You shouldn’t have to prove yourself again and again!
When others believe you to be incapable…
When others define you by your disability…
When others use stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations about you…
When others classify you as “less-than”…
When others perceive your limitations…
We believe that all nonspeakers have a voice. Nonspeakers need us to help amplify their voices—not be their voices. A revolution requires this to happen. We aren’t the revolution; we are allies in their revolution. They can’t do it without us, and we shouldn’t do it without them. We are only allies to spellers when we amplify their voices.
Our Purpose:
To boldly and courageously break down barriers and forge new paths so that spellers live their dreams and the world knows their greatness.
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Spellers deserve to be included and are capable of autonomous lives. We coach spellers to independent communication and embrace spellers’ rights to the communication method of their choice. We support spellers in their pursuit of autonomy, not just in communication, but in life. We see and hear spellers when no one else does.
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Those who support spellers must listen, be respectful, show empathy, and be committed to the highest ethical standards to be considered allies. We patiently listen to our spellers & their families and try to fully understand their perspective before sharing ours. We always look for the good and highlight other’s strengths. We never judge or shame others for doing the very best they can in the moment, based on their beliefs. We focus on making a difference to the single speller right in front of us; we are not driven by quantifiable numbers of spellers served.
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We stay current on research and use our clinical expertise and intuition to take bold steps forward in the direction of progress. We are innovative when solving complex motor challenges and are courageous enough to veer from pedagogy and peer pressure to follow a predetermined set of steps. We model present moment mindfulness and self-regulation even amidst chaos. We do hard things (thank you, Glennon Doyle) and we do them with integrity.
We envision a world where spellers are accepted and celebrated for the value they add to the world; where they communicate autonomously, live independently, thrive in careers and relationships of their choosing, and enjoy the same rights and privileges as the rest of us. We envision a world where spellers are free!
Our Approach
We redefine what nonspeaking autism is and know what every nonspeaker is capable of. We also know that supporting our nonspeakers means supporting their caregivers and communication partners. We place high value on the role of parents in the process of a speller becoming fluent. We embrace universal design, and actively work to improve the expertise of communication partners and professionals, making it easier for spellers to acquire new, well-trained CRPs. We help practitioners acquire advanced training and mentorship opportunities to ensure the success of future spellers everywhere.
Learn Communication Through Spelling
and Typing:
Our Method
We know if you have met one person with autism you have met only one person with autism. We honor individual differences and create strength-based approaches to spelling and typing as communication for nonspeakers. Through our robust knowledge of the neurology surrounding apraxia and research-supported practices, we coach spellers to independent typing through motor-based teaching. We maintain our commitment to ethical practice standards without sacrificing the unique sensory-motor needs of each individual speller.
Our Pursuit
It’s not just about spelling and typing. We play the tape forward for our spellers and think about life beyond the boards, addressing their life goals and how to best support them. We’re working to change the paradigm for nonspeakers, giving access to our method to every nonspeaker with a voice to be heard.
