About Us
Our Mission
To unlock voices, to foster friendships, and to promote lives of purpose for non speaking, minimally speaking, and/or unreliably speaking teens and adults.
What We Offer
Real Voices of Philadelphia is a nonprofit learning group offering education and social connection for non-speakers. Young adults who type and spell to communicate gather to practice supported communication in an educational setting that offers lots of opportunities for cross talk. Real Voices believes that dis-regulated movements (such as spinning, grabbing, flapping, lack of eye contact or facial expression, and inability to generate meaningful speech) do not in any way indicate a lack of mental acuity. We presume competence - that is, we assume that under any behaviors is a perfectly intelligent being.
Our Story
Real Voices began as a dream that Owen Simons and his parents Wystan and Edward had, for a place that would be an academic and social bridge to the rest of the world. Owen was presumed intellectually disabled until May of 2018, when his voice was freed.
Spring I
The Cultural Anthropology of Western Africa with Jeremy
Followed By Spiritual Growth with Solomon, Tirah and David
WHO: Jeremy
WHEN: 3/28/25-5/2/25, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Bryn Athyn, PA
COST: $200
Max Class Size: 8 Students
Spring II
Book Club reading out of my mind by: Sharon Draper
Followed by ASL/Helen Keller/Deaf Culture and the Parallels to Spellers with Judy
WHO: Sharon
WHEN: 5/9/25-6/20/25 (no class 5/23)10am-12pm
WHERE: Bryn Athyn, PA
COST: $200
Max Class Size: 8 Students
MORE ACTIVITIES TO KNOW ABOUT
RealVoices Group Activites:
Thursdays 10-12. - Swim (and sauna) with a group at the Willow Grove YMCA, 3300 Davisville Rd, Hatboro, PA.
Wednesdays 4-4:30 - Group CrossFit at Central Bucks CrossFit - 1800 Mearns Road, Warminster, PA. $40 per month.
Wednesdays 10-10:30am - Volunteer Opportunity - at Somerton Food Bank. Meet up to buy groceries (your contribution) and to deliver them. Sommerton Interfaith Food Bank, 510 Sommerton Ave, Philadelphia, PA (off Bustleton Ave).