• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SI Parent

Solutions For Parenting In Staten Island

Get Weekly Activities
Emailed To You
Subscribe
  • Connect With SI Parent:
  • Things To Do
  • Directories
    • After School
    • Birthday Parties
    • Summer Camps
    • Pre-School & Daycare
    • Health and Wellness
    • Special Needs
    • Home Improvement
  • Articles
    • Featured Articles
    • Positive Parenting
    • Stuff To Do
    • Coronavirus
    • Babies and Pregnancy
    • Special Needs Articles
    • Recipes and Food
    • Health and Safety
    • School, Camp and Education
    • Richmond University Medical Center
  • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Birthday Club
  • Advertise With Us
  • SI Parent Guides
Home / Articles / Featured Articles / New Organization Supports People with Autism on Staten Island

New Organization Supports People with Autism on Staten Island

April 13, 2023 By Barbara Russo

New Organization Supports People with Autism on Staten Island
Photo: CrimsonRise

There’s a new organization that supports people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on Staten Island. CrimsonRise, founded by four young adults with ASD, is helping nonspeaking children and adults with autism understand that they have a voice—and their voice matters.

Based on the North Shore, CrimsonRise was founded in 2021 by Cristofer Puleo, Nick D’Amora, Tejas Rao Sankar and William Jusino. The idea for the organization was born after the four young men were introduced to something called “Spelling to Communicate” (S2C). This method of communication allows a nonverbal person to acquire the ability to point to letters on a letter board or keyboard and spell words to communicate thoughts, ideas and feelings. 

According to the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC),  S2C teaches individuals with motor challenges the purposeful motor skills necessary to point to letters to spell as an alternative means of communication. I-ASC also trains people to become registered S2C practitioners who teach the method to their students. 

A Spelling to Communicate Lesson 

Spelling to Communicate is used in various organizations throughout the country to help individuals with ASD express their thoughts through spelling. New spellers learn to access communication by pointing to letters on a board. But that’s only the beginning of the learning process.

There’s a whole progression to the S2C method, executive director Lakshmi Rao Sankar explained. Lessons start off with practitioners asking questions that are easy for new spellers to answer, but then get more complex as time goes on and lessons continue. Each practitioner works one-on-one with a student.

“One of the practitioners would be assigned to a child, and it’s usually assigned by an intake team,” Lakshmi explained. “We match the practitioner with the profile of the student coming in.”

A spelling session at CrimsonRise is typically one hour, once a week. But, just like most things in life, practice makes perfect. So the more spellers work on their skills, the better they’ll get at communicating.

CrimsonRise: Supporting People with Autism on Staten Island

The four founders of CrimsonRise were overjoyed after discovering S2C. After many years of being nonverbal, they were finally able to express what they were feeling to friends and family. But they weren’t content with limiting their communication to a small, though loving, group of people. Together with allies of family, friends and S2C practitioners, they formed CrimsonRise to help others who can benefit from the program.

When cofounder Nick D’Amora broke through his silence, he advocated in public in front of many audiences about his capacity to spell to communicate.

“I need parents to hear us, to listen to our words, to believe this is possible,” Nick said. “Your child can have a new beginning too.”

The other cofounders followed his path, and soon the group became fast friends.

Co-founder Tejas, who is also Lakshmi’s son, spent 17 years as a non-speaking person.

“Before I became a speller, I gave up on providence to come to my rescue,” Tejas said. “I thought I would live my entire life unknown by anybody but myself.”

Tejas’ silence, along with other behaviors he displayed, led Lakshmi and others in the field to assume he was cognitively impaired. 

“I didn’t know that he was fully capable and cognitively following and comprehending everything that was going on around him,” Lakshmi said. “

S2C changed these assumptions and Tejas is now communicating and thriving.  

Meanwhile, Lakshmi started the journey to become an official Spelling to Communicate practitioner herself, so she can help others who want to achieve what her son did. 

“These four young men began to communicate. When a person who has not had access to communication begins to communicate, there is literally nothing that compares with it,” Lakshmi explained. 

Cofounder William wants other nonspeaking people with autism to know that CrimsonRise is available to help. 

“My story at CrimsonRise will inspire others,” William said. “Teenagers who struggle with their confidence and spellers older than me who wish to change their perceptions of themselves, I want you to know all is not lost. You too will communicate.”

While the founders aren’t practitioners themselves, they mentor others in the program who might need a little help and encouragement along the way. 

“I’ve been spelling to communicate for over six years,” cofounder Cristofer said. “Im a mentor, a writer, an artist and founding leader for CrimsonRise. I want others to have the same opportunities I’ve been afforded.”

The Mission

The organization’s mission, according to its website, is to serve those who have autism with “sensory, movement and communication differences by presuming competence and providing communication access and regulation support.” Ages 3 and older can enroll in the program.

Led by an executive team including Lakshmi, Susanne Cannella and Lindsay Morgan, CrimsonRise has a full team of registered and trained S2C practitioners. Both the founding and executive teams work in tandem on the everyday operations of the organizations. But it was the founding team who came up with the name “CrimsonRise.”

“They noticed that Harvard has a magazine called Crimson, and so they decided to go with that name. And because they believe they are rising, they chose the word rise,” Lakshmi explained. 

The founders of CrimsonRise. Photo: CrimsonRise

Other Services at CrimsonRise

In addition to S2C, CrimsonRise offers other programs to support the ASD community. Fellowship groups, for example, are open to all. They’re a forum for group interaction, teamwork, relationship-building and learning. 

The Studio is a day program for spellers that runs all year. A semester-based system offers a rotating curriculum that provides knowledge and skills applicable across all disciplines, including topics of general interest, as well as socialization, communication and independence skills. Participants can learn about pop culture, be part of a book club, enjoy fitness and wellness and so much more. 

To learn more about CrimsonRise, including fees, programs offered, enrollment information and more, visit the organization’s website at crimsonrise.org. Parents can also call 929-643-9101 or email info@crimsonrise.org for information. 


Wanna read more stuff like this? Get our newsletters packed with ideas, events, and information for parents in Staten Island.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Health and Safety, Special Needs Articles

Featured Events

Post an Event

Do you love to draw, paint, and craft? 
Today, 4 pm

Tween Art Studio!
Stapleton Library

This program will take place in person a
Tomorrow, 10 am

Mini Masterpieces
Charleston Library

Get ready for a Groovin’ good time
Tomorrow, 11 am

Walker’s Tiny Groovers
Walker Park

Not all prom accessories can last foreve
Tomorrow, 4 pm

Duct tape Corsage and Boutonniere creation
Port Richmond Library

    This event will take place in person
May 15, 11:30 am

Little Movers Storytime: Toddlers and Tales
Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library

The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show features
May 31, 7 pm

The Canine Stars: Stunt Dog Show
St. George Theatre

View All Events…

Primary Sidebar

View Local Activities for Kids
  • See Bizarre Yet Breathtaking Animals in Spineless, NY Aquarium’s New Exhibit
  • Where to Find the Best Math Videos for Kids
  • A Wave of New and Expanded Waterparks Near New York City
  • 2021 Staten Island Egg Hunts & Spring Events
  • Fast Facts About the Mid-Island Little League All Stars

Staten Island Parent

Staten Island Parent helps parents make better decisions. We have the latest activities and local events that matter to you. Plus many informative articles and important directories including schools, afterschool programs, camps, special needs, birthday parties, health and wellness. Our contests and clubs are fun for the whole family!

    • Browse Past Issues
    • Get Activities & School Info

Footer

si parent logo
Staten Island Parent
One MetroTech Center 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(646) 559–9100

Important Links

  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Browse Past Issues
  • Where to Find The Magazine
  • Write For Staten Island Parent
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Get Weekly Activities Emailed To You

Subscribe

Copyright © 1989-2025 Staten Island Parent Magazine, All Rights Reserved