Nonspeaking and minimally speaking students with autism are underserved by current special education models. Students who have difficulty forming words also tend to have difficulty with fine motor tasks like writing or typing, which makes it very difficult for them to express what they know, what they understand, what they think, and what they feel. Unfortunately, nonspeaking is often falsely equated with nonthinking, and that is reflected in what these students are taught in schools.

More often than not, students who struggle to communicate what they know are made to perform the same overly simplistic tasks over and over and over again. Their skills and abilities have been grossly underestimated, and their educations have suffered because of it. What these students need is help regulating their bodies, help strengthening fine motor skills, and help outwardly expressing what is inside their minds.

And there is so much inside their minds! When we believe in them, when we have high expectations of them, nonspeakers show us what they are capable of. These individuals have managed to learn skills no teacher ever taught them. Many seem to have taught themselves to read, to spell, to multiply, to factor. The truth is we do not know everything our nonspeaking students can do because we haven't asked the right questions, we haven't provided the right setting, we haven't offered the right opportunities.

Mercury Cazimi Education aims to radically change the special education model, starting by opening a communication-focused microschool in Central Ohio designed specifically for nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking students with autism. Our educators will presume competence, build essential regulation and fine motor skills, collaborate with students on their learning, and recognize the gifts this unique population has to share. What we learn from this subset of the autism community will be instrumental in effecting change.

Mercury Cazimi is about empowering nonspeaking students with autism. It's about giving them an "audience with the sun" so they can share their unique voices with the world. Together, we will create a new model of teaching and learning—one that values insight and guidance from both teachers and students alike, one that allows all of us to grow as human beings. Not only will the school itself transform students' lives, but the learning we gain through this project will have the power to improve public and private special education across the country.

To get started as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization* that is eligible to receive public and private grants, Mercury Cazimi needs the assistance of a nonprofit attorney. Fees for services are estimated to be $3500.

That is where you come in. With your generous donations, we will be able to set this nonprofit up for success. Help us empower nonspeaking students with autism to take their rightful place in the world.

* Note that because we do not yet have 501(c)(3) status, your donation is not tax deductible.