Helping Neurodivergent Kids Communicate: Speech Cards, Selective Mutism & the Find Your Voice App

Did you know that some autistic and PDA children can speak—but sometimes just can’t? In these moments of shutdown, anxiety, or selective mutism, words disappear, but the need to communicate remains.In this episode, we explore a tool that’s quietly changing the game for families navigating nonverbal moments with their kids.Meet Tara and Steve Harnwell-Jones—parents, creatives, and the team behind Find Your Voice, a communication card set and app designed for children who are non-speaking or selectively mute. In this episode, they share:How their daughter’s struggle to speak during PDA-driven anxiety led to designing a new kind of communication toolWhy most tools felt too “childish” or hard to decode, and how they fixed thatThe unexpected way their app is helping not just kids—but teens, adults, and even stroke survivorsWhat makes this resource so accessible, universal, and effectiveHow design, dignity, and simplicity can unlock powerful communicationThis episode covers the power of visual communication tools for nonverbal children, the daily realities of parenting an autistic or PDA child, and the role of design in creating something children actually want to use. We explore selective mutism, emotional regulation during meltdowns, and why traditional speech cards often fall short. You’ll hear how Tara and Steve turned their family’s need into a resource that supports children, teens, and even adults through anxiety and shutdowns—whether at home, in school, or in public spaces. You don’t have to be completely nonverbal to need communication tools—many kids freeze or shut down during anxiety.The Find Your Voice app and card system acts as a bridge, helping kids break through the “stuck” moments.Simple, cool design isn’t just aesthetic—it builds dignity and increases use, especially for older children.These tools are now helping adults too, including those with stroke recovery or anxiety.Communication isn't just about speaking—it's about being understood and feeling safe.The best solutions are often born from lived experience and a little bit of DIY courage. Maybe you aren't traveling at the moment but are still looking for fun (& easy) activities to do. Check out t⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he sensory play guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ that I have created back with 50 fun (& tested) activities all with things you have at in your house. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! ⁠Click here to join⁠.⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠ where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! ⁠Click here to subscribe⁠. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices