Skills and strategies matter—but without trust, communication won’t happen. In this piece, Lisa Mihalich Quinn shares why the deepest trust in nonspeaking student communication isn’t just about feeling safe to share, but about knowing honesty will be met with real listening, reflection, and change.

For 15 years, I thought I was the teacher my nonspeaking autistic students needed. I was wrong. Not because I didn't care, but because the system failed to teach me that autism is linked to movement differences, not behavioral issues. I wish I'd understood nervous system regulation and presumed competence from day one. The training we need exists—it's time to make it accessible to every educator.

Discover key insights from the webinar Proficiency is Not a Prerequisite, presented for the Maryland State Department of Education. Learn ho