Apply Now for National Autism Association's GIVE A VOICE Grant
From the best people on the planet - Wendy Fournier and the kitchen table team at National Autism Association. NAA has never stopped finding ways to directly help families cope with and yes, thrive despite the challenges of autism for their loved ones. Got a toddler just diagnosed? Please get to know NAA. Old timer? Never forget that NAA always has your back.
###
GIVE A VOICE PROGRAM
The intent of NAA’s Give A Voice program is to provide the opportunity for meaningful, effective communication to individuals with autism who are nonspeaking or unreliably speaking, and whose communication challenges put them at increased risk of injury or harm.
We are thrilled to announce that we are now offering access to certified practitioners in S2C (Spelling 2 Communicate) and RPM (Rapid Prompting Method) while continuing to offer our iPad AAC program.
S2C and RPM involve the process of communication through spelling on a letterboard. To learn more about letterboarding and how it works, we recommend visiting i-asc.org as well as reading the recently-released book “Underestimated: An Autism Miracle” by J.B. and Jamie Handley.
Grants for spellers will provide up to 4 sessions with a practitioner of your choice along with a set of letterboards.
NAA’s Give A Voice Program also can provide qualifying individuals with an assistive communication device including:
- A 32GB Apple® iPad® (9.7″ – Wi-Fi only)
- AppleCare+ Protection Plan
- Avatalker AAC Augmentative and Alternative Communication Software app
- Protective Case
To learn more about Avatalker AAC, please visit http://www.avatalkeraac.com.
iPad grant recipients, please use this link for helpful support resources from Apple in both English and Spanish.
We have very limited funding for this program. Every application is carefully reviewed and all information submitted is verified by NAA staff. This program is intended for families who are in dire need of financial assistance and are otherwise unable to attain access to these communication methods.
Give A Voice Applications are now being accepted.
Click here to download an S2C/RPM application.
Click here to download an iPad AAC application.
Funding is always needed for this program.
To become a corporate sponsor, or make a
tax-deductible donation, please click here.
@Bill
"I do not like that spelling 2 communicate and rapid prompt method because they are so similar to facilitated communication which has been proven fraudulent."
Could you give more details on this? On what sources do you base your opinion?
Neither of these methods existed when one of mine needed help. I used intensive speech therapy at an early age followed by a phonics intensive reading curriculum. I worked with him every day. He was eventually able to progress to an acceptable level of speech fluency. He also learned to read and write in both cursive and print. Each child is different and has different levels of injury. One method may work better for one than another. There is a lot of trial and error to figure out how best to help.
Posted by: Emmaphiladelphia | July 05, 2022 at 09:21 PM
I think those communication devices which including I-Pad applications are best for children with autism to use. I do not like that spelling 2 communicate and rapid prompt method because they are so similar to facilitated communication which has been proven fraudulent. Some of these "talking" devices like Avatalker are covered by Regional Center and health insurance. There is also the topic of sign language. Nothing is stopping mom and dad from taking sign language classes at a junior college during the evening and learning sign language from a expert and teaching the signed language to their autistic children. There are sign language classes and languages/dialect through the world just like there are junior colleges to teach it.
Posted by: Bill | July 05, 2022 at 09:53 AM