Spelling to Communicate (S2C) is an alternative method of communication involving teaching individuals with sensory motor differences to purposely and accurately point to letters to spell. The method was developed by Elizabeth Vosseller. It involves both a hierarchy of progressing motor skills, advancing in letterboards to typing on a keyboard, as well as progression in communication from spelling words to more abstract expressions of thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings.
S2C is appropriate for individuals who are 5 years old or older and who are nonspeaking, minimal speaking, or unreliable speaking. These individuals have language, thoughts, ideas, and feelings, but have difficulty with praxis, or the ability to create, follow, execute and adapt a motor plan. Autistic individuals who have apraxia or dyspraxia, which is a brain-body disconnect, can form new neuronal PATHWAYS in the brain, to help their bodies perform purposeful, voluntary movements, including pointing to a letterboard! With challenging ourselves to learn and practice new things, our brains grow by forming and strengthening new connections.
For individuals with apraxia, purposely executing voluntary motor movement is both difficult and can often be consistently inconsistent, especially factoring in sensory challenges, emotions, and regulation. There can be “breakdown” in the process of initiating a movement, sustaining a movement, changing a motor plan, and stopping the motor plan. Targeting specific individuals’ challenges in spatial awareness, strength, muscle tone, flexibility, posture, etc. is also important. Mind & Motor Pathways can design and implement a whole-body exercise program for “off the boards” that focuses on these areas as well as purposeful motor movements. When new motor PATHWAYS develop in the brain, it impacts everyday activities of daily living and even the skills needed for S2C, since it is all motor! Performing these whole-body exercises can be regulating as well for the sensory system. Whatever your movement goals are, we can help support you to achieve them!
There is no greater feeling than hearing your loved one’s voice for the first time through the letterboard. At Mind & Motor Pathways, we want YOU to experience it as the CRP as well! It is a priority for our parents, caregivers, siblings, and whoever else your loved one would love to communicate with outside of practitioner sessions. S2C provides meaningful communication for non-speaking individuals to be able to express, advocate, make choices, and have agency and autonomy at any moment in time, not solely in practitioner sessions. We will provide training, support, and knowledge to teach the skills to be the most confident CRP for your loved one. This may include support and training during practitioner sessions as well as receiving feedback on video you take when practicing at home with your speller. Virtual sessions via zoom are also available if preferred.
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