Why I Started NeuroStars Phonics Factory

Before I became a mother to my autistic son, I was a high school English teacher. I also had an older son, a neurotypical learner, and thought I had a good grasp on what children needed to succeed in school. I had even worked with families of autistic students in my classroom. I had heard their stories about how hard it was to find the right support, and I believed them. But it wasn’t until I had my own son that I truly knew what they meant.

Our journey was painful, and honestly, lonely. Public school quickly became overwhelming for my son. He’s smart, but the environment wasn’t built for how he processes the world. He often shut down. Sometimes, he lashed out. Not because he didn’t want to learn, but because he was overloaded in a space that didn’t understand him. We were told, more than once, that the school couldn’t meet his emotional needs, and because of that, they couldn’t meet his academic ones either.

In just one kindergarten year, we tried three different schools. Each time, I hoped this would be the one. Each time, I was left heartbroken.

So I paused everything. I stepped away from my career and brought him home to homeschool him myself. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t have a background in early literacy. I was searching for curriculum, guidance—anything—and came up empty so many times. But I kept going. And eventually, I found what worked: the Orton-Gillingham approach.

That changed everything.

His progress came quickly. The gaps started closing. I saw his confidence return. He wanted to read. And I knew I had to do more than just teach him, I had to build something that could help others.

That’s how NeuroStars Phonics Factory was born.

I created NSPF for the families still searching. For the kids still waiting to be understood. For the ones like my son, who just need the right approach, a little belief, and people who won’t give up on them.

You’re not alone. I see you. And I built this for you.

— Shecondria Duncan