ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEAK ONLY WITH YOUR HEART?

The  Speak Only with Your Heart Campaign begins on October 25th and concludes on October 29th.  We are challenging friends of Optimal Rhythms all across the country to choose a day and a 12 hour period to sacrifice their speaking voice to raise awareness and funding for the thousands of students who are waiting for the communication and  supports that will unlock their own voice and all the opportunities that brings.

You are welcome to participate anywhere you are safe and comfortable to do so.  If you are working in a school or business or plan to eat out at a restaurant or visit a medical office, bring awareness in person through your silence.

If you are working from home, social distancing, or quarantining, your are welcome to participate virtually.  We just ask that you participate consistently for the full 12 hours or until you have met your fundraising goal,

Using the resources we provide, you will use non-verbal communication strategies (text, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Zoom chat, gestures, etc) to make pleas for donations to support the campaign and to help you "buy" back your speaking voice before your assigned 12 hours has expired.

Those who are "Silenced" will collect pledges/donations to try to "buy their voices back".  Once each collects $500 or more in donations or pledges, he/she can speak again and nominate someone else to be "silenced" for the remaining hours of their campaign.  
If you have VOLUNTEERED - Thank you for your sacrifice!! Prepare to be amazed and astounded during your experience of silence. If you've been NOMINATED - we are hoping you will accept this important and potentially life-changing challenge!! 
We welcome corporate challenges, neighborhood challenges, and personal fundraising challenges.  

Get nominated, nominate someone, volunteer, or donate to a nominee! 

WHEN YOU GIVE:

$10 - buys an app to build motor coordination 

$25 - buys a text to speech communication app

$65 - buys an hour of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) consultation/training 

$100 - provides virtual access to training for a family in need

$150- helps us provide a 6-week social offering for nonspeaking students

$350 - covers a full-day of parent/caregiver support training

$500 buys an iPad for a student longing for a voice 

$1000 sends a nonspeaking child to CAN-Do Camp with 1:1 supports

$2500 helps cover our rent for one month

$5000 sends one of our coaches to a community/school to conduct valuable training