"Underestimated: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers"
premieres May 26.
ANAHEIM,
Calif., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On May
26, Dawnmarie Gaivin and Dana
Johnson, founders of the Spellers Method™ used by
thousands of nonspeaking individuals with autism, in partnership
with filmmaker Pat R. Notaro III,
will launch a video-on-demand docuseries that chronicles what
happens once these "Spellers" are empowered to design their own
lives and make an impact on the world that didn't see them coming.
The announcement from both executive producers arrives as
April—Autism Awareness Month—draws to a close.
Over five episodes, "Underestimated: The Heroic Rise of
Non-Speaking Spellers," inspired by the documentary "SPELLERS The
Movie," follows people of all ages with autism-related neuromotor
disorders as they learn to spell words on letters and
keyboards. With Notaro at the helm and Evan
Rogers assisting in storytelling and editing, each
25-minute episode brings to light the obstacles encountered by
children and adults whose developmental differences prevent them
from communicating at a level that accurately represents their age
and intellectual abilities. Through their eyes, the viewer glimpses
the complex realities of living as a nonspeaking person, and the
profound effects the Spellers Method™ has on their everyday
interactions.
Said Johnson, "The opportunity to work on a project like this
with a team who has the same passion to provide communication to
nonspeakers was something that I couldn't pass up. The success of
the documentary was just the start of the Revolution.
'Underestimated: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers' will
continue to build on that momentum and change the lives of many
more families. We won't stop until all nonspeakers have a
voice!"
Said Gaivin, "The nonspeakers who've been silenced for
generations beneath their labels of autism, Down syndrome, or
apraxia, are now being heard thanks to spelling and typing to
communicate. Many thanks to Pat R.
Notaro who has once again used his gift of directing to
bring these marginalized voices to the mainstream audience. Every
episode in the docuseries will expand your mind and your heart,
changing forever how you view people at first glance."
With 1 in 36 children in America diagnosed with autism in
2023, Gaivin and Johnson's work is especially important to
spotlight via avenues like the docuseries and partnerships with
companies like Anaheim-based
Golden Road Brewing. Founded by Meg
Gill, who has a nonspeaking daughter with autism, Golden
Road Brewing and parent company Anheuser Busch released their "Get
on Board" IPA on April 2: National
Autism Awareness Day. The beer is named for the letterboards used
by the Spellers, and serves as a call to action to "get on board"
by spreading awareness of the innovative educational products now
available to nonspeaking people and their loved ones. Golden
Road Brewing is making a donation to the Spellers Freedom
Foundation Scholarship program to encourage even more nonspeakers
to 'Get On Board' and help them access communication.
Get on Board Hazy IPA is fruity, hops-forward, and bursting with
juicy notes of orange, lemon, and peach. It was made with a group
of nonspeaking autistic individuals who used spelled communication
to contribute—the first in the U.S. to be developed using these
methods. Gill and her team will host the premiere of the docuseries
at the brewery today in Anaheim,
CA at 5:30PM P.S.T supported
by an exclusive virtual screening of Episode 3, "Crafty
Collaboration", which chronicles the story behind this
extraordinary brew.
"This is the most special beer we've ever created," said Golden
Road founder Meg Gill, whose
daughter was the inspiration for this partnership. "It brings
together my first baby, the business, and my real first baby, and
it gives back to a community that I feel has brought me the gift of
communication with my daughter."
Allies, advocates, and supporters of the autism community can
watch all five episodes of "Underestimated: The Heroic Rise of
Nonspeaking Spellers," released weekly via Underestimated.TV:
- May 26, 2024: EP01 "Education
Revelation"
- June 2, 2024: EP02 "Self-Advocacy
Ascension"
- June 9, 2024: EP03 "Crafty
Collaboration"
- June 16, 2024: EP04 "Inspiring
Vision"
- June 23, 2024EP05 "Positive
Relation"
Said Notaro, "Our journey has been nothing short of
amazing, collaborating with an exceptional team to produce original
stories aimed at broadening minds and effecting change in the world
in big ways! We're deeply grateful to Evan
Rogers for his invaluable assistance in storytelling, and to
Dathan Graham for his incredible
work as director of photography."
The series can now be pre-ordered for $24.99, or purchased post-launch for $29.99 on Underestimated.TV.
About Spellers Method™
The Spellers Method™ is a
multidisciplinary approach taught to practitioners seeking to
deepen their capacity to help nonspeakers. It is an educational
model, curriculum, & mentorship program used to provide
individualized support across a variety of sensory-motor profiles
of students who spell or type to communicate. For more information
about Spellers™ Method, the Spellers Freedom Foundation, or
"Underestimated: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers," please
visit spellers.com or follow on Instagram @spellers__/ and Facebook
at facebook.com/spellersrev.
Media Contacts:
Kelly Vogt
Campbell | 376806@email4pr.com | 310.927.4537
Reema Haque | 376806@email4pr.com |
818.590.9333
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SOURCE The Spellers Method™