Kelley Colihan Robertson on Journalism, Unreliable Speaking & Text-Based Communication

David welcomes guest Kelley Colihan Robertson, a former CNN journalist and documentary producer turned autism mom and communication rights advocate. Kelly shares her son Vance’s early signs, later autism diagnosis at age five, therapies, and difficult public-school experiences amid family stress after divorce. She describes newsroom life at CNN, how journalism shifted toward doing more with less and more punditry, and how autism coverage often reinforced assumptions about non-speaking people. Kelley recounts discovering text-based communication through Spelling to Communicate in Atlanta and her slow realization of unreliable speaking, anxiety and regulation during early practice, and the non-linear progress of communication. They discuss media skepticism and controversies around Woody Brown and an Amy Lutz New York Times op-ed, emphasizing the need to listen to nonspeakers. Kelly offers tips to slow down and presume competence, and they plan a future part two and possible autism news roundup.   Topics 00:40 Meet Kelley 03:28 Autism Journey Begins 05:10 Late Diagnosis Signs 08:29 School Struggles 10:28 Co Parenting Reality 13:44 Inside CNN Newsroom 18:40 Journalism Then Now 24:25 Autism Media Coverage 27:11 Discovering Letterboards 27:35 Writing the Book 32:50 Text Based Communication 34:01 Spelling vs Communication 35:00 Correcting and Letting Go 35:41 Parent Anxiety and Coaching 37:02 Regulation and Steady Support 38:38 Fluency Takes Time 40:04 Woody Brown Media Controversy 46:12 New York Times Op-Ed Critique 52:04 Centering Nonspeakers Voices 54:12 Schooling and Presuming Competence 57:26 Tip and Fact or Fiction 01:01:42 Wrap Up and Book Plans