Hi All, my name is Kellie and if you know me, you know one thing for sure: I never stop talking! Infact, speaking is a huge part of my job and my everyday life. So what I’m about to do will be no small challenge…

This is inspired by a close friend of mine, whose 7 year old son is autistic and non verbal. I’ve seen firsthand the daily challenges he faces trying to express his needs, connect with others, and navigate the world without the ability to speak. It’s something most of us take for granted, and something that truly moved me.

So I’ve decided to spend an entire day in complete silence; no talking, no voice notes, no chatting, to better understand, even in a small way, what life is like for a non verbal autistic child.

Some quick stats;

• Roughly 30-40% of autistic individuals are considered minimally verbal or non verbal.

• Many non verbal children still understand language and have rich inner lives, they just need different tools to express themselves.

• Access to early intervention, therapy, and communication devices can significantly improve quality of life, but these resources are not cheap, and difficult to access. Infact many parents find themselves remortgaging their homes and taking out loans just to aid this.

That’s why I’m launching this GoFundMe.

I’ll be going silent for 24 hours to raise awareness; and, most importantly, to raise funds to support this amazing little boy and his family. Donations will go towards providing access to tools like; communication aids, therapy sessions, and day to day support that could be life changing.

It’s going to be tough for me (ask literally anyone, I talk a lot), but if it helps create a better, more supportive world for him, it’s 100% worth it.

Every donation, no matter how small, it helps give him a stronger voice even if it’s not through speech.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting