David shares a heartfelt recount of his two-week advocacy journey with his non-speaking son Stone. Starting in Atlanta and ending in New York City, David and Stone met with congressional leaders, gave inspiring presentations to professional groups, and connected with non-speaking families at the Presume Competence Fest. The episode highlights their efforts to promote communication rights for non-speakers and the power of direct advocacy. David is joined by fellow podcaster David Yas to reflect on the memorable moments and the impact of their experiences.
Topics
00:00 Starting the Day of Advocacy
01:02 Welcome to the Lighter Side of the Spectrum
01:43 A Special Journey with Stone
03:38 Traveling with Autism
06:11 TSA Cares and Sunflower Program
09:28 Speaking Engagement in Atlanta
15:06 Presume Competence Fest
15:56 Connecting with the Non-Speaking Community
21:37 Fun in Atlanta
22:14 Advocacy on Capitol Hill
24:10 Reflecting on the Journey to Congress
24:37 Meeting with Congresswoman Schreyer
26:26 Highlighting the Spelling Curriculum
27:22 Engaging with Speech Language Pathologists
28:31 Meeting with Senator Cantwell's Office
29:59 Presentation at Berson PR and Communications
30:45 Stone's Bold Statement
34:01 Visiting the Statue of Liberty
34:20 Navigating New York City
36:55 The 9/11 Memorial Visit
37:21 Managing Emotions and Behaviors
42:35 Future Plans and Goals
44:36 Listener Feedback and Engagement
