About Us

Nicola completed her undergraduate degree in Communication Pathology (Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology) at the University of Pretoria in 2008. She then completed her Master’s degree in Alternative and Augmentative Communication in 2017.

She started her Speech-Language Therapy private practice in 2010 with a desire to reach as many people as possible who have difficulties with communication. Her passion lies with the nonspeaking, minimally speaking and unreliably speaking Autistic population and she has been working with them since her undergraduate days. She went on to focus on the provision of Augmentative and Alternative Communication at her practice, as she believes that all forms of communication should be valued and supported.

Upon listening to the voices of Nonspeakers from abroad, Nicola, together with the help of an Autistic and parent advocate, started the Spelling to Communicate (S2C) community in South Africa. Nicola is also the director of the organisation Spelling to Communicate South Africa, NPC, and the first registered S2C practitioner in Africa.

She currently provides 1:1 S2C sessions, group sessions, parent and caregiver coaching as well as school support. She is also working on a training course to be able to reach Nonspeakers across Africa. The goal of the training is to coach caregivers, parents and others working with Nonspeakers to be able to presume competence, provide age-appropriate input, help the Nonspeakers gain access to emotional growth and support, and gain access to meaningful communication.

When provided with the right opportunities, methodologies and attitudes, she believes that all people are capable of achieving great things. She presumes competence in all of her clients and as the quote by Ignacio Estrada goes, if she cannot teach in a way that the person can learn, then she believes in changing the way that she teaches.

Rati is certified (SASP) in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy with a special interest in critical care. She is currently working as a physiotherapist in private practice, practicing in critical care and pulmonary rehabilitation.

She has International qualifications in the field of FCE (Functional Capacity Evaluation) and Industrial rehabilitation from centres in Australia
(WorkHab) and USA (Occupro, Workwell) respectively.

She provides services in medicolegal expert witness and conducts workshops in medicolegal report writing to other medical professionals interested in this field of practice.

She has a keen interest in Intravenous Nutraceuticals and she is currently in a business partnership in this venture.

B. Physiotherapy U.D.W
CPT1 (South African Society of Physiotherapy)
Workhab FCE Licensed Evaluator. AMA 6th Edition Trained.
Member of the South African Society of Physiotherapy,
Occupro Work hardening/Conditioning,
Occupro Pre-Post offer Employment Testing,
Workwell service provider.

She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance (Cum Laude) from the Independent Institute of Education Monash South Africa, a BCom Marketing Management Honors degree from the University of Witwatersrand, BCom Business Management from the University of Pretoria, an Advance Programme in Investment Management and Portfolio Management from the University of South Africa and a Certificate in Accounting Information from the then Technikon Pretoria.

Ntombifuthi has served at the following institutions: Sasol Limited, Nedbank, South African Breweries and BMW SA to name but a few.

With over 15 years of experience working with individuals with high support needs of all ages, he recently spent over a year as an educator for nonspeaking Autistic teenagers. This is where he discovered his passion for helping the Autistic Population. He spent another year doing one-on-one and group sessions in S2C, counselling and physical fitness / motor coaching whilst being a partner of an Autism-focussed Centre.

Marc is a compassionate, caring individual who takes pride in educating others about their minds and how to successfully navigate the maze of life. His unbiased and open-minded approach allows clients to gain unique insights and understanding of their own situations. Clients gain new skills and develop a deeper self-awareness, empowering them to sculpt a better life. Since being immersed in the Autistic community, Marc's background and nature have enabled him to develop unique skills in helping nonspeaking, minimally speaking and unreliably speaking Autistic clients with regulation and emotional growth. Knowing how to respectfully deal with meltdowns, empower the clients to learn how to regulate their way through meltdowns, and empower caregivers and educators to be equipped with these skills gives him a unique niche in this community.

With a background in rock climbing and fitness coaching, Marc has developed the ability to successfully break down motor tasks into their smallest possible steps. This enables him to teach nonspeakers with mind/body disconnects various motor tasks of daily living, and engage them in physical fitness sessions to improve body awareness, assist in overcoming the mind/body disconnect and allow for a healthier lifestyle. In partnership with the Zekwande Foundation and other relevant professionals, Marc is currently developing training material that aims to educate and support nonspeakers, their educational centres and families.