In this powerful reflection episode, Tara shares one of the most impactful moments of her career—her conversation with Jordyn Zimmerman during the 2025 Preschool Autism Summit. Together, they unpack the importance of presuming competence, providing early AAC access, and creating neurodiversity-affirming learning spaces. Tara also shares emotional ripple stories from participants, illustrating how nearly 50,000 educators and therapists are creating waves of change for autistic children around the world.
Key Takeaways:
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Presume competence—always. Speech is not the same as intelligence, and we must stop making assumptions based on verbal ability.
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Non-speaking ≠ non-verbal. The term “non-verbal” implies a lack of language; “non-speaking” affirms that language exists, even without speech.
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There are no prerequisites for AAC. Children do not need to match, point, or “behave” a certain way before receiving access to communication tools.
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PECS is not a communication system. It is a requesting system and does not provide full language access.
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AAC must include access to robust, literacy-based tools. Limiting a child to a core board or basic images restricts their ability to truly communicate.
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Talking about students in front of them causes real harm. Many non-speaking students hear and understand far more than people assume.
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Lack of access to communication is traumatic. It can lead to emotional and physical distress—and we have a responsibility to prevent that.
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Real inclusion means access, not separation. Segregated classrooms limit growth and potential; all students deserve meaningful academic instruction.
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Educators are making real-time ripples. From texting SLPs during the summit to creating team trainings, attendees are already pushing change.
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Small shifts create big waves. With over 49,000 participants, the summit’s ripple effect may reach nearly half a million autistic children—and it all starts with choosing compassion over compliance.
Links
Jordyn’s Documentary: https://thisisnotaboutme.film/
Jordyn’s Website: https://www.jordynzimmerman.com/
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