

In 2023, the documentary SPELLERS, now on YouTube, showcased how spelling and typing have liberated many nonspeakers.

Dawnmarie’s passion is to support nonspeakers in developing motor skills and reliable communication.

The secret this week is ...

Presume COMPETENCE, Here’s How

You'll Discover:

A Powerful Approach That Defies Skeptics (3:37)
The Pivotal Role of Motor Skills (11:51)
Language DOESN'T Require Speech (14:52)
The Magic of Top-Down Regulation (16:50)
The Brain-Body Disconnect (20:03)
Who's A Fit For The Spellers Method (23:01)
We See What We Believe (28:10)
Why You Want To Be A Motor Coach (29:41)
What the Spellers Method Looks Like And The Best Way To Start (39:52)
The Three Phases of the Spellers Method (45:28)
Why You Want To Rethink Expectations (51:41)
An Important Thing To Keep in Mind (55:36)

About Our Guest:

Dawnmarie Gaivin is the Founder & Executive Director at Spellers Center San Diego, located in Oceanside, CA. Before her career moved into the world of nonspeaking autism, Dawnmarie worked for over 11 years as a trauma & transplant RN.

In 2005, her first son regressed and was diagnosed with autism. A year later, her second son followed the same path. Today, her eldest, Evan (20), is a nonspeaker and fluent letterboard communicator. Her younger son, Trey (19), is a minimal speaker who uses multiple modalities for effective communication.

Dawnmarie is a former DIR/Floortime® provider, cofounder of the Spellers MethodTM, and is currently an Assistive Technology Specialist (AT-ACP) as well.

In March 2021, Jamison Handley, a speller, and his dad JB wrote a book entitled "Underestimated" about their journey learning how to spell to communicate with her. In 2023, the documentary SPELLERS was released - now available on YouTube - showcasing how spelling and typing as a method of communication have liberated many nonspeakers from a life of silence.

Dawnmarie's" children inspired her specific passion to support all nonspeakers in the development of purposeful motor skills and a reliable form of communication.