UNMUTED
Our first UNMUTED event in Kamloops, September 17, was powerful. 100 tickets sold!!
Luke’s response to the event:
Incredible turnout. Thank you all for coming. For being patient. Listening to our lived experiences. Having events like this spread awareness. Please understand the differences you can make by learning and believing in us. Let’s make change!
The first half was a list of Frequently Asked Questions that our men—Luke, Damon, and Cash—prerecorded for us, to save time and energy.
Here are three of the most-asked questions:
How did it feel to finally be “open” and spell your thoughts? Luke: Very emotional. Overwhelming. I can’t explain the rush I felt. Cash: Powerful. Smart. Understood. Happy my family and Britt believe in me. I just knew my life was about to change forever. My world felt brighter and hopeful. Damon: When I realized that I could spell whatever I was thinking, it felt as though I was taking a huge gasp of air, after being under water for a long time. It was both shocking, and thrilling. My life’s possibilities began to race through my mind, and I knew I would finally tell my own story.
What is your favourite experience about learning to spell? Luke: Spelling my thoughts out to the world. Pointing out my true intelligence. Showing my personality. My pain. My preferences. Among us non speakers, we have all suffered. Spelling is the gateway to hope, for all of us. Cash: Moments like this and proving everyone wrong. Making jokes. Being goofy with words. Showing people my personality. Pursuing my dreams even if that looks different. Damon: After 14 years of silence, it feels amazing to be known. I love giving compliments, telling jokes, asking questions, and sharing my opinions. My relationships are so much deeper now. Being able to communicate has saved my life.
What did it feel like when you were trapped in your own mind? LUKE: Having locked up thoughts and emotions isn’t good for anyone’s mental health. That explains it all. Cash: Horrible. I couldn’t express messages, thoughts or emotions reliably. Damon: I held out hope that I would somehow demonstrate that I understood, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. I am naturally cheerful and optimistic…but that was definitely a trying time for me.
And here are a few of the questions/answers that we asked “live” in the second half of the event:
What can a neurotypical person do to be better to neurodiverse individuals?
Luke: I am really sick of being spoken to like a child. I am really tired of being misunderstood. Cash: Please realize that we hear and understand everything you say about us. We are not stupid. Believe we are competent and include us.
You say you are good listeners. Is there anything neurotypical people could learn about listening better?
Damon: I think it is difficult to listen when what you see before you, or what we have shared today, does not align with what you have previously learned. Being nonspeaking means you have to listen even when you would rather speak. You learn so much about people and the world.
Do you like sports, and do you have a favourite team?
Luke: I have zero interest in sports.
Cash: I like all sports. I like the fights too, including UFC.
Damon: I absolutely love my hockey, which is possibly unfortunate, given how difficult it is to play. My team is the Canucks.
What / how has spelling supported your independence in life?
Luke: I am moving out. I do lots on my own. I rely heavily on my CRPs to communicate, but my life is better than ever.
Cash: Now being able to make choices and decisions in my life. Only for the better. I get to make my decisions, talk with family, show my personality and plan my future.
Damon: I am someone who requires lots of support, but I would really say that my opportunities have exploded. I tell my own story now, rather than having to follow other people’s low expectations of me. Life is good.
Each guest was gifted a 5x7 print of a poem written individually by Luke, Damon, and Cash. Here are their poems:
We continue to hold out hope that awareness and advocacy can continue and bring to light the intelligence of our nonspeaking autistic individuals. We are grateful to the education, professional therapists, local school board trustees and the superintendent, family members, caregivers, support people, and friends that attended! Together we learned about a new way to communicate, and it was revolutionary.
Please click here for the Midday Show promotion interview prior to the event.
Please click here for the CFJC-TV News clip that was done about the event, which aired Friday, September 18.
We need more CRPs!
As part of the event, we had a follow up zoom session with Madison Imber of Mentoring Minds, Brittney Ritchie of Vocal Vista, and Alyssa Dennis of Spelling Forward about what it takes to become a CRP (Certified Regulation Practitioner/Provider), and to learn about the different agencies that provide training and licensing.
We had 30 people attend, and there were some amazing questions. We are always available for questions, whether it is for CRPs, or our nonspeakers. Please feel free to send to spellingwaycs@gmail.com.
If you decide to pursue one avenue of the training, please let us know. Spellingway is happy to post your business on our website, spellingway.com/practitioners. Once you are certified, please reach out to us to apply for our $500.00 scholarship! Please email us for the application, which will also be online soon!
A few weeks after the event, Luke was in Calgary, catching up with Madison of www.mentoringminds.ca and he had a new poem he would like to share with everyone.
UNMUTED
by: Luke Verhoeff
In the light of a new dawn
Hope emanates across the horizon
Beckoning change
A smile dances from ear to ear
From a soul once left behind
His voice rises
Fiery as the phoenix
Infectious as the plague
The needle inches forward
Bit by bit
Voice by voice
With every inspired CRP*
A new world is imminent.
Unmuted.
—October 6, 2026
*Communication Regulation Practitioner/Provider
Stay tuned (follow us on Facebook or Instagram) to learn about when and where the next UNMUTED event takes place… we are looking at Vancouver, Calgary, and possibly Edmonton in the New Year!
Special thanks to our UNMUTED sponsors: Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak For their generous grant, that made this event happen!
Lightning Rubbish Removal & Bin Rentals For providing the desserts and beverages!
Lee’s Music For the use of their cordless microphone
Ryan from Kamloops Our MC!
#damonkirsebom To learn more about Damon Kirsebom and his advocacy, please check out his website: www.damonkirsebom.com
To see all 3 men on the upcoming Season 2 of the CBC Gem TV show “The Assembly”, to air Sundays at 9pm starting November 1st. https://gem.cbc.ca/the-assembly
