Beyond Words: Different ways of communicating with Christina Schmidt

What if communication wasn’t about words at all?

In this deeply moving and expansive episode, Laetitia is joined by Christina Schmidt (she/her), a Black African-American-Australian, AuDHD speech therapist and founder of Free to Be Me Speech Therapy. Together, they explore communication beyond spoken language—through rhythm, movement, art, gesture, silence, scripting, and more.

Christina brings her personal and professional experience to life with raw honesty and deep wisdom, offering a new lens on how we understand, validate and celebrate different ways of expressing ourselves—especially for those who are non-speaking or communicate differently.

Whether you’re a parent, therapist, teacher, or simply someone curious about how to be more inclusive in your relationships, this episode is a powerful invitation to slow down, tune in, and truly listen.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇

🧠 Why communication isn’t a hierarchy – and spoken words aren’t at the top

🧠 Ways to support children and adults who communicate beyond speech

🧠 How silence, scripting and body language all carry meaning

🧠 The power of slowing down, getting curious and listening with your whole self

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ABOUT THE GUEST 👇

Christina Schmidt (she/her) is a Black African-American-Australian, multicultural and multidialectal AuDHD woman who proudly embraces her identity across all facets of her work and advocacy.

As the founder of Free to Be Me Speech Therapy, Christina provides neuroaffirming support to both paediatric and adult clients in ways that honour each person’s unique communication needs, strengths, and ways of being.

Her approach is transformative—grounded in deep presence, cultural integrity and lived/living experience. Whether she’s guiding fellow speech pathologists, connecting in client sessions, or presenting on global stages, Christina weaves together personal and professional wisdom to create lasting impact.

🌐 Website & shop - https://www.freetobemespeech.com.au/shop

🔗 Linktree - https://linktr.ee/FreetoBeMe.speech

ABOUT THE HOST 👇

Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.

She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.

Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.

Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.