Law Offices of Johanna G. Burke, Esq.-Special Needs Attorney & Advocate

10/07/2026

As the mother of a nonverbal son with profound autism, there is an assumption I have encountered more times than I can count: if someone cannot speak, they must not understand what is being said.

I have never believed that about my son Aidan.

Nonverbal Does Not Mean Someone Does Not Understand by Johanna G. Burke | Oct 7, 2026 | Blog As the mother of a nonverbal son with profound autism, there is an assumption I have encountered more times than I can count: if someone cannot speak, they must not understand what is being said. I have neve...

08/28/2026

For 23 years my son has lived with profound autism. He is nonverbal. Like many parents of children with profound autism, I have spent decades wondering what he was thinking, what he was feeling, and what he wanted to tell me.
But I never believed he didn’t understand the world around him.
I knew he was listening. I knew he understood far more than people gave him credit for. I just couldn’t prove it.
Today, I finally can.

After 23 Years, My Son Finally Found His Voice by Johanna G. Burke | Aug 27, 2026 | Blog For 23 years, my son Aidan has lived with profound autism. He is nonverbal. Like many parents of children with profound autism, I have spent decades wondering what he was thinking, what he was feeling, and what....

07/30/2026

This is going on everywhere and something needs to be done 🤬