181 Beyond Inclusion: Civil Rights, Communication, and Crip Time with Dr. Edlyn Peña

Access to communication is the first step—what comes after? In this episode of Non Linear Learning, Dr. Vaish Sarathy and Searmi Park sit down with award-winning researcher and advocate Dr. Edlyn Peña to talk about inclusion, spelled communication, and what happens when we stop settling for access and start building actual community. Dr. Peña shares her journey raising her non-speaking son Diego—from fighting for AAC in preschool to full inclusion in high school using a letterboard. She also opens up about her newest venture: the DREAM Community Center, a post-high school model for neurodivergent teens and adults that centers autonomy, learning, and joy. We talk about:

• Why spelled communication is a civil rights issue
• The real risks (and rewards) of pushing for inclusion in traditional systems
• How to navigate accusations of influence—and why "proof" standards for non-speakers are inherently unjust
• Why college doesn't have to follow a neurotypical timeline
• The power of "crip time," self-defined success, and post-secondary options beyond degrees

This episode is a grounded and generous look at what advocacy looks like in real life—and what happens when parents, educators, and communities believe that communication is non-negotiable. Links + Resources

• Learn more about the DREAM Center: dreamcommunitycenter.org
• Leaders Around Me by Edlyn Peña: Amazon link
• Communication Alternatives in Autism (Edlyn Peña, editor): Amazon link
• Follow Vaish on Instagram: @drvaishsarathy