After being the subject of numerous interviews as an autism advocate, Carly stated that she wanted to do the interviewing for a change, and show the world that she could be the world’s first non-verbal talk show host.

She aptly named her show Speechless with Carly Fleischmann to reflect the viewer’s reaction - as much as her own condition.

Episode 1 launched on Carly’s social channels (YouTube, facebook, twitter) during World Autism month. Her first guest was Hollywood mega-star Channing Tatum.

With only $500 invested in online media we were aiming to earn the majority of our media impressions due to Channing’s Hollywood status, and Carly’s notoriety within the autism community.

With only $500 invested in media, Episode 1 earned over 3.5 million views in its first two weeks.

This earned Carly’s YouTube channel +200,000 new subscribers.

Coverage by mainstream broadcasters included: FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, CBC, CTV, the BBC and press such as Time Magazine, Fast Company, Glamour Magazine, People, Elle, Huffington Post, The Mirror UK, and pop culture blogs Mashable, Stimulant, Buzzfeed, Upworthy and was featured on Ellen Degeneres’ EllenTube and on the popular YouTube series YouTubers React.

Our goal was to reach as many people in the autism community as possible.

Educating parents of the potential of people with autism by using Carly’s story as a point of inspiration would be key to getting them to reconsider their child’s perceived limitations.

One in 68 children in North America will be diagnosed with autism in the coming year. With extensive therapy from a young age, many will have the opportunity to function and contribute to society. Unfortunately, too many go without the support and intervention they need, sentencing them to a life of dependency, isolation and often mistreatment.

Carly Fleischmann, a 21 year old woman with severe autism and oral motor apraxia (preventing speech) has been on a lifelong mission to educate the world of the potential of people like herself – people who can flourish, if they are given the chance. Carly’s Voice, a memoir co-authored with her father in 2012, was an undertaking to share her perspective and thereby allow people to hear directly from the “horse’s mouth”, as Carly put it.