Spellers Center Tampa

09/12/2025

We are so happy to read reviews like this because we love to make differences in people's lives!

09/12/2025

Check out the new video release!

If your child has autism or whole-body apraxia, you know how tough even simple movements can be. Throwing a ball, tying shoes, eating dinner, or following di...

08/29/2025

😩 Ever felt powerless in the middle of an autism meltdown—whether in the grocery store, a birthday party, or even your own home?

Here’s the truth 👇
Your child’s nervous system is in overload.

🧠 Kids with autism and whole-body apraxia often struggle with regulation—their brains and bodies can’t just “calm down” on command. That’s where co-regulation comes in.

In my new video, I’m breaking down:
✔️ What regulation really means
✔️ Why meltdowns happen in autism
✔️ The brain science behind sensory overload
✔️ Practical co-regulation tools you can use in the moment

💡 Most importantly: your child isn’t misbehaving—they need regulation support.

🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q-edqB6hPI&t=65sto learn the tools that can change meltdown moments into opportunities for connection.

Have you ever watched your autistic child melt down in the grocery store, at a birthday party, or in another crowded space—and immediately felt anxious, stre...

08/22/2025

One more video for the weekend. This is a very important video on Presuming Competence. Check it out!

Have you ever met a child with autism who couldn’t speak—and wondered if they really understood you? The way we answer that question can completely shape the...

08/22/2025

Youtube video drop by Dr. Dana

Does your child with autism struggle to sit still, constantly move, or walk on their tiptoes?You might think it’s behavior, sensory issues, or just “part of ...

08/11/2025

https://youtu.be/0ijAw17LOPA

Traditional autism therapies like OT and ABA often miss a key piece: the disconnect between the brain and the body. In this video, I’ll introduce you to moto...

08/04/2025

Hi friends, Dana here! 👋

I wanted to share a resource I've been working hard on and one that I'm really passionate about. Every week, I have the privilege of meeting new families beginning their spelling journey, and one thing I hear often is, “I’ve never heard of whole body apraxia,” or “My child doesn’t fit the typical criteria for speech apraxia.”

That’s why I launched a YouTube channel, to raise awareness about whole body apraxia and help parents and professionals see the full picture when it comes to motor differences in autism.

👉 Please subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss our weekly video drops.
📲 And feel free to share this on your own page to help spread the word.

Here's the link for one of the videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QIHJPW5YQA

Thank you for being part of this movement!

In this video, Dr. Dana Johnson, PhD, explains Whole Body Apraxia—a brain-body disconnect that affects how kids with autism move, respond, and interact with ...

04/09/2025

Dana will be sharing tomorrow with Homeschool Your Nonspeaker - be sure to check out this group if you homeschool your child, they have some incredible resources and support!

Consistently Inconsistent

We were in Dr. Dana Johnson's clinic outside of Tampa, FL describing some of the behaviors we observed in Carter, who was just 5 years old at that time.

"We like to joke in our family that it's like he does something once or twice, and then he decides he's mastered it and stops!"

Of course this doesn't really make sense. Because it is not normal developmentally to do something beneficial to our growth and then stop. We were talking about things like using the toilet, saying words, and responding to his name.

But Dana nodded her head in understanding and replied, "Yes. This is what we call 'Consistently Inconsistent.'"

Apparently, this IS typical behavior among our nonspeaking kids! What a relief it was to hear that others experienced this and there was an explanation!

Because then Dana went on to describe WHY our kids do these things that are so baffling to us as their parents.

Apraxia explains why our kids can't always get their bodies to cooperate and do what they and their brains want to do.

And once we know that, we can begin to support the connection between their brain and body. Dr. Dana Johnson is one of the leaders in this paradigm shifting, life changing view of our nonspeaking loved ones. She is helping countless families understand what is going on and what we can do about it.

This week Dr. Johnson is the guest speaker in Nonspeakers Homeschool Support (NHS). This Thursday April 10th at 2 pm Eastern, all NHS members will have an opportunity to interact directly with her and ask their specific questions!

We are very excited for this opportunity and grateful to Dr. Johnson for giving her time to make our families' lives better. If you would like to be on this Live Zoom call or watch the replay, join NHS now.
I'm always here if you need anything! I hope you join us, this is going to be another fantastic call!

Warmly,
Susan May

ps I'd love to hear something that your child is "Consistently Inconsistent" with... it can be such a mystery and frustrating at the same time! Yet, when we understand the WHY beneath their behaviors, we can adjust and support them. Comment below or message me and share your story!

03/30/2025

Spellers Center Tampa has a fresh new look in their waiting area! The recent grand opening of Spellers Center Atlanta was an inspiration for the update. We added new colors, a new SCT sign and the phrase “PRESUME COMPETENCE’ above the entry to the office. We added this phrase because it is what ...

10/18/2024

Don't miss out on this Halloween event! Fun for the ENTIRE family. Spellers Center Tampa will be there to join in 🙌 See you there!

07/19/2024

Check out Dawnmarie's interview with Forbes. 👇👇


https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenaquino/2024/07/18/inside-the-spellers-methods-work-to-get-people-listening-to-non-speakers-everywhere/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3reIv8WYK_WurE-V1DyhpsnVeGGDchEPX-RqIs4q1y6clRpHBVU2Q2U8w_aem_b7TcFTrQBhvH5jsHRms1xQ

Resolute to connect with her child, Gaivin resolved to begin teaching Evan to spell on a stencil letter board.

04/11/2024

We are so excited to partner with the for their 2024 Autism Inclusion Day and they would like YOU to join us at ZooTampa on April 27th!

We have a limited number of tickets available for FREE and a chance to join the XEL Foundation and other families for a fun day at the zoo.

Link to register for tickets is in our bio, or email tampa@spellers.com.

🐒🦁🐘🦘🦛