May 11, 2021 THE WASHINGTON POST – Emily Grodin has finally found her voice. For her first 25 years, Grodin was largely unable to communicate due to non-verbal autism, which left her prone to meltdowns and on the outside looking in at most social and many educational opportunities. Her parents, Valerie Gilpeer and Tom Grodin, always believed there was more to Emily trapped beneath the surface. So they fought tenaciously to secure the best education and to find ways to help Emily reach out. Ultimately, it was Facilitated Communication (FC) – in which an aide helps a person with autism type, often by gently holding their elbow – that let Grodin be heard.