Meet andrew & jaKob

Two Handsome Guys With Autism, Apraxia, and Autonomy

Their speech is unreliable. Their spelling is undeniable.

They’re on a mission.

They’re Two Handsome Guys with Autism, Apraxia, and Autonomy.

And they’re so happy you’re here.

THEIR STORY

Andrew and Jakob are best friends. They have autism and apraxia. Their speech is unreliable. But their minds are brilliant.

In August 2023, within minutes of each other, they had communication breakthroughs.

After years of practice and with the help of an experienced communication partner, they became able to openly communicate by spelling words one letter at a time on a wireless keyboard and iPad.

It became very clear very quickly that they had been mislabeled. There is no cognitive delay or intellectual disability.

They are brilliant.

Since that day, their lives have opened up in ways that none of us could have imagined. Andrew is a songwriter. Jakob is an actor. They’re making plans to live together someday.

They are free.

Now they want the same for the countless others who are still being mislabeled, misunderstood and underestimated.

They want to free more voices.

andrew & Jakob today

Andrew is a songwriter learning how to design homes for his family’s business, Schumacher Homes. Jakob has landed leading roles in a feature film and an opera.

They’ve been doing live events where they sit on a stage and spell in front of hundreds of people. They’re teaching us about apraxia, autism, and life before and after finding their voices.

Together, they’re making plans to live together someday. On their own. Their dreams of independence are becoming reality.

They hope to continue to be examples of possibility for other non-speakers. 

They want those without reliable speech to be heard and understood. 

Their goal is to help free more voices.

Andrew holding a sign of his song lyrics: Rising Voices

Andrew with his song lyrics: Rising Voices

Cards by Jakob - Cincinnati store

spelling in action

RESOURCES

  • An afternoon of spelling with Andrew & Jakob

    Events

    Check here for Two Handsome Guys events! Witness their spelling live and be prepared to have your mind blown.

    We need parents, educators, therapists, communication partners, and allies of those with autism and apraxia!

  • Autistically Inclined

    Where humans connect & voices flourish. Autistically Inclined helps autistic individuals connect and communicate by aligning their brain and body to purposefully spell their thoughts using the alphabet, empowering them to express themselves and unlocking new possibilities.

  • Communication for education

    This program offers training for people who support students using text-based multi-modal communication in educational settings.

  • Love, Andrew - Autism Foundation

    The mission of the Love, Andrew Autism Foundation is to empower and support organizations and programs dedicated to fostering environments of inclusivity and sensory regulation.

  • Cards by Jakob

    Jakob of Two Handsome Guys has autism and apraxia but that doesn’t stop him. He designs greeting cards and other fun things.

  • You tube Channel

    We have numerous videos of our events, spelling sessions and more. Subscribe to view!

ANDREW & JAKOB - BEST FRIENDS