Non-verbal kids with special needs want to communicate, and their parents want to find ways to communicate with them. Today, you will meet Ted and Audrey Conley, parents of a son with special needs and owners of TapSpeak, a company that creates communication apps for non-verbal kids. Audrey recently stopped by for a DifferentDream.com interview, and here’s what she had to say.

Describe Your Family’s Special Needs Journey

This is the second marriage for both of us. We both came into it with great respect and willingness to have a God-honoring marriage and family. 5 years later we were blessed with a daughter and 15 months late a son, Pierce, with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and cortical vision impairment. We were bombarded with hospital visits and therapy sessions. Seventeen months after Pierce was born, Ted’s company downsized, and he lost his job. We were pretty scared and worried but prayed hard for God’s direction.

How Did TapSpeak Get Started?

When Pierce was about 18 months old, he still was not uttering any words. We requested a speech therapist. My husband clearly remembers the day the speech therapist came. She had a big box. In it were a lot of large red buttons, boxes, and switches. She wanted him to use them to communicate. Ted, having years of development experience and being well versed in the latest technology, was appalled.

“This is the latest technology out there for our kids?” he asked. The iPhone/iPod touch was out and the iPad was on its way to the market within months. Ted, still unemployed, researched the market and taught himself how to do programing on iOS devices. Then he created a communication app that would help Pierce. Even after he started making apps, we still weren’t convinced we should go into business for ourselves. But, God kept closing the doors on more job interviews, and the apps were selling.

What Kind of Reception Are Your Products Receiving?

One of the first inspirational stories we received was from a mother in Australia and that her almost 16-year-old daughter was nonverbal. They purchased one of our apps, and she began one word communication. The mom wrote to thank us for giving her daughter a “voice” for her 16th birthday!

Another touching story was from a single mother in Canada. Here is what she shared on Facebook a few months back:

Good morning, my name is Dale Van Hal and I am the mother to John-Paul. JP was born with Angelman Syndrome. I want to say THANK YOU to TapSpeak for TapSpeak Choice. Thank you TapSpeak for giving my son a voice. The ability to tell someone you need to go to the washroom is not a big issue for most of you. For JP this is something that the doctors said he would never have the cognitive ability to do. This morning as we got to school, I set his iPad up on his desk easel; He immediately opened the app TapSpeak Choice and pressed “go to bathroom.” Okay, so we went to the bathroom and he “did his business.” I’m ready to throw a party and jumping up and down and crying at the same time because HE SPOKE, I LISTENED and he got to do what so many of you take for granted.

What Hopes and Dreams Do You Have for Impacting the Special Needs Community?

My husband has a God-given desire to put out the best and most appropriate product using the latest technology available for these kids and families. Also, we are active member in our local church; the special needs ministry was started about 2 years ago and is growing. I am looking to take a leadership role and help get a chapter of a non-profit that helps not only support the children with special needs kids but also their families. This would be a community outreach to minister to these families. We certainly, as a family, want to show the love of Christ to those around us where ever we are.

What Part Does Faith Play in Your Business and Family Life?

God opened the door for us to start this business and continues to open doors and direct our path. It hasn’t been easy. We used our retirement savings to start the business. Ted worked for the first 2 years 10-14 hour days, 7 days a week to produce apps to sell. We are in Year 3 and have been able to pay all our bills and moved into a handicapped-accessible house with office space in our basement. Still, Ted puts in more than 40 hours a week, and we live frugally. We go to church every Sunday and worship together. We also pray weekly for our customers and families. We understand the journey they are taking. We are living it, too, with God front and center.

What Advice Do You Have for Parents about How to Be Effective Advocates?

Take your child with you everywhere you can. I know that this requires extra energy and an extra hand. The world needs to see these kids at the local grocery store, museum, and church! Yes, people stare and ask questions, but you can educate the world and in some cases, you even open up a mind that had prejudices they never realized they had.

Having been given the gift of a child with special needs, we see life differently. Small victories in the world’s eyes are monumental to us. I think much of God’s comfort can come from other parents like us. We understand each other, have the same fears and joys; ups and downs and we strive daily to give our kids what they need. 

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