Apraxia is a complex motor disorder that manifests as a profound disconnect between the brain and the body. It acts as an invisible barrier where the mind is fully active and intelligent, but the body fails to execute the intended movements required for speech. At the Autism Learning Foundation, we recognize that this silence is a motor challenge rather than a cognitive deficit. We are dedicated to bridging this gap by providing specialized motor coaching and spelling methodologies. By training the body to align with the mind, we empower our students to overcome the restrictions of apraxia and claim their rightful voice.

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Apraxia is a neuro-motor disability.  Apraxia prevents our students from speaking at all or severely limits their capacity for speech.  This form of autism also prevents them from using a standard keyboard and from performing simple everyday functions like buttoning a button or tying a shoe. ​

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The general public often mistakes this form of autism as a cognitive deficit, but in fact it is quite the opposite!  Our students are prolific learners!  These students do not learn in traditional ways, and consequently they have been neglected in traditional school settings and even in a special needs’ environment.  They have learned to communicate using various special spelling techniques.  With a communication partner to write down their words, our students spell out their message on a letter board one letter at a time. Thus, they are often referred to as “spellers.”  More information can be found here: Remarkable Abilities about non-speaking "spellers."

While verbal autistic students benefit from considerable support and educational resources, regrettably, the same level of assistance is not extended to the non-speaking autistic community. A sense of human worth is often disregarded, and their potential remains consistently overlooked. Nonetheless, these students possess capabilities equal to or surpassing those of traditional learners. Non-speaking autistics exhibit profound intelligence, and with access to educational opportunities, they can not only make valuable contributions to society but also discover fulfillment in a world that has overlooked their abilities for far too long.​