01/01/2026
Happy New Year! The ChippenWhales have a rather lengthy profile for you today, but if you have anyone in your life that has autism and is non-speaking, please take the time to meet Peter and share his story with them.
“Non-speaking does not mean non-thinking.”
Imagine being trapped in a silent prison for 14 years. Imagine having a lifetime of words, thoughts, opinions, and inspiration… but no reliable way to express these to the world. Imagine knowing that people believe you to be “developmentally delayed” when, in fact, you are smarter than the average teenager. Then, a miracle: you are presented with a simple letterboard and a protocol that allows you to ultimately express yourself. Finally, you have a way for your voice to be heard! Your world will never be the same.
Well that’s Peter, a 16-year-old who has autism and is non-speaking. He has been a client at the Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment (a beneficiary of our efforts) for over ten years, where he works with therapists to enhance his daily living skills and to better control his impulses and sensory needs through Applied Behavior Analysis.
Throughout Peter’s life, and until he was 14 years old, his parents (Patrick & Laura) were told by doctors and professionals that Peter was at the developmental level of a 5-year-old. Since he was “nonverbal” and had many sensory issues, Peter had no way to disprove this. They tried many kinds of therapies and interventions, and while he made some incredible strides at the Unumb Center, his parents still treated him like a young child.
In the spring of 2024, a friend from their church pointed them to a documentary called “Spellers: The Movie.” It was about a group of teens who, like Peter, lived with non-speaking autism. The documentary showcased the “Spellers Method,” whereby the teens would communicate their thoughts and opinions by pointing to letters on a simple letterboard. It was astounding. The documentary then led them down a path they never thought possible. After a lot of research and prayer, they decided to take a leap of faith and take Peter to a 5-day “Immersion” program to learn the Spellers Method. They were skeptical, but something kept pushing them towards this. They even asked, “what if Peter can’t even spell?”
Admittingly, it’s hard for them to express the revelation they received during those five days, and the upheaval it caused in their family. Not only could Peter spell, but he also proved that he is full of knowledge that challenges the mental capacity of any adult – history, geography, astronomy, literature, languages – you name it, he knew it! His parents sat in a room with Peter and a Spelling practitioner and watched in awe as he spelled out answers to questions that they were certain he could not know. “What is the capital of California?” SACRAMENTO. “What person in history was famous for having a dream of freedom?” MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. “What is the capital of Illinois?” SPRINGFIELD.
Fast forward to today, a little over a year and a half later. Peter is enrolled in an online high school to work towards his diploma. He has completed a course on Shakespeare’s Macbeth and is now nearly finished with a more modern novel. He continues to practice the Spellers Method daily and has progressed to the final stage in the protocol: the keyboard. The end goal for the program is complete independence on the keyboard. He is determined to succeed.
Meanwhile, he has revealed to everyone his amazing intelligence, his spirituality, his abilities, his sense of humor, and his desire to lead other non-speakers with autism to spelling for communication, so that their voices can be unlocked just as his was.
Here are Peter’s words, given during a panel presentation of the Spellers Method in Charleson, SC this past year:
Please introduce yourself.
MY NAME IS PETER. I AM A NONSPEAKER. I AM FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. I STARTED SPELLING IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR. MY MOM AND DAD TOOK ME TO TAMPA TO START.
How has spelled communication changed your life?
MY LIFE HAS EXPANDED BEYOND MY EXPECTATION. NOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW SMART I AM. THIS GIVES ME HOPE FOR LIFE. THIS REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY. I WISH THAT ALL NONSPEAKERS COULD TRY THIS. MY LIFE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH.
What do you want people to do after seeing the movie (Spellers: The Documentary)?
TO START SPELLING WITH THEIR CHILDREN. YOUR NONSPEAKER IS READY TO HAVE HIS OR HER VOICE HEARD. YOU CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES. STOP UNDERESTIMATING THEM. THEY WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT.
For more information about the Spellers Method or S2C (Spelling to Communicate), please let us know and we will get you connected.
Peter’s story touches our group deeply. Stories like Peter’s is our “WHY” behind what we do for kids like him. Your help is greatly needed and appreciated. We are 2.5 weeks from our Polar Plunge event, so please consider clicking the link below to contribute to our efforts.
CLICK THIS LINK:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/ccm-partners-with-the-chippenwhales-polar-plunge-team-for-kids-in-need
Offline donations can be sent to:
Children’s Charities of the Midlands
344 Harborside Cir
Columbia SC 29229
Thank you all very much for your support and taking the time to learn about Peter. We hope that his story can assist someone that may be in your life.
Have a Happy New Year!
