Dawnmarie Gaivin is the Founder & Executive Director at Spellers Center San Diego, located in Oceanside, CA. Before her career moved into the world of nonspeaking autism, Dawnmarie worked for over 11 years as a trauma & transplant RN. In 2005 her first son regressed and was diagnosed with autism. A year later, her second son followed the same path. Today her eldest, Evan (20) is a nonspeaker and fluent letterboard communicator. Her younger son, Trey (18) is a minimal speaker who uses multiple modalities for effective communication.
Dawnmarie is a former DIR/Floortime® provider, cofounder of the Spellers Method, and an Assistive Technology Specialist (AT-ACP).
In March 2021, Jamison Handley, a fluent speller, and his dad JB wrote a book entitled “Underestimated" about their journey learning how to spell for communication with her. In 2023 their award-winning documentary SPELLERS was released, showcasing how spelling and typing as a method of communication has liberated many nonspeakers from a lifetime of silence. Dawnmarie also currently serves as the interim co-director of Spellers Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit run by a board made up mostly of nonspeakers, who give scholarships and help create community for other spellers.
Dawnmarie's children inspired her specific passion to support all nonspeakers in the development of purposeful motor skills and a reliable form of communication. You can learn more about her and the programs offered through her team at www.spellers.com.