AUTISM ADVOCACY
An Exclusive Look at AUTISM
with
Nancy Wells
By Derrick HAYES
Encouragement speaker Derrick Hayes gives an
AUTISM interview by asking six questions through
each letter in the word “autism” to give readers an
insightful perspective from parents, experts, entre-
preneurs, and other leaders in the field.
T
oday’s AUTISM Interview is with Nancy
Wells, a licensed professional counselor
(LPC) who founded AbleTalks, a new ap-
proach to education, career development,
and independent therapies for adults with
autism and other intellectual disabilities.
AbleTalks offers what it calls “classes for the
next stage,” or independent special education for
people over the age of 21.
AbleTalks uniquely and effectively eliminates the
“drop off point” experienced by adults with intellec-
tual disabilities. It encompasses independent study,
career counseling, socialization, and speech ther-
apy, and the results have been both powerful and
empowering. For more information about Nancy or
AbleTalks please visit https://www.facebook.com/
AbleTalks/ and https://abletalks.org/
A
is for Awareness - When and how did you
first become aware that something was dif-
ferent?
My kids were the classic normally functioning chil-
dren until 18 months, and then they lost all language
and developed sensitivities. They began having
communication and social issues to the point where
they could not make it out in public, and they did not
speak again until they were four or four and a half
years old. With our oldest child, I was aware some-
thing was not right at about 18 months, but we did
not take action until she was about three years old.
With our youngest, we took action when she was
two years old.
U is for Unique - How has this experience
been unique for you and your child?
I see the world completely differently. I have learned
so many life lessons, and I have questioned so many
things about our social norms. My daughters are the
strongest young women that I have ever known, and
they have brought out the best and worst in me.
They changed what I thought parenting was going
to be, and it is so much better.
T is for Tools - What tools are there now that
were not there in the beginning that could
help other parents?
Right now, my children are in their twenties, and
20 years ago the tools were institutionalization and
isolation. Now I work with kids at schools and I’m a
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