171 How Understanding Apraxia changes your child's Education - with Dana Johnson

I first spoke with Dana Johnson nearly 4 years ago, and that conversation completely changed how I saw vision and learning. I call it my "ocular motor awakening"—when I truly understood that vision has three components, and only one of them is corrected by glasses.

Dana is the co-creator of the Spellers Method and the founder of multiple centers dedicated to helping non-speaking individuals communicate and learn with purpose. As both an occupational therapist (OT) and a Spellers Method practitioner, she brings a unique approach to supporting individuals with autism, apraxia, dyspraxia, and sensory-motor differences.

In this episode, we talk about the power of purposeful motor skills, breaking down barriers for non-speakers, and what real communication means.

•  Vision isn’t just about eyesight—it’s about how the brain processes what we see.

• Apraxia is a motor planning challenge, not a cognitive one.

• Communication is possible when we focus on purposeful motor skills.

• What does right support look like?

👉 Learn more about Dana Johnson’s work at Spellers Method Tampa👉 Connect with Dr. Vaish Sarathy on Instagram: @drvaishsarathy