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Storytelling · AAC · Connection

Welcome to
Himani Speaks

A community program using the joy of storytelling to support children with disabilities — building language, imagination and connection through AAC.

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Himani

👇 Try it — click any card to hear it speak

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Hello
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Story
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Happy
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Play
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More
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Himani
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Communicate

This is how many children express themselves. Every voice matters.

Himani Hitendra
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PRC Brand Ambassador
🏆 2021 Heumann-Armstrong Award for Education Activism

Meet Himani

Himani Hitendra is a nonspeaking autistic teenager from Fremont, California — and the inspiration behind the Storytime with AAC library program. Born in Mumbai, India, she moved to the US at age four. She is a junior in high school, and her favourite subjects are English and Biology.

Himani uses an Accent 1000 device with Unity 84 — her "talker" — to communicate. She received her first communication device at age nine, but a breakthrough came during the pandemic when she began typing independently for the first time at age 11. That moment changed everything.

Despite being wrongly diagnosed with an intellectual disability, Himani courageously proved her literacy to the world. She now advocates for equal educational opportunities for disabled students, giving presentations to classmates, speaking with universities, and sharing her story publicly every AAC Awareness Month.

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AAC AdvocateShares her story with schools, universities & organisations across the US
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PRC-Saltillo AmbassadorFeatured ambassador on AAC Language Lab
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First typed independentlyAt age 11, during the pandemic — a turning point
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HobbiesBollywood music, reading, swimming, and hiking
"Storytelling belongs to everyone — regardless of how they communicate."
About the Program

Where stories meet communication

Storytelling with AAC is a community program that weaves narrative and imagination into AAC practice. We create safe, joyful spaces where children with disabilities can engage with language, creativity, and connection — using whatever means of communication works for them.

Each session is carefully facilitated to be inclusive, sensory-friendly, and grounded in real communication development. University students, families, therapists, and educators are all warmly welcomed.

Our work is rooted in lived experience — the journey of a family who discovered, firsthand, the transformative power of communication access.

A Special Feature

Bring Your Story

Have a favourite story? We'll help turn it into a rich, inclusive AAC storytelling experience tailored to your child.

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Bring Your Own Story

Have a book, a family memory, or a tale your child loves? Share it with us and we'll weave it into a fully facilitated AAC storytelling session — with symbols, visuals, and interactive moments designed around that story.

Personalised
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Bring Your Child's Favourite Story

Does your child have a beloved book or character they connect with? We'll transform it into an AAC-powered storytelling experience where they become part of the narrative — building communication through something they already love.

Most Requested
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We Create Together

Not sure where to start? Work with Sabena to co-create an original story built around your child's interests, communication goals, and imagination. A truly unique session designed just for them.

Custom Session
The Facilitators

Meet Sabena

Sabena is the founder and lead facilitator of Himani Speaks — a program born from her experience as Himani's mother. Watching her daughter unlock her voice through AAC transformed Sabena's understanding of communication, disability, and human potential.

She created this program to share what she has learned, and to build community for children and families navigating similar journeys. Sabena regularly speaks to parents, university programs, schools, and disability organisations across the US.

Her sessions are joyful, inclusive, and rooted in real lived experience — making her a sought-after speaker and facilitator in the AAC community.

50+
Sessions run
10+
Universities engaged
100s
Families reached
Sabena

Meet Elena

Elena Dukhovny, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences at California State University, East Bay, where she specialises in Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Before joining CSUEB, Elena worked as a speech-language pathologist and assistive technology consultant supporting children with severe and profound communicative disorders. She holds advanced certifications in Language Acquisition through Motor Planning and the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk programme.

Her research examines effective support systems for para-educators and caregivers of speech-generating device users — bringing both academic rigour and deep clinical insight to every session.

Ph.D.
UC Berkeley / SFSU
CCC-SLP
Certified clinician
AAC
Research specialist
Elena Dukhovny

Meet Polina

Polina Rubanova is a Children's Services Librarian at AC Library. Developing programs alongside community partners is one of her favorite parts of being a librarian. She is proud of how Storytime with AAC has grown and the way it has empowered its participants!

Polina Rubanova
What We Do

A program built on connection

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Live Storytelling Sessions

Interactive, facilitated events at libraries and community spaces — designed to engage children with AAC through narrative and imagination.

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University Observation

Students from SLP, education and disability studies programs attend as observers — bridging academic learning with real-world AAC practice.

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Family Workshops

Sessions for parents and caregivers that build understanding of AAC and communication strategies to use at home.

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School & Org Partnerships

We partner with schools, disability organisations and community groups to bring storytelling into existing programs.

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Awareness & Advocacy

Talks and presentations to raise awareness about AAC, nonspeaking autism, and the power of communication access.

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Professional Collaboration

Working alongside SLPs, OTs and educators to ensure our frameworks align with evidence-based communication practice.

Who This Is For

Everyone is welcome

Our sessions and programs are open to the whole community — children, families, professionals, and institutions alike.

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Children with Autism

Inclusive storytelling designed to engage and delight.

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AAC Users

Supporting communication through narrative and imagination.

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Families

Tools and community for meaningful connection at home.

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Therapists & SLPs

Storytelling frameworks for speech and language professionals.

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University Students

Hands-on observational learning in real AAC settings.

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Educators

Insight and tools for teachers supporting AAC users.

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Organizations

Partnerships with disability orgs, libraries and nonprofits.

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Universities

A live learning lab for future SLP and education professionals.

Calendar

Upcoming Sessions

Register Interest
Date & Time Session Location Audience
May 30, 2026
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM		 Storytime with AAC
Special Needs Friendly · 4 spots remaining		 AC Library
Union City, CA		 Families Register →
Jun 6, 2026
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM		 Author Storytime with Amanda Hartmann
AAC and Me! — Interactive talk & Q&A		 Online
Virtual		 Virtual Register →
Jun 7, 2026
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM		 Storytime with AAC
Ages 7 & under · Recurring monthly on Sundays		 AC Library
Fremont, CA		 Families Register →
Jul 12 · Aug 9 · Sep 20
Oct 18 · Nov 15 · Dec 6, 2026		 Storytime with AAC
Ages 7 & under · Registration opens 1 week before each session		 AC Library
Fremont, CA		 Families Register →
May 30, 2026 · 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Storytime with AAC — Special Needs Friendly
📍 AC Library, Union City CA · 4 spots remaining
Families Register →
Jun 6, 2026 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Author Storytime with Amanda Hartmann — AAC and Me!
💻 Online (Virtual)
Virtual Register →
Jun 7, 2026 · 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Storytime with AAC — Ages 7 & under
📍 AC Library, Fremont CA · Recurring monthly Sundays
Families Register →
Jul 12 · Aug 9 · Sep 20 · Oct 18 · Nov 15 · Dec 6, 2026
Storytime with AAC — Ages 7 & under
📍 AC Library, Fremont CA · Registration opens 1 week before
Families Register →
Resources

Resources to start a Storytime with AAC program

Videos and links to help families, educators, and advocates to start a library based Storytime with AAC program.

YouTube video thumbnail
Video

AAC in the Cloud 2024 presentation for Library Based Story book reading program
Google Drive

Storytime with AAC — Session Materials & Resources Folder
Get Involved

Register or reach out

Whether you'd like to attend a session, bring a group, or bring your child's favourite story — we'd love to hear from you. Sabena will be in touch within 2–3 business days.

📍Fremont, California — Bay Area & beyond
🎤In-person sessions at libraries & community spaces
💻Virtual sessions & presentations available
🤝Open to families, universities, schools & organisations
📚Bring your own story — we'll help bring it to life

Let's connect

We'll get back to you within 2–3 business days. All enquiries are welcome.