Meet Access S2C Samantha Paros & LeeAnn DiTomaso of Access S2C

Today we’d like to introduce you to Access S2C Samantha Paros & LeeAnn DiTomaso.

Hi Access S2C, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Access S2C started with a shared passion for supporting nonspeaking individuals and their families and a belief that everyone deserves access to meaningful communication. We saw a tremendous need for Spelling to Communicate (S2C) services in Ohio and knew we wanted to create a space where individuals and families could receive support, build connections, and feel part of a community.

What began as a small practice has grown into something we could have never fully imagined. As more families found us, Access S2C continued to grow alongside them. We expanded our team, opened a second location in Ohio, and added Adaptive Personal Training to provide another meaningful service for the individuals we support.

Along the way, we realized that Access S2C could be about so much more than what happens during a session. We began creating opportunities for our spellers and families to connect outside of the office through social events, community outings, educational events, and advocacy and outreach efforts. Building that community has become one of the most important parts of who we are.

Today, we are incredibly proud of how far Access S2C has come, but even more excited about where it is going. Our goal has always been to presume competence, provide access to communication, and help create a world where nonspeaking individuals have more opportunities to be heard, included, and valued. We continue to learn and grow every day alongside our spellers and their families, and we feel very fortunate to be doing work that means so much to us.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but every challenge has played an important role in the growth of Access S2C. We’ve accomplished a lot in a relatively short amount of time, and with that growth has come plenty of learning, adapting, and figuring things out along the way.

One of our biggest challenges has been introducing S2C to a community where many people had never heard of it before. A lot of what we do involves educating families, professionals, schools, and the community about nonspeaking individuals, presuming competence, and the importance of access to communication.

We’ve also had to learn how to grow a business while continuing to give our spellers and families the time and attention they deserve. Access S2C is still a relatively new business, and there is no handbook for building something like this. We’ve learned what works, made changes when something doesn’t, and continued to evolve as the needs of our community have grown.

We know there is still so much ahead of us, but we’re incredibly proud of what Access S2C has become in such a short time. Every challenge has taught us something, and we’re excited to continue growing while staying focused on what matters most—our spellers and their families.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Access S2C is a communication and movement-based practice serving nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals. Our primary service is Spelling to Communicate (S2C), a motor-based method that teaches individuals to communicate by spelling on letterboards and, eventually, keyboards. We also offer Adaptive Personal Training, giving our clients opportunities to work toward movement, strength, and fitness goals in an environment that presumes competence.

While communication is at the heart of what we do, Access S2C has become about so much more than individual sessions. One of the things we are most proud of is the community that has grown around our spellers and their families. We create opportunities for our spellers to build friendships, participate in social events and community activities, and connect with others who understand and respect them. We also work to educate families, schools, professionals, and the greater community about nonspeaking individuals and the importance of presuming competence.

We currently have two locations in Ohio, in Highland Heights and Circleville, and a growing team that allows us to reach more families across the state. What sets Access apart is that we truly want our spellers to have access beyond the letterboard. Communication can open so many doors, and we want to help create opportunities for them to use that communication to build relationships, advocate for themselves, participate in their communities, and pursue the things that matter to them.

Brand-wise, we are most proud that Access has become a place where people feel connected. When we see friendships forming between spellers, families supporting one another, or our spellers being included in ways they may not have been before, that means everything to us. We want people to know that nonspeaking does not mean nonthinking. Our spellers have thoughts, personalities, opinions, humor, goals, and so much to contribute—and our goal is to help create a world that gives them the access and opportunities to show it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We’re incredibly grateful for how Access S2C has been embraced by families throughout Ohio and beyond. What started as an idea has grown quickly, and some of our favorite moments have been the ones we never could have planned for—the friendships, celebrations, milestones, and relationships that have developed along the way.

We’re still at the beginning of our story, and that is what makes this time so exciting. We have big hopes for the future of Access S2C and are looking forward to continuing to grow, reach more families, and create new opportunities for the individuals we serve. We’re very proud of what we’ve built so far and even more excited about what is ahead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.accesss2c.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accesss2c
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19afwRYvSk/