Speller's Stories

We celebrate their success

our mission is your key to unlocking understanding

Life is made up of an infinite number of stories. Each one allows us, even for just a few brief moments, to step into the storyteller’s shoes, live in their world, know their thoughts and experience their feelings. We invite you to read our speller’s stories, their family’s experiences, and their practitioners’ and allies’ support to help you understand and share the triumphs and struggles in navigating life through their nonspeaking and neurodivergent lens.

Ian's Speller Story

...at that point I knew that he was actually really able to communicate.
Eric

DAVID's Speller Story

Together we were the first two nonspeaking autistics to graduate from CAL.
DAVID

zach's Speller Story

..he is funny and insightful and compassionate and empathetic and so darn brilliant....
JILL

Sam's Speller Story

My WOW moment was....
Arti

Peyton's Speller Story

The possibilities are really very encouraging for his life and it all started with this.
Karyn

Michael's Speller Story

Start with a conversation with another parent. We're in this, we're in the same journey.
Tomas

David's Speller Story

Just believe your child can do it
Margie

Swarit's Speller Story

If you're starting S2C, go for your dreams, and keep believing.
Swarit

Ka'eo's Speller Story

It's unbelievable to realize how limiting I was in my own head of Ka'eo's, not just intelligence but capabilities.
Ka'eo Sr.

Spellers Stories in the news

Boy with nonverbal autism blogs to reach others

17-year-old Highland Park boy with nonverbal autism blogs to reach others like him: “People need to stop underestimating us” read more…

– Chicago Tribune

S2C Hopeful trajectories for Nonspeaking Autistics.

For each individual impacted, we do know this: when we have the means to communicate, we are empowered to share our needs, wants, feelings and ideas. read more…

– Spectrum Life Magazine.

Herndon Recognizes Youth Advisory Council Member

Ian Nordling serves on the town of Herndon’s Youth Advisory Committee giving him the experience to serve in a leadership position alongside his typical peers. read more…

– Connection Newspapers

My son’s split-second decision may have changed another person’s life

This is one of those stories where what you choose to do in that one split second changes the trajectory of someone else’s life. read more…

– The Globe and Mail

Because I can now communicate I can tell my mom how much I love her. That’s the most important thing.

I started training to type to communicate my voice at the age of 17.5 years. My teacher, Melissa, taught me how to begin to neuro-regulate with mom as my communication partner. Typing has opened my life to free expression of who I am. I am able to share my life experience and my work in poetry and song lyric writing. I am continually learning to get my needs met and speak for myself after having no way to communicate for most of my life. With no way previously to speak, others made assumptions and choices for me. 4 years later, I am free to live my potential now that I can communicate. Loving-kindness support is needed for all in the non-speaking community.

Now that I have Spelling to communicate, I am free. I have a life line now. I can really say my thoughts. I can be an active participant in the world. I can share in joys and sorrows, I can be me to the world. I am loving life now.

It (S2C) has made me become a member of my family like never before. I can be a part of family decisions, like where we should go on vacation. I can be a part of discussions at dinner. But best of all, I can joke with my brother as typical brothers do.

The letterboard has changed my life really beyond what can fit on a page. Being able to tell my friends, who are trying to understand my tricky body 'they are the best', that is everything!

Since spelling to communicate, my life has turned from thunderstorms to sunshine. I have friends, I have a job, I'm having independence. I am mentoring younger spellers. I am happy. It didn’t just change my life; it saved it. I am really ready to change the world.

Finding my reliable voice has led to Autonomy I never thought I would have. I now get to decide how I want to live my life. no more childish tv or education. no more silly conversations based on what my mouth says. no more social isolation. I'm now free to be me.