Community & Small Group Programs for Connection
This shared passion for inclusion connected Dawnmarie with Meg Gill, a mother of a bright young daughter, “GG,” diagnosed with nonspeaking autism, and an experienced brewery and restaurant entrepreneur. When GG was diagnosed, Meg’s search for answers led her to Dawnmarie and her expertise. In 2024, they co-created “Get On Board IPA” alongside neurodiverse adults—a project that sparked their vision for vocational, educational, and independent living trainings that embody true inclusion, accessibility, and opportunity.
With Meg’s background in innovation and growing successful businesses, and Dawnmarie’s dedication to empowering neurodivergent individuals, they became the perfect partners to bring this vision to life. In March 2025, they co-founded Ohana California Learning Centers—where creativity, community, and possibility come together.
In 2013, Ohana California Co-Founder Dawnmarie Gaivin became a DIRFloortime® provider, and by 2018 she was also an Assistive Technology Specialist. These trainings shaped her belief in multi-modal, sensory-motor, and relationship-based approaches—creating the foundation for meaningful connection and real cognitive growth. When her son Evan learned to communicate by spelling on a letterboard, it was more than a milestone—it was a turning point in his education. Inspired, she opened Spellers Center San Diego in 2017 to help other students with complex communication needs thrive through AAC.
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