Rehumanizing Access to Communication By Alexandra Ponsica, PIT I would like to rehumanize the communication needs of a nonspeaker, since semantics seem to be the reason so many nonspeakers cannot access their basic human right to communication in school instead of what the child needs. To put it into perspective, I am a mom to […]
Independence or Autonomy? By Alexandra Ponsica One goal that is often the main focus of parents, caregivers, and instructors of individuals with special needs is achieving independence. On the surface, it sounds like a fantastic goal. As a mother of twin 10 year old nonspeakers and spellers, it is certainly something I want my children […]
Why I am an Advocate for Nonspeakers Like Me By: Ryan Heller Lots of people have communication issues they need assistance with. Nonspeakers and unreliable speakers like me need assistance through a letterboard or keyboard. We need to be taught by a trained professional to use these tools and we need access to communication at […]
Hey everyone! I want to take some time to talk about the holidays. While we often imagine the holidays are filled with cheer and comradery that may not be the case for your Nonspeakers. Sometimes family members that are visiting don’t know how to treat us. Sometimes we get ignored or talked down to. I […]
Dear Jen by Ethan Nagy My dear friends, as I write this I am in deep thought caused by the loss endured by my good friend and math mentor. Grief looks different to each person but in particular to a non-speaking autistic. Our grief is felt through the lense of sensory differences. Not all have the […]
Sexuality and Sex: Another Hard Conversation by Noah Seback Nonspeakers and sexuality. Nonspeakers and sex. Can these be mentioned in the same sentence? Is this an oxymoron? Did I read that correctly? Yes! I’m a nonspeaking autistic broaching the subject of sex and sexuality as it relates to our population. This topic is too rarely […]
Voting 101: Happy Disability Voting Rights Week! When it comes to voting, you ideally want to support a candidate who has the same morals and ideals as you. Voting for specific candidates will not be an overnight solution to the problems you see in legislation. Not only is it important to vote in both local […]
The Urgency of Inclusion I spent the last weekend in July wrestling with a torrent of strong emotions: unexpected optimism about the future, the deep sense of comfort and belonging that comes from being in a truly inclusive environment, and a profound sense that all of us, starting with me, need to participate more actively […]
Get Groups Going! You don’t need us to tell you that the spellerverse is all about inclusivity and increasing access to communication for all. But how can we extend that beyond our one-on-one sessions with our spellers? GROUPS! With so many S2C practitioners starting their centers from scratch, it may be difficult to find open […]
Letters are Everywhere Take a moment to imagine that you are attending a baby shower. When you look around, what types of gifts do you see? What patterns are emblazoned on the toys, blankets, and tiny clothes? I recently attended my own baby shower and, in my experience, there were lots of letters. I received […]
