About Us
Flowering Futures was created by Nina and Natalia Meehan. Nina is a nonspeaking autistic advocate with apraxia who is passionate about making spelling available to as many people as possible. She is raising awareness around the importance of presuming competence in everyone, no matter what. After a traumatic 17 years without access to an effective means of communication, being mis-judged by a body she had trouble controlling, her message is clear - anyone can do this with the proper support - Nina is passionate about the human right for all people to have a voice.
Natalia is Nina’s older sister. She is a full time community herbalist and spelling practitioner. She studied environmental sciences and psychology at Tulane University and has over 10 years of experience working with autistic people. She is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for her students, and believes that being a communication and regulation partner (CRP) requires a deep level of trust and commitment to achieve success. She has worked with students across all ages and has played a major role in Nina’s spelling journey.
Together, they came up with the name Flowering Futures, because it is the perfect symbol for their collective mission. The process of flowering takes time and persistence. A plant starts out as a small seed and focuses most of it’s energy on the roots, stems, and buds. The flowering stage comes after a long period of effort, but is extraordinarily beautiful, showcasing the vibrant colors that existed within that same seed the entire time, waiting to be expressed.
It is estimated that out of 5 million non-speakers worldwide, only about 10,000 individuals have access to communication through spelling. That is a ridiculously small amount of the growing population. We are motivated to create change and support nonspeaking individuals, families, and their loved ones through education, advocacy, and accessibility. It has been a long and challenging journey for most of us in this community. Due to their lived experiences, Nina and Natalia intimately know the impact that spelling can have to create positive transformation and new opportunities for growth.
We see spelling as a tool to access communication that leads to brighter and fuller futures for non-speakers, empowering them to bloom into who they really are. Spelling promotes regulation and purposeful motor skills on and off the letter-boards in all areas of life. Communication is a basic and essential human right. It allows for meaningful life experiences and endless possibilities. May we all come together to support neurodiverse individuals and envision a new flowering future.
With Gratitude,
- Natalia & Nina
