We're growing! xMinds is hiring a Community Engagement Coordinator. Learn more and apply today. |
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Breaking Barriers for Nonspeaking Autistic Students
DON'T MISS JANUARY 14 WEBINAR |
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It's estimated that one-third of all autistic individuals are non– or minimally speaking. If we apply this to the 5,600 students with a primary disability code of autism in Montgomery County Public Schools, that's more than 1,800 students. Yet research on how to best support them remains frustratingly limited. This lack of data leaves many families struggling to secure effective educational services for their children. |
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Our next webinar, Supporting Autistic Learners Who Are Nonspeaking or Minimally Speaking: What Every Parent Should Know, Wednesday, January 14, 7-8:30 p.m., will bring clarity and guidance from three leading experts: Lisa Mihalich Quinn, founder and executive director of Reach Every Voice, Julie Sando, Director of Autistically Inclined, and Dr. Edlyn Peña, Director of the Autism & Communication Center at California Lutheran University. They will be talking about their book, Breaking Barriers for Nonspeaking Autistic Students: A Toolkit to Enhance Communication in Learning Environments.
Together, they'll help parents understand and support autistic learners who use little or unreliable speech, including key concepts such as:
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Presuming Competence: Why believing in a learner’s abilities changes what becomes possible.
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Motor Differences & Apraxia: A simple, parent-friendly explanation of the brain–body disconnect that affects speech and movement.
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Shifting From “Behavior” to Co-Regulation: How to interpret actions through a sensory–motor lens and support regulation, safety, and connection.
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Communication as a Human Right: Why every learner needs consistent access to robust communication—not just choices or requests.
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Where Literacy Fits In: How reading and writing support real communication and open academic opportunities.
Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from leaders in the field and get your questions answered. Register today to receive your Zoom link and learn strategies that can unlock the potential of a large, often overlooked group of autistic students who have so much to share once given the tools to communicate. |
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Julie Sando
Founder of Autistically Inclined and co-founder of Communication for Education, Julie has spent more than two decades helping nonspeaking individuals communicate using text-based and multimodal tools, grounded in relationship-centered, competence-presuming practices. |
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December Discussion Groups
GUEST SPEAKERS JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS |
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As you get ready for the holidays (and afterwards as you recover), xMinds FREE discussion groups are here for you. Let's Talk Transitions will be hosted on an adjusted schedule and will meet on Wednesday, December 17, 7-7:45 p.m., instead of its usual date later in the month.
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Find out how SEEC is expanding its services -- particularly in supported living but also in employment and meaningful day services. As your children transition to adulthood, those services could be vital to your family down the road. Register here (if you've already registered for the Transitions discussion group, no need to sign up again.) |
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Here’s the rest of the upcoming discussion group schedules:
Small Steps Together
Monday, December 22 | 7-7:45 p.m.
Our discussion group for MoCo parents/caregivers of autistic elementary and preschool students. Register here to receive the Zoom link.
People of the Global Majority
Monday, January 5 | 7-7:45 p.m.
For parents/guardians of autistic children who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) Register here.
Hablemos Educación Especial (Spanish-speaking Discussion Group)
Wednesday, January 7 | 7-7:45 p.m.
For Spanish-speaking MoCo parents/caregivers of autistic students. Register here.
Lunchtime Reboot
Monday, January 12 | 12-12:45 p.m.
Take a break and join certified mindfulness teacher and parent coach Magüi Moreno for practical self-care strategies. January ‘s topic: Calming the Storm: Emotional Regulation for Parents Register here.
For more information about each of these monthly groups, go to our Discussions Group web page. |
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We’re Matching End-of-Year Gifts to xMinds
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON |
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Giving Tuesday might be over, but the season for donations is just beginning. Throughout the year, xMinds operates on a shoestring budget to provide free resources, services, and events to serve the whole community. That’s where you come in: Thanks to a generous pledge from the xMinds board and staff, donations are being matched for the next $7,500 raised, between now and the end of the year
All year long, xMinds provides expert advice, speaker events, and accessible resources to help your family navigate the ups and downs of autism, from school settings to social relationships to self-advocacy. We couldn’t do any of this important work without the help of our generous donors.
We look forward to expanding services and resources for you in 2026, as we continue to support MoCo autistic students and their families. We are setting up even more great programming in January and beyond, so your donation would go a long way. |
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Join our Team
MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH US |
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Do you love connecting with people? Are you energized by building community? If so, you might be the perfect fit for our new full-time Community Engagement Coordinator role. Our new hire will strengthen our volunteer network, deepen relationships across Montgomery County, and help train and support the dedicated people who power xMinds. |
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Because xMinds is committed to reaching families across all linguistic and cultural backgrounds, bilingual skills (especially in Spanish, Amharic, or Mandarin) are highly valued.
Know someone who might be a great fit? Please share the job posting!
View the full description and application details here. |
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Ready to Help? THE XMINDS VOLUNTEER HUB IS LIVE |
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xMinds is excited to announce the launch of our new Volunteer Hub — an online space to help you find meaningful ways to get involved. As our community and organization continue to grow, we want to make it easier for volunteers to connect with opportunities that match their interests and ensure that every volunteer experience is rewarding and meaningful. |
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At xMinds, our greatest strength is our community. With a small staff and a big mission, we rely on volunteers to power nearly everything we do — from volunteering at our IEP Clinic, bringing snacks to the playground, to advising a parent on their child's IEP. Simply put: we could not offer the breadth of services we provide without volunteers.
Our new Volunteer Hub is a work in progress, and we’ll continue expanding it with new opportunities, roles, and resources. Bookmark the page and check back often to explore the many ways you can get involved with xMinds as our volunteer community continues to grow.
Whether you have a few hours a month or a specific skill to share, there’s a place for you at xMinds. Together, we can strengthen our community and improve educational outcomes for autistic students in Montgomery County.
Visit the Volunteer Hub and jump in! |
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Enjoy the Holiday Season
LEARN HOW TO BE FESTIVE WITHOUT STRESS |
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We’ve all been there: you’re invited to several holiday gatherings. While you’re looking forward to the festivities, you wonder how your autistic child will fare in the new or chaotic environment. What starts as excitement can quickly shift, and joy can turn into a meltdown in a matter of moments.
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This holiday season, Jason Hangauer, a pediatric psychologist at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, is sharing ideas to help make the upcoming holiday season more enjoyable and minimize stress for children with autism and their families. These include: know your child’s limits, plan ahead, and practice conversation skills ahead of time. The Autism Society also emphasized the importance of fostering an inclusive and supportive holiday experience. “Small but meaningful adjustments—like setting boundaries, managing expectations, and preparing thoughtfully—can create a more peaceful and joyful atmosphere.” Recognize the unique challenges of the holiday season, particularly concerning sensory overload, routine disruption, and heightened social expectations. Consider proactive, practical strategies—such as gradually decorating, using visual schedules, communicating boundaries to family, and preparing for new foods or social settings—to help manage common holiday stressors.
And when all else fails, let it all go and meditate. xMinds hosted Lunchtime Reboot host Magui Moreno in 2023 for a three-session virtual Holiday Survival Guide. Watch the The Holiday Survival Guide for Parents—Session 1 on our YouTube channel. All sessions include a presentation and a brief mindfulness exercise. |
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Get Pumped for Our FIRST Open Gym of 2026
FAMILY FUN FOR ELEMENTARY AND PRESCHOOL FAMILIES |
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When it’s wintry and cold outside, here's a warm thought: we’re preparing for our first indoor open gym of the new year: Saturday, January 17, 10–11:30 a.m. at the Glen Haven Elementary Gymnasium, 10900 Inwood Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902. |
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Our open gym meetups offer a fun way to get your autistic elementary and preschool students (and their families) moving on a winter day. We will have balls, mats, parachutes, and other gym equipment, as well as organized children's activities. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents and share resources. We will provide snacks, and volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions.
Everyone is welcome, including siblings, and there’s no cost to attend! Registration is not required, so feel free to just show up. If you would like to receive event reminders and an email if we need to postpone due to inclement weather, sign up here.
Please note that due to the holidays, there will not be a December meetup. |
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Primers on MCPS Placements in the Books
XMINDS RETURNED WITH 16TH ANNUAL EVENT |
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xMinds’s annual Primers on MCPS Placements were held across two evenings, November 11 and 13. Three live, online sessions, each focused on a different age group — Preschool, Elementary School, and Secondary School (middle and high school). Over the course of the three sessions, MCPS representatives detailed the array of special education services that serve autistic students. |
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Teachers and administrators shared information about placements geared toward both diploma-bound and certificate-bound students. More than 330 families registered for the events and MCPS staff answered 105 questions live over the three sessions. If you were able to attend, thank you. With the information, check out our extensive resources on MCPS services and locations at xminds.org/placements If you missed the series, you can watch the full playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRq4IbWpOzgB35yLfLPNzVua_el_SFcA9 |
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Monthly Series: Autistic Voices
AUTISTIC ADVOCATE UPLIFTS NONSPEAKING STUDENTS |
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In this installment of our monthly series, Autistic Voices, we’re going to celebrate a nonspeaking autistic teen who has used his platform to help reshape autism education.
Patrick Saunders is a 16-year-old autistic self-advocate who also has ADHD, scoliosis, apraxia and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). In 2024, he became the first nonspeaking individual to address South Australia’s Parliament via letterboard, according to his website, thestoryspeller.com. During the presentation, Patrick proposed an Autism and Neurodiversity Academy of Excellence to “revolutionize teacher training through lived experience.” |
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Since then, Patrick uses his Instagram account @iamthestoryspeller to highlight “100 ways to support autistic nonspeakers.” Here are a couple of recent snippets:
“When you read the thoughts and experiences that nonspeakers have endured, ask yourself what can I learn from them? Then apply your research from a lived experience perspective because let’s face it the years of therapy did not help me to thrive.” “When you meet a nonspeaker, what are your initial thoughts? At school teachers limited me and believed I wasn’t capable. My parents never questioned my capabilities, guided me, reduced barriers and accommodated for my apraxia, DCD and motorplanning. Don’t assume - it’s dangerous and limits success and self belief.”
In an adventure that will be close to our families’ hearts, Patrick cycled across the U.S with his parents several years ago. (Next year, we need to get them on xMinds Bike to the Beach team!) Read about their adventures here: Cycling across America with our autistic son was the best thing we ever did |
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Professional Member Spotlight
As a benefit to both our families and professional members, xMinds publishes information about our professional members here in the xMindsWire as well as on our website. Inclusion does not constitute our endorsement. This month, xMinds would like to highlight the following new and renewing professional members:
Martinez Advocacy
10605 Concord St., Ste. 102, Kensington, MD 20895
202-255-7842; www.martinezadvocacy.com
Contact: Monica Martinez; mmartinez@martinezadvocacy.com
Services: Special Education Advocacy
Monica Martinez is a special education advocate working with families in Montgomery County, MD. Through her 12 plus years of involvement in xMinds, Monica developed an in-depth understanding of how Montgomery County Public Schools educates students on the autism spectrum and how to navigate the district’s special education system. Monica’s areas of expertise are services and accommodations for students on the autism spectrum, as well as those with ADHD and/or co-morbid mental health issues. Monica also works to help parents and guardians understand the educational rights of their children. Monica has attended Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training and completed the yearlong Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 2.0 through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). |
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Upcoming xMinds Events
XMINDS CORE EVENTS, RESOURCES & SERVICES ARE ALWAYS FREE
Wednesday, December 17, 7-7:45 p.m.
Let's Talk Transitions — Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents of autistic students in middle or high school. Register here.
Monday, December 22, 7-7:45 p.m.
Small Steps Together — Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of autistic elementary or preschool children. Register here
Monday, January 5, 7-7:45 p.m.
People of the Global Majority — Parent Discussion Group
Online discussion group for MoCo parents/guardians of autistic children who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Register here.
Wednesday, January 7, 7-7:45 p.m.
Hablemos Educación Especial — Grupo de Discusión de Padres
El comité de xMinds sobre el alcance del idioma español está organizando un grupo de discusión en línea mensual en español para los padres de un estudiante autista del condado de Montgomery. Regístrese aquí.
Monday, January 12, 12-12:45 p.m.
Lunchtime Reboot
Relax, unwind and learn strategies to beat the stress of parenting. January ‘s topic: Calming the Storm: Emotional Regulation for Parents Register here. |
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Wednesday, January 14, 7-8:30p.m.
Breaking Barriers for Nonspeaking Autistic Students
Join our webinar with coauthors Lisa Mihalich Quinn, founder and executive director of Reach Every Voice, Dr. Edlyn Peña, Director, Autism & Communication Center at California Lutheran University, and Julie Sando, Director, Autistically Inclined. Register here.
NO MEETUP IN DECEMBER
Saturday, January 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
Open Gym Meetup
Preschool and elementary families will head indoors in January! Register here.
Community Calendar
Our community calendar is FULL of great offerings not only from xMinds, but from professional service providers located in Montgomery County. Check out the programs and events posted on our Events Calendar.
Note: Our Events Calendar shows events on their start date, but some community programs require you to apply before the start date, so please look ahead! |
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Please consider donating to xMinds. We offer all our resources to families and educators at no cost to ensure they are accessible to everyone who needs them. Your support is essential in helping us continue this work. Every contribution makes a difference!
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