Spellers Center Tampa

02/25/2026

02/12/2026

an you define autism in one sentence?
Should autism have more than one definition?
Why do you think there is an increase in autism?

What I Found:
Not a single person could clearly define autism in one sentence. But that wasn't the most striking part. The responses ranged from "sensory issues" to "locked in" to calling non-speaking autistic people "the lucky ones", revealing completely different, sometimes contradictory understandings of what autism even means.
The language people used exposed deep stigma and outdated assumptions. Terms like "mentally challenged" and "locked in" show we're not just confused, we're often working from harmful misconceptions.

I hit the streets to ask everyday people three simple questions about autism. What I discovered wasn't just a lack of understanding; it revealed a fundamenta...

02/11/2026

https://youtu.be/hff9_bXsq3Q?si=kucWhns6qwY0GzbH

Are you wondering if your child has Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)? This video is critical. What looks like PDA might actually be whole body apraxia—and...

02/04/2026

https://share.google/3sxM5EsCopVdJy5PU

Helping Your Child with Regulation: What Parents Need to Know If your child struggles with big emotions, sudden meltdowns, or seems to go from calm to overwhelmed in seconds—you’re not alone. Many children with autism or motor differences have a hard time staying “regulated.” But what does t...

11/09/2025

https://youtu.be/fuqq_tlYVV8

Apraxia and Autism are not the same, but when you Google "apraxia", it can be very confusing. Search results suggest: apraxia of speech, dyspraxia, acquired ...

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 ...