I first met Jade almost a decade ago through The Autism Community in Action (TACA) and she has always been kind, giving, and caring. Her son Gabe is a little older than my son Christopher and Jade was always a big help to me. She was especially helpful when we were struggling through COVID lockdowns with puberty and PANDAS. Jade is not only a great resource – and source of hope – but also a great friend. I am so excited that her son Gabe has now found his voice through S2C and is following in his mom’s footsteps and making it his mission to help others. I love that these two are doing their part to change the world together, and I am honored to feature this dynamic duo in this month’s In Their Own Words series! 

Telling The Hard, True Feelings

From Gabe:

Hi, my name is Gabe. Hard to imagine, but I am almost 20 years old. I went 19.5 of those years with no voice to tell my tale. Feels surreal to say that finally! I traveled to SPELLERS Tampa to Dana Johnson. I’ll have to order pretty flowers for Miss Dana for really directly saving my life. She opened the real thought that I’m going to escape my own true Hell.

I never thought it could happen to feel free to be hopeful, not hurt.

Gabe spelling for Santa (Photo Credit: Jade Alto)

This is truly awesome to say to you now. We can say what our real feelings are and what true emotions we experience. I want to explain what real critics do not hear that well … It makes me sad to read them say we aren’t really typing, and we don’t really have our own voice. You don’t really want to know my true thoughts on that. It’s hard to tell you those thoughts without using naughty language.

I want to educate because we can save the others who are trapped without a voice due to Apraxia. I want to save all the awesome people so they can make world changes together with me. We are the only saving grace now. I’m dreaming of a very happy ending for so many people!

Gabe spelling with his dad (Photo Credit: Jade Alto)

From Jade:

Hi, I’m Gabe’s mom, Jade. Years back, I wrote a blog for my dear sweet friend, Joanna, during ‘Autism Awareness’ month about the bond between siblings and kids with autism. I was so honored to be asked back then, but I have to say that watching my son write this blog today is WAY BETTER! Had you asked me even one year ago if I thought that scenario could ever or would ever happen, I would have probably given you a big eyeroll.

I prayed, I begged, and I wished for years to find a way to help Gabe unlock speech. All of our efforts were poured into speech therapy and ABA to gain meaningful communication. Who would have ever imagined that something so simple as a laminated 26-letter board would hold the key to unlocking Gabe’s beautiful brain?

I’ve always known he was amazing and so intelligent, but seeing his real personality has just opened my eyes to what we were all truly missing out on his whole life. He is an amazing person, so funny and SO quick-witted, loving, kind and so patient and forgiving. SPELLERS and the S2C method are breaking down barriers for people with apraxia.

Jade with Dawnmarie Gaivin (left) and Dana Johnson (right) from Spellers Centers
(Photo Credit: Jade Alto)

I will never be able to fully express my gratitude to the Spelling Community for what they have done for not only Gabe, but our entire family. Gabe’s siblings are 8 and 6 years old and fortunately will never really remember a time when they couldn’t communicate with their big brother, all thanks to the SPELLERS Revolution!

Gabe and I are on a mission to empower families like ours who have the same dreams and prayers for true communication to find an S2C or SPELLERS practitioner in your area.

As Gabe always says, “We are going to change the world through spelling!” Join us!

The Alto Family (Photo Credit: Jade Alto)

Gabe Alto lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his family: Dad (Mike), Mom (Jade), little sister (Landyn, 8) and little brother, (Lane, 6). Gabe has many hopes and dreams for his future,  but two of the biggest are a move down to the sunshine state of Florida to be near his Spelling buddies and SPELLERS practitioner and also to attend a virtual Spellers program in the Fall to get a REAL high school diploma!

Jade Alto resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and three children. She has worked for nearly two decades as a volunteer in several autism community support leadership roles. She currently works for The Medical Academy of Pediatric and Special Needs (MAPS) organization as a Community Outreach Coordinator. Helping families and children with autism is a huge passion of hers.