ABOUT THE BOOK
How Do You Spell Belong? follows Aidan, a Nonspeaking Autistic boy who communicates using AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) on a trip to the museum with his father. As they spend the day together, Aidan faces challenges with his surroundings but with his dad by his side he is able to play and make new friends.
How Do You Spell Belong? is an expansion of Aidan’s world and communication from A Day with No Words. The story invites readers to see how his communication is evolving while also learning about how the outside world responds to him, how he interacts with it, and how those interactions shape his sense of belonging.
How Do You Spell Belong? is the telling of a life that is worthy of connection, support, friendship, and belonging. It is about access, growth, and being fully present and seen just as you are.
Meet Aidan!
One of the most asked questions is I received when reading A Day with No Words is: Is the boy in the book real?
Yes, he is! And he is my oldest son, Aidan.
He was diagnosed with autism at 17 months. And he has only spoken a few words in his entire life: bye. ball. uh-oh.
Aidan loves to hugs trees and spend time with his family. He is 19 years old now! And he still uses his iPad to communicate but now he is learning to Spell as well. This will be a long journey for him, maybe years, but we know he can do it and be an independent Speller/Typer in the end. Or maybe he will prefer to use the picture-based communication app he has been using for several years now? Who knows? His family opens his world to a variety of options, and they just follow his lead.
Aidan also loves going to museums, but these days he doesn’t often like the ride to get there. His family does not know why he loves them so much or why he doesn’t appear to like car rides anymore, but they are confident that he will tell him all about it when he is good and ready.
His best friend is his brother, Josiah. And he is the one who is responsible for the No Talk days we have that inspired the #1 NYT bestseller A Day with No Words. They are the most amazing pair of humans, and I know that Aidan would love for you to know his brother just as he does.
If you would like to write Aidan an email, you are more than welcome to!
I always read him the mail he gets. He may not speak but he does understand.