ABOUT US
Welcome to Access S2C!
We are excited to be part of the revolution of Spellers proving that non-speaking does not equal non-thinking! Our certified practitioners presume competence with every new student that walks through our door. We believe that communication is the key to independence and we work to provide the pathway for our Spellers to achieve their autonomy.
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We proudly serve non-speaking and minimally speaking individuals from age five and up with autism, apraxia, and other sensory, movement and communication challenges. Our Spelling to Communicate services facilitate the motor skills required for communication and daily living.
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Our mission is to enthusiastically support every Speller's human right to communication and self-advocacy and to continue to grow the community of Spellers in Ohio and worldwide. Everyone deserves to be heard!
MEET OUR PRACTITIONERS
LEEANN
LeeAnn DiTomaso RN, BSN
Co-Founder, Access S2C
S2C Practitioner
LeeAnn received her bachelor of science in nursing from Ursuline College and has been a registered nurse for 24 years working in labor and delivery. She has always been passionate about helping others, which is why she decided to enter the Spelling to Communicate program. LeeAnn completed her training in 2022 rounding it out with a week-long internship at Growing Kids Therapy Center in Virginia where she was able to work with individuals and groups of Spellers.
LeeAnn’s desire is to create a community for the non-speaking, minimally speaking and unreliably speaking population. She has experience with Spellers of all ages and different levels of motor challenges. LeeAnn is passionate about creating a calming atmosphere and an individual plan for each of her students to help them reach their communication goals.
SAMANTHA
Samantha Paros
Co-Founder, Access S2C
S2C Practitioner
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Samantha began working with children with special needs in 2016 and loved the experience of engaging with this neurodiverse population, which is too often overlooked. For three years she worked as a one-on-one provider for a minimally-speaking autistic teen. Samantha traveled to his very first S2C session in Chicago and was immediately hooked! She knew this was her calling.​
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Samantha completed her training through the International Association for Spelling as Communication and became a certified practitioner in May, 2023! Her passion for bringing communication to those who need it most has become her life's vocation. Samantha is thrilled to work in partnership with Leeann, as they share the same vision and approach for working with their students. Together they both have big ambitions for growing the S2C community of Spellers in Ohio!
TINA
Tina DiTomaso
MSN, BSN, RN, AE-C
S2C Practitioner (In-Training)
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Tina received her bachelor's and master's degree in nursing at Ursuline College and is a certified asthma educator. She has been a registered nurse for 13 years specializing in pediatric patients of all ages, as well as children with special needs. She is currently in training to become a Spelling to Communicate Practitioner.
Tina decided to apply for the S2C program after observing LeeAnn and Samantha at Access S2C. She was blown away by the way their Spellers were able to communicate using letterboards and keyboards. She has always had a passion for helping others, therefore immediately after observing, she knew she wanted to make a difference in this growing community. She is excited to further her education in this field and be able to help our non-speaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals find their voice. Her mission is to continue growing this community of Spellers in Ohio and spreading the word about S2C!
Our Practitioners are all certified by the International Association for Spelling as Communication. I-ASC offers Practitioner training in Spelling to Communicate (S2C), a method for teaching purposeful motors skills for communication for individuals with autism and other sensory-motor challenges as a means of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
MEET OUR staff
MARLENE
Marlene Kole
Office Administrator
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"My interest in Access S2C was first peaked by social media, viewing the Spellers Documentary, and reading the book, Underestimated. Prior to these experiences, while serving as the Director of Faith Church Preschool for 13 years, I often felt drawn to the child who struggled and needed extra assistance to succeed. I began my retirement three years ago, after serving as Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Highland Heights.
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Once retired, I felt the need to volunteer in areas where I felt strong compassion or affiliation. I am currently a NICU baby cuddler at UH, a volunteer with Hospice of the Western Reserve, working on reading skills with kindergarten students, and mentoring with a Ukranian student to develop fluid conversational English.
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After meeting with LeeAnn and Samantha of Access S2C, I have agreed to help them, in a volunteer capacity, with administrative tasks to allow them more free time for the important stuff of working with students!
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My husband, Jeff and I, live in Highland Heights, where we raised two daughters who have successfully flown from the nest. In my free time, I like to read, travel, knit, and I am currently learning to play the cello!"
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We are lucky to have Marlene on our team!
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YOUR KEY TO OPEN COMMUNICATION!