The Communication Company

02/06/2026

One more week! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💛

02/02/2026

01/31/2026

AAC Bootcamp- You don’t need to be an AAC expert to build real communication access — you just need the right support.

01/15/2026

Support your child’s early literacy by attending the VDSA’s new Adaptive Storytime program hosted by VCU doctoral student, Kaitlyn Spitler, OTS, and the VDSA Education Director, Ame Branam. Each session will feature a book from Natalie Hale’s Whole Child Reading Program, expanded with multi-sensory and motor-based approaches. It will further incorporate opportunities for free play and social engagement. This program is targeted towards children with Down syndrome ages 0-5, though siblings and family members are welcome to join!

All sessions will be at our VDSA office at 1504 Santa Rosa Road on Saturdays in February & March from 10:00am-11:00am. Note: We will not have a session on March 14th due to our upcoming Education & Transition Conference.

Register here: https://virginiadsa.networkforgood.com/events/96302-adaptive-storytime

01/09/2026

A reminder to use those fun feeding tools with your picky eaters!

01/09/2026

Every Tues. Starting Jan 27th!

01/09/2026

This is a great conference! 🌟🌟🌟

12/18/2025

Thank you for sharing Jordan! ❤️

This is the number one thing people don’t understand about Childhood Apraxia of Speech from my lived experience… we can experience cognitive overload from the speech demand itself. It’s not just anxiety. It’s not behavior. It’s not lack of effort. The very act of trying to speak, planning, sequencing, timing, and executing movements, can overload our brain. When that happens, speech can further break down, even though the desire to speak is there. The brain-to-mouth disconnection becomes harder under pressure, stress, or time demands.

During cognitive overload, you may see increased groping, long pauses, abandoned words, or a sudden drop in intelligibility. This is why speech can worsen when we’re anxious or put on the spot… not because we “forgot” how to talk, but because the system is overloaded and can’t hold the motor plan together anymore. The fear of going back into that overloaded state is real, and for me, it stuck with me for a long time.

That’s where, for me, avoidance of verbal tasks comes in. Avoidance isn’t laziness or defiance, it’s a coping mechanism. If speaking has repeatedly pushed someone into overload, their nervous system learns to protect them by pulling back. The problem is, when adults punish or force through that avoidance instead of understanding it, the cycle gets worse. We don’t need more pressure… we need better coping tools.

Overload in CAS often looks like for me frustration after repeated communication failures. Some people can act out because they can’t express themselves fast enough. Others go quiet and compliant, like I did as a child, which is more dangerous because adults assume they’re “fine” when they’re actually struggling internally.

What helps is lowering verbal demand while keeping communication access high. Honoring AAC for children without treating it as “giving up.” Slowing the rate. Reducing repetitions. Allowing real response time. Building in silent processing breaks.

CAS isn’t just about motor planning. It’s about capacity, regulation, and respecting the limits of a motor system under pressure.

When we stop blaming… we start supporting— and this includes with ourselves.

- Jordan Christian LeVan

12/17/2025

There is still space for our Respite Event in Richmond
"Get your last-minute holiday shopping done while your kids enjoy a fantastic afternoon with our trained staff and volunteers. We are hosting a fun-filled event for self-advocates and their siblings. It’s a win-win for everyone!"

When: December 20, 2025
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Where: VDSA Office

Register Here: https://virginiadsa.networkforgood.com/events/93858-respite-event-on-december-20-2025-ages-0-to-12-at-richmond-office

12/04/2025

❤️❤️❤️

A Virginia program is opening ballet to dancers with disabilities, giving those with Down syndrome a role — and a stage — once thought out of reach.

10/17/2025

10/17/2025

The more you learn about Down syndrome, the richer your understanding becomes. 💚
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