Education
shattering the barriers of silence
I-ASC is the exclusive source of training in the rigorous Spelling to Communicate™ method, an evidence-based practice with a long record of successful outcomes. We enable nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals to communicate their thoughts, emotions, and needs and empower them to participate more fully in their communities. I-ASC has trained over 750 Certified S2C Practitioners worldwide.
S2C™ is developed with specific procedures to ensure reliable, replicable, and responsible best practices. In order to maintain the integrity of the S2C methodology, it cannot be combined with other approaches for spelling and typing.
30+ million nonspeakers need your help
I-ASC S2C Practitioners are highly skilled specialists who have been rigorously trained to teach purposeful motor skills to nonspeaking individuals. Their guidance and support help nonspeakers develop the skills to spell words and communicate more effectively. From pointing on letterboards to typing on a keyboard, communication moves from concrete to abstract as motor skills progress. Spelling to Communicate Practitioners also coach parents, family members, and educational aides to serve as Communication Regulation Partners (CRP) who provide continued support for their nonspeaking person.
Interested in becoming a practitioner and ready to find out more about our training program? Get detailed information, find out how to get started, and hear from current practitioners about the program. Take the first step and start changing the lives of nonspeakers to positively move the needle throughout the nonspeaking community.
The nonspeaking population is currently severely underserved. With over 26 million nonspeakers worldwide, there are more potential spellers than trained practitioners to teach them. I-ASC is committed to training more rigorously prepared S2C practitioners to coach families and nonspeakers to increase communication and learning.
Given the assumption that each S2C Practitioner will serve at least 15 new nonspeakers per year over a 20-year career, that means each S2C Practitioner has the potential to help 300 nonspeaking people. For every training cohort of 10 S2C Practitioners, they will be able to serve 3,000 nonspeaking individuals collectively; 10 cohorts could support 30,000 nonspeaking people! The more practitioners trained worldwide, the more nonspeakers will be able to communicate effectively.
Our goal is to increase the number of S2C Practitioners by offering more practitioner training courses each year and providing continuous education and resources for S2C Practitioners and allied professionals, adding to the growing number of spelling communities worldwide.
Sorry, we do not allow copying of our content.
Javascript not detected. Javascript required for this site to function. Please enable it in your browser settings and refresh this page.
Phoenix, AZ
“I love being able to show nonspeakers that there is hope.”
Phoenix, Arizona
“For each and every one of my spellers, I look forward to the day when they can share their thoughts. I look forward to the day when they can communicate their needs, their hopes, and their life goals. As we work toward this end goal, we both enjoy spending time in rich and fulfilling interactions exploring age-appropriate, intellectually stimulating information.”
Phoenix, Arizona
“My favorite thing about being an S2C practitioner is getting the opportunity to be a part of such a special process of a family meeting their speller for the ‘first time.’ The moment when the speller shares information with the family to help them understand who they are, what they really think, and show their true self. It’s such a beautiful process, and it is truly an honor to be allowed to share in that with them.”
Scottsdale, Arizona
“I have been working with individuals with disabilities for 30 years. I have always believed that the individuals I taught were able to do more and understand more than the world tended to give them credit for. Fifteen years ago, the words and philosophy of “Presuming Competence” were spoken to me, and it finally gave my thoughts and beliefs a name and validation. Since that time, I have worked with and researched those with the same beliefs. When I read about S2C, I knew it was the tool that I was missing to help my students unlock their potential. I knew I needed to become a practitioner.”
Scottsdale, Arizona
“My hope is to remind nonspeaking individuals of their limitless potential. I want to help them share their intelligence, strength, and uniqueness. I hope to help them connect with their families on a deeper level and help the families understand who they are and who they aspire to be. I would like to help fulfill the dream of so many nonspeakers: to communicate with their loved ones.”
“As an S2C practitioner and CRP, I’m passionate about ending communication discrimination and making reliable communication available to all. I value the work that I do and feel honored that I get to experience this journey with so many inspiring people in such an amazing community.”
“My mission has always been to find and grow the joy of communication with those in the neurodiversisphere—one person at a time. I am grateful to everyone who’s supported this journey, and excited to help more voices be heard. ”
“I strive to impact nonspeakers by helping them access reliable communication so they can share their thoughts, ideas, and identities with the world. Through my work as a practitioner, I support individuals in building the motor skills and confidence needed to express themselves independently. I also work to expand opportunities and understanding through community initiatives like Tucson Spellers, which promotes connection, education, and the presumption of competence. My hope is that more nonspeakers are given the tools, support, and belief they need to move from silence to self-expression. “
Woodland Hills, CA
“Working with nonspeakers never gets old!”
Los Angeles, CA
“My 11-year-old client, who never used to be able to sit still for more than a moment, answered an open-ended question of what he would do if there was a spider in his house with a full sentence “I would take it outside.” When asked how he felt answering the open-ended question on the 26 board in a full sentence, he responded, “I’m smart.”
Newbury Park, California
“After spending years in education working with non and minimally speaking students, I learned about S2C and how apraxia was affecting their ability to motor plan in order to effectively communicate. I am so grateful that I am able to teach non-speakers a consistent and reliable form of communication so they are able to advocate for themselves.”
Thousand Oaks, CA
“I love when families understand the power of communication and get to truly learn and know things about their speller they didn’t before. There’s nothing quite like seeing miraculous changes before your eyes.”
Santa Clarita, CA
“My goal is to help them find their voice, so they can be heard and communicate effectively.”
Palmdale, California
“I hope to be a reliable and steadfast ally”
Los Angeles, California
“I hope to continue to work at the intersection of access, autonomy, and advocacy for nonspeaking individuals. I hope to create a space where non speakers feel safe and where they can amplify their voice and identity.”
Los Angeles, California
” I would like to inspire other individuals to treat nonspeakers with respect. I want to be a practitioner that shows them how competent, smart, quirky, and unique they are. And to treat them like every other person”
Burbank, California
“I first became aware of Spelling to Communicate after seeing a play written by a Speller. Inspired by the playwright’s beautiful words and by the poetry, songs, and writing of Spellers everywhere, I was hooked! As an S2C practitioner, I am committed to bringing communication to as many nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals as possible. It is truly my passion!”
Carlsbad, CA, USA
“I am hoping to be able to provide support for nonspeakers at school settings. ”
San Diego, California
“I have worked with some pretty complicated bodies, and I have been so excited to see one of my adult clients (48yrs old) be able to organize her motor output to independently move to the letters and build the regulation needed to grow her skills in this way! It is powerful to see self-confidence and motor control build through S2C.”
Fallbrook, California
“I became an S2C practitioner because once I learned about S2C, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. It is the most meaningful, exciting, interesting, magical, worthy, and weighty work I’ve ever had the privilege of doing.”
San Diego, California
“It’s absolutely wonderful to be a part of the communication journey of nonspeakers and their families! I cherish getting to connect with my clients, to show them that I believe in them, and to see them gain confidence and feel proud of their hard work. Every bit of progress is so rewarding to witness!”
San Diego, CA
“It is important to me that everyone feels a sense of community and I want to help facilitate that for nonspeakers. ”
San Diego, CA
“I want to be part of the support system that makes robust authentic communication possible for this amazing population. I look forward to being an integral part of this movement as we progress forward. “
Orange County, California, USA
“I became an S2C Practitioner because once I met my first Speller and saw everything she was capable of doing and breaking down our expectations, I couldn’t NOT do it for everyone else. ”
Anaheim, California
“I hope to continue impacting non speakers by helping them access a reliable way to express their thoughts, needs, and ideas. My goal is to support their autonomy, confidence, and dignity, while showing them and their families that intelligence and voice have always been there. Through patient, respectful guidance, I aim to open doors to connection, self-advocacy, and fuller participation in the world.”
Denver, Colorado, USA
“I became an S2C Practitioner because it is vital that nonspeakers also have access to meaningful and effective communication.”
I see clients in Lakewood and Colorado Springs
“Communication is key, not just for success and relationships, but also for living a fulfilling life. I want to make sure that nonspeakers have a chance to be heard, known and understood for who they truly are. “
Orange County, Florida
Ocoee, Florida
“I was able to help a client achieve a dream of writing a creative story for Christmas. It was an unbelievable journey and experience.”
Orlando, Florida
“I ran into an unreliable speaker and his Mom in Target. We knew each other but only a little. The Mom and I had a brief conversation about S2C and if she thought her son should try it now. I am working with her son and am so hopeful for him and their family to benefit from his communication. I think we were meant to run into each other at Target! I am so grateful to be an S2C practitioner so I can help nonspeakers communicate.”
Windermere, Florida
“I became a practitioner for my son who is an unreliable speaker. Having him spell with our family has changed all of our lives drastically. We are filled with hope now for the future. I want to help other families like mine. ”
Orlando, Florida, USA
“I love getting to know the spellers, and learning about their life experiences.”
Orlando, Florida
“I became a practitioner to help individuals advocate for themselves, and to help create a space where they can be heard and respected. ”
“I became a practitioner for my son who is an unreliable speaker. Having him spell with our family has changed all of our lives drastically. We are filled with hope now for the future. I want to help other families like mine.”
Boca Raton, FL, USA
“Helping my clients to communicate their wants, needs, desires, and wishes has always been my passion. It is the reason I became a speech-language pathologist. After seeing how S2C allowed my clients to be reliable communicators, thereby changing their lives, I knew I needed to be an S2C practitioner.”
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
“I became a practitioner to help other Autistics like myself.”
Pasco County, Florida
Land O’ Lakes, Florida, USA
“I am passionate about educating others in this methodology and opening the eyes of people who have not presumed competence in the past. I love spelling with new spellers and helping them to reach the point where they can openly express their thoughts and desires. ”
Holiday, Florida
“Seeing the difference S2C made in the lives of people around me was inspirational. Reliable communication is a basic right, everyone deserves to have access to it. Being able to help families access said communication and truly get to know their nonspeaking family member means the world to me. ”
New Port Richey, Florida
“My son actually suggested I become an S2C Practitioner while we were starting out with S2C. I was completely inspired by Mac and his friends. I retired from a 25-year career in Hospital Administration and became a practitioner to support the non-speaking community.”
Odessa, Florida
“I became an S2C Practitioner to unlock the potential of the non speakers all around the world especially in INDIA.”
Tampa, Florida
“I became an S2C practitioner because I love turning communication and learning into an fun journey & adventure. “
Atlanta, Georgia
“I love establishing trust and acceptance between me and my clients and watching as their loved ones start to make shifts toward presuming competence and raising the bar.”
Atlanta, Georgia
“What surprised me about working with nonspeakers is the rich and beautiful ways in which these children process and make sense of their worlds. It almost feels poetic.”
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
“I hope that I am there as a boon and a person they know believes in them 100% as they tackle the very hard work they do to be on the letter boards. I also hope they can walk away from sessions knowing I trust them to know themselves and to advocate for what they need-my job will always be to follow their lead.”
Northbrook, Illinois
“I decided to become an S2C practitioner because, working in the field of speech-language pathology, I never felt right about any of the AAC methods I was seeing and using. Very few of them ever resulted in meaningful communication beyond requests. After working with a speller, I knew that S2C is different and that it needed to be used widely.”
Northbrook, Illinois, USA
“I hope to create a network of nonspeakers that spreads knowledge about S2C, and fights against speech discrimination worldwide. I hope to create lifelong friendships between my spellers as well as raise awareness about how we need to stop underestimating our nonspeakers. “
“What most surprised me about working with nonspeakers is learning how much dyspraxia affects everything we do, which was eye-opening and sobering.”
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by providing them with what they deserve: the right to communicate the thoughts and ideas that’s been locked inside their minds for so long. ”
“I hope to be a strong practitioner and help bring new opportunities to spellers through social groups and outings. I also hope to create a space where they can learn new academic material suited to their age levels and feed their brains with things they otherwise will not be taught.”
“I became an S2C practitioner because after 25 years of working with the autistic community I wanted to help them to find their own voice. In doing so, I hope to assist them to develop deeper relationships within their families and friends.”
Medford, Massachusetts
“I became an S2C practitioner to help non-speaking individuals achieve communication. ”
East Boston, Massachusetts
“I hope to help create a world in which presuming competence is the norm and everyone has access to meaningful communication, education, and autonomy.”
“I have been working with individuals with special needs for over 20 years as a classroom teacher, in-home program developer, and now an S2C practitioner. I earned my bachelor’s from Towson University and my master’s in special education from Johns Hopkins University. I also have an Advanced Professional Certificate, Maryland Teacher Certification Generic Special Education 1-8. I have continued my education by taking many classes on behavior management and applied behavior analysis. I am honored to be able to give unreliable and/or non-speakers an outlet to have a voice through S2C.”
Mount Airy, Maryland
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by continuing to help them use their voice and to give non-speakers an opportunity to have s2c in their lives.”
Manchester, Maryland
“I hope to impact nonspeakers through my presumption of competence and respect for their individuality. As a social worker, I have made it my life’s work to advocate for those in need. What an amazing tool to be able to help a nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or unreliably speaking person work toward agency and autonomy for themselves.”
“I plan to be a part of building a vibrant spelling community in Michigan. I want this not only for my son but for all of the nonspeakers who haven’t had a community of peers. I want them all to know how important they are and that their lives matter just as much as anyone else’s. ”
“I want to help each nonspeaker find their voice and be able to advocate for themselves.”
Las Vegas, Nevada
“I have worked with and specialized in the field of Autism as a Speech Language Pathologist for 18 years. This has opened my eyes to what I always considered the missing puzzle piece with the students I work with. I am so excited to be a part of this movement and truly make the change that is needed for our nonspeaking, minimal speaking, and unreliable speaking clients and their families.”
Las Vegas, NV
“It is an honor to assist in setting goals and facilitating communication for nonspeakers. With communication reaching dreams is now a possibility for many!”
Las Vegas, NV
“My nonspeaking younger brother, Dash, is my why for everything. One day I told him, I would do everything I can to help free as many Nonspeakers as I can from their silent prisons, as he was trapped in one for 14 years. Therefore becoming a practitioner and indulging my life to all things S2C, was number one on my journey to the “Freed” life for nonspeakers all over the world.”
Las Vegas, NV
“I hope to empower the nonspeakers I work with to feel the presumption of competence first and foremost from their family members. Being surrounded by this presumption will radically change a nonspeaker’s life and then to empower them to continue persevering as we work towards opening their world of communication. I hope to continue to build up the nonspeaking community in Las Vegas for our nonspeakers to finally have a voice to express their wants and needs but to also robustly communicate with their family, friends, and teachers. My greatest hope is to encourage and empower each nonspeaker I have the honor to work with. I want them to know their thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams, and goals matter – their voice matters!”
Sussex County, New Jersey
Sussex, New Jersey USA
“After unlocking my twin Autistic boys’ voices with Spelling to Communicate, I knew I needed to build what they needed and open up an S2C clinic! I believe fervently in every nonspeaker and having their voice heard! ”
Denville, New Jersey
“I want to provide access to a reliable means of communication for all individuals with complex communication needs. I love getting to know individuals and watch them grow in self confidence as they become fluent communicators!”
Staten Island, New York, USA
“I love being able to give someone a means of communicating their thoughts and ideas. It’s a joy to watch spellers engage in conversation with their peers. All people have a right to communicate, and how exciting that everyone knows the alphabet. Spellers will have the ability to communicate with anyone and everyone.”
Staten Island, New York, USA
“I hope nonspeakers can look at me as an advocate and someone who is really there to support them and help them live their best lives. ”
Staten Island, New York, USA
“I became an S2C practitioner to build community and support communication rights.”
Patchogue, New York, USA
“There’s a world to be explored and I became an S2C practitioner to help the nonspeaking community explore that world.”
Garden City, New York
“I became a practitioner to share this incredible gift of authentic, effective communication with others. S2C is the one thing that has made all the difference!”
Manhasset, NY
“As a member of a dedicated community advocating for non-speaking individuals, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact that presuming competence has on spellers. The encouragement and support non-speakers receive when others believe in their abilities have been truly transformative, it gives them a sense of empowerment and confidence encouraging them to have their voices heard.”
Apex, North Carolina
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by simply supporting them and giving them hope. I don’t give up on them.”
Raleigh, North Carolina
“My hope is to teach communication skills that support the autonomy, dignity, and self-direction of nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking folks.”
Cleveland, Ohio
“The very first time one of my spellers had an amazing session, he began crying. I will never forget this day.”
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
“I hope to reach as many nonspeakers as possible. Communication is a human right, I will always be their advocate!”
“Being an S2C practitioner is the world’s most rewarding job, as it helps to give a voice to someone who has known a life without one. I love continuously learning from nonspeaking individuals.”
“These spellers have really helped me find MY purpose. I feel like I am constantly continuing to learn and be challenged by my spellers and I cannot thank them enough for making me into the best practitioner and overall person that I can be.”
Highland Heights, OH
“I am striving to create a client-centered practice that empowers nonspeakers to break their voice free! In doing this, I hope to make positive impacts on nonspeakers and their families. I hope to be able to offer the supports that each nonspeaker may need.”
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
“I presume competence for each and every one of my spellers and make sure to individualize my time with them to incorporate each of their needs. ”
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
“I presume competence for each and every one of my spellers and make sure to individualize my time with them to incorporate each of their needs. ”
Cleveland, OH
“I hope to be able to help every non-speaker, find their voice and accomplish their dreams. If I can help even one non-speaker start their dream business, share their ideas with the world, or even just tell their parent what they want for breakfast I will have accomplished my dream. ”
Howland, Ohio
“My greatest joy is watching my spellers and parents faces light up when they make a new connection; one in which the speller gets to truly share their voice and their parent gains a deeper understanding of the person their speller is.”
Mayfield Heights
“The moment I knew I wanted to be an S2C practitioner was after watching a nonspeaker spell with his CRP to me ‘Don’t underestimate us, we are intelligent individuals’. From that day on I knew making a difference in the neurodiverse community was my calling in life. My passion for helping others drives me to search for spellers who have yet to find their voice and advocate for those who have.”
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
“I like providing hope to families who have otherwise given up.”
Tulsa, Oklahoma
“I hope to give nonspeakers the ability to have an outlet for expression that will change their lives for the better. And give hope for a better future.”
Bixby, Oklahoma, USA
“I became a practitioner because it changed my son’s (who is a speller) life. I am passionate about everyone having access to communication because of what it has done in his life.”
Tulsa, Oklahoma
“I have found that presuming competence in the mind and body is in itself life-changing for nonspeakers and their families.”
Springfield, Pennsylvania
“I just hope I can play a part in helping a speller become a participant in life.”
Springfield, Pennsylvania
“I love this population and how they challenge me everyday to look outside the box and see the world with refreshed perspective!”
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“As an S2C practitioner, I strive to provide my non-speakers with a variety of lessons that will demonstrate their knowledge, opinions, ideas, and their unique individuality. S2C is a tool for communication that releases them from a world of silence.”
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
“I want to help nonspeakers–one at a time — to have an authentic voice.”
Shelby Charleston, SC
“Nonspeakers have the tenacity to continue to work, practice, and overcome obstacles. Yet, they are some of the most patient, fun and kind individuals.”
Charleston, SC, USA
“I would like to help future spellers find an outlet for expressing their ideas and opinions so that they can communicate and share their unique identities to others.”
“My favorite thing about being a Spelling to Communicate practitioner is seeing spellers and their families flourish with access to robust communication. It is wonderful to watch a speller become a more active member of their family as they are able to better communicate their thoughts, ideas, and opinions.”
Knoxville, TN, USA
“I hope to provide an alternative outlet for spellers to break out of the silence they have been living in. ”
“I hope to increase access, to communication, education, and community. Whether it’s through one-on-one sessions or group programs, I want nonspeakers to have consistent, respectful opportunities to connect.”
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
“My goal is to help empower non speakers through teaching them how to communicate through spelling. I hope that through reliable communication, they will be able to reach all their goals and dreams. I also want to spread awareness on presuming competence; and giving non speakers equal opportunities in school, and in the work force.”
Waco, Texas, USA
“Open up a new world of communication for them and help educate others to presume competence!”
Dallas, Texas
“Because S2C is still so new, I am often the first person the speller and family have worked with that has ‘presumed competence.’ I am gratified to help families realize that their child was always there and is ready to participate in making choices for their life.”
Houston, Texas
“Every non speaker exhibits high levels of intelligence and I want to help others to find their voices!”
Sugarland, TX
“I see potential in this method for unreliable speaker or non speakers. My goal is to help families in our community. “
Herndon, Virginia
“Watching communication evolve is a true honor and joy as a practitioner!”
Herndon, Virginia
“In addition to being an S2C Practitioner, I am a COTA and mentor for I-ASC. I love working alongside nonspeakers in reaching their communication goals, other purposeful motor goals, and breaking undesired motor loops. ”
Herndon, Virginia
“I truly love working with spellers and supporting them as they work towards fluency and being able to express themselves on the letterboards, as well as getting the chance to work with and learn from parents through GKTC’s Parent Cohort. Helping parents reach fluency on the letterboards with their own children through regular CRP (Communication and Regulation Partner) coaching sessions is such a joy!”
Herndon, Virginia
“Spellers work HARD, and my favorite thing is to see the delight and pride in a client’s demeanor when they experience a win. There is a lot about apraxia and the challenges of purposeful motor that make it difficult for spellers to demonstrate “appropriate” emotions, but when a person’s heart is lit up, there’s no hiding it because it comes from a deeper place than purposeful motor!”
Beloit, Wisconsin
“What I like best about being a practitioner is supporting growth and confidence in communicating with their circle of friends.”
Beloit, WI, USA
“I would like to help nonspeakers find their voice and form of communication. I want to be able to reach as many nonspeakers that I can in my area, supporting them, believing in them, and building rapport to help them believe in themselves.”
Toronto, Ontario
“I hope that every non-speaker can communicate their long-silenced voice out loud using letter boards. Go show the world who you really are and what each of you is capable of.”
Toronto, Canada
“Nonspeakers don’t need us to speak for them—they need us to believe in them, wait for them, and make space for their voice to be heard.”
Auckland, New Zealand
“I become an S2C practitioner because I wanted to work with nonspeakers, to give them access to their voice and be trained in the best way to do this.”
“I just want my spellers to know that I’m a safe person who will always fight for them and their right to be heard – that I won’t give up on them or helping them to find their voice. “
Surrey, BC
“I wrote a lesson based on Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh, where I tell my clients, multiple times, “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think” and I remind them before every session. They KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am here for them and believe in them. Reminding one client of this made all the difference on an off day.”
Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by opening the door to opportunities – to connect and share with their loved ones, to learn and explore, to self-advocate, and more. ”
Waterloo, Ontario, CAN
“I hope to help nonspeakers be able to communicate to help them better connect with their peers, family and whoever they want to connect with.”
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
“Relationships with spellers; presumption of competence and its power.”
Guateng, Pretoria
“To give nonspeakers a voice and the possibility of a future they dream of.”
Western Cape, South Africa
“I hope to provide a strong, encouraging, regulating impact (hoping that nonspeakers have confidence that I firmly believe in them, respect them, and understand that they don’t always have control of their bodies) where the nonspeaker has a way of getting their voice heard, and that they don’t have to be silent forever.”
“I am driven by the people I serve. Every person deserves a reliable voice, acceptance and friends.”
Geuteng, Pretoria, South Africa
“What I like best about being a practitioner is the relationship/bond that forms between the practitioner and the speller. Being able to be the vessel enabling more non-speakers to “speak out.”
Gauteng, South Africa
“What I like best about being a practitioner is helping families to presume competence in their children and to show them how unique and smart they are.”
Guateng, South Africa
“I hope that I will give nonspeakers the confidence to be themselves, while giving them the tools they need to reach for their dreams. I don’t think anything is off limits for them and if they have a specific dream they want to chase, I want to help them chase it.”
Gauteng, South Africa
“One of my first spellers was at a special needs school when I first started spelling with her. We quickly realized that she was so much smarter, and so she was soon placed into a school that would benefit her better. She now gets some of the highest grades in her school and writes poetry. However, for me, the most impactful part of her story is that she and her sister finally have a relationship with each other.”
Guateng, SA
“The best part about being a practitioner is getting to know so many new amazing spellers and hearing what they have to say.”
Guateng, South Africa
“I just want to give every individual a voice and make them feel loved and heard. Isn’t that a fundamental human need.”
I speak Afrikans & English
Guateng, SA
“I became a Practitioner because ever since I can remember I was driven by this desire to be a voice for the Voiceless. But S2C is giving the voice for the voiceless. That’s powerful!”
Johannesburg, SA
“I became a practitioner because I love working with the nonspeaking community and am passionate about it ”
Guateng, SA
“I want nonspeakers to have agency to really say what’s on their minds, make their own choices about school, clothes, food all aspects of their lives. “
“I want nonspeakers to be able to communicate. I want to help them be heard, and find their voice to speak out.”
“We have many nonspeaking and unreliable speakers at school. They all need the opportunity to find their voice.”
“I chose to become an S2C Practitioner and pursue the Spelling to Communicate Practitioner Training Program because of my deep passion for special needs education and neurodiverse individuals. Coming from a small town with limited resources, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges faced by people seeking specialized support. My goal is to make a positive impact by providing accessible and effective communication tools, especially in areas where such services are scarce. By becoming an S2C Practitioner, I hope to empower non speaking, minimally speaking and unreliable speaking individuals and their families, helping them overcome communication barriers and reach their full potential.”
“I believe that non -speakers are often prisoners in their own bodies- full of thoughts, emotions and ideas but without a voice to express them, My goal is to help release them from that silence by creating opportunities for them to communicate, be understood and be heard.”
Dubai, UAE
“I hope I am able to help non speaking individuals to express themselves in the form of S2C.”
Dubai – United Arab Emirates
“I was doing a lesson on Helen Keller and there was a question, ‘What was the first word she spelled?’ The student answered, ‘Water’. Then I asked, ‘what was the first word you spelled?’ He answered, ‘KAMALINI’. It brought tears to my eyes.”
Winchester, UK
“Non speakers all over the world have so much to ‘say’ and I want to play my part in helping others be able to express themselves. ”
“I want to support non-speakers to live the life they want to, able to advocate for themselves and connect with those around them.”
“I decided to become an S2C Practitioner when my very good friend Jo Watson’s son Tom (non-reliable speaker) spelled out his thoughts to EV in London in 2023 and now has a passion to help other spellers. This gave me my “Why do this?” moment. My own son George (31) also non-reliably speaking is following in Tom’s footsteps”
Wrexham, Wal
“I became an S2C Practitioner because it was so obvious to me that nonspeakers not only understand what they hear and see, but that they are overflowing with amazing ideas and opinions. I want to know what nonspeakers have to say, and I want everyone else to hear them too. ”
Wrexham, Wal
“My main goal is to give a voice to the most vulnerable individuals, so that they can be heard. “
Kildare, Ireland
“What surprises me most is that they never stop surprising me! Every time I think I’ve seen it all… another magical moment happens, and I am blown away all over again!”
“I hope to help non speakers build friendships and feel part of a community using S2C “
Freeport, Florida
“I hope to empower and encourage nonspeakers one letter at a time. “
DeLand, Florida
“I love that being a practitioner allows me to provide everyone the ability to demonstrate their knowledge and prepare lessons at a level that is age appropriate. “
Richmond, Virginia, USA
“I hope that nonspeakers across the world can advocate for themselves and their community when it comes to policies that are enacted on their behalf. It is time to start listening to the needs of this community! “
Polcenigo, Italy
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by helping them connect with their own families! Once the families see what their children are capable of, more steps will follow automatically. The families are the first ones that have to comprehend their children. I will be there for them as long as they need me.”
Kingston, Ontario
“I became an S2C practitioner because I feel this method can profoundly help others and change lives for the better.”
Biloxi, MS
“I hope to give nonspeakers a pathway to communication so they can advocate for themselves, connect with others and change the landscape for future nonspeakers. “
Ann Arbour, Michigan
“I become an S2C practitioner because, as an SLP, I felt like I wasn’t able to fully help non-speakers find their best mode of communication until I met a speller. I immediately knew I had to completely change what I was doing.”
Chorley, England
“I want to be able to help nonspeakers and their families to communicate and get to know each other. I also hope to help nonspeakers to reach their academic potential.”
“As the proud mom of a speller and a practitioner, my greatest joy is the deep connection I share with my clients as we work toward open communication—celebrating every bit of progress along the way.”
Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
“I hope to be able to show spellers and their families how presuming competence can and will change their lives forever.”
Newmarket, New Hampshire
“I want to help nonspeakers and their families finally be able to have the conversations and the relationships they could never have before; every person deserves to be known and have as much agency over their lives as possible. Every parent deserves to be able to provide that access to their child.”
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
“Being a practitioner gives me the opportunity to advance communication as a human right by working with non-speakers to achieve autonomy through spelling to communicate.”
Gay, Georgia
“I became an S2C practitioner to help bring the nonspeaking population in my community the wonderful resource of S2C!”
“What I love most about being an S2C Practitioner is seeing individuals unlock their voices and share their unique thoughts and ideas. It’s so rewarding to witness those ‘aha’ moments when communication breakthroughs happen and to see the confidence that builds as each person realizes they’re truly being understood. I also find so much meaning in building strong connections and supporting my spellers on a journey that goes beyond just spelling—it’s about self-expression, growth, and making a lasting difference in their lives”
Serving the Kamloops and Vancouver areas
“I hope to impact nonspeakers, minimal speakers, and unreliable speakers by helping them access the meaningful communication they’ve always deserved. Through S2C, I want to help them build the motor skills needed to share their voices in every part of their lives. Ultimately, I hope my impact empowers nonspeakers to take up their rightful place in the world as active participants, self-advocates, and valued members of their communities.”
Cumbria, UK
“I hope to be a strong practitioner and help bring new opportunities to spellers through social groups and outings. I also hope to create a space where they can learn new academic material suited to their age levels and feed their brains with things they otherwise will not be taught.”
Italy & Switzerland
I can work with students in Italian, German, French and English
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by giving them finally a voice … give them the possibility to communicate with their families. Show their families how smart their child is.”
Italy & Switzerland
I can work with students in Italian, German, French and English
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by giving them finally a voice … give them the possibility to communicate with their families. Show their families how smart their child is.”
West Kelowna, BC, Canada
“I became an S2C Practitioner because I love helping nonspeakers communicate and be understood. It’s amazing to see someone gain confidence and independence just by spelling.”
Harrisonburg, VA
“I hope to impress upon each Speller that their voice is important. I desire to spur them on to pursue meaningful work, whether that work is writing poetry, becoming an advocate for a cause they care deeply about, researching ways to make the world better, healthier, or safer, or living a whole but quiet life of tending to their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs”
White Plains, New York, USA
“Freedom of speech is a basic human right and everyone has the potential to communicate. I am fortunate that I have the ability to help non-speakers, unreliable speakers, and minimally speaking, finally be able to communicate!”
Portland, Oregon, USA
“I had years of working with students that didn’t feel like it was serving them in the best possible ways. After discovering S2C I’ve been able to communicate to parents and teachers that presuming competence has become our default. Our students are now included in all of their classes and challenged across all subjects.”
Kilkenny, Ireland
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by giving them access to communication in a way that respects their competence. By supporting motor-based communication, I aim to help them express their thoughts, self-advocate and participate more fully in daily life.“
Paris, France
“I became a practioner because I had been working for years with autistic people as an art-therapist, and I knew from my practice that they had a lot to “say”. The S2C method was the key I had been looking for for a long time”
Chicago, Illinois, USA
“I have seen S2C give nonspeakers a voice, when other methods were unsuccessful. I was inspired to become an S2C practitioner to help more nonspeakers access a voice of their own. “
Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA
“I became an S2C Practitioner to give a voice to those I work with so they can show who they are. “
Port Talbot, Wal
“My favourite thing about being a practitioner is enabling our spellers to improve their independence and self confidence. Getting to a point where they can have an imput on their care plans and way of life etc. They will gain the ability to voice their opinions and make choices for themselves, not having others make them for them.”
Lexington, KY
“I hope to help people find their voices so that they can create rich and purposeful lives for themselves. “
Singapore
“I firmly believe that each child, teen or adult is gifted and has a unique learning ability. I am extremely passionate about my capability to make a difference to each one’s learning and developmental journey. S2C provides me the capability to contribute meaningfully to the non-speaking community and their families.”
Circleville, Ohio
“I pray that aside from helping them towards open communication, I hope I am also a source of peace and a reliable person for them to trust to help them regulate, keep their bodies regulated and minds, and feel safe as their trusted CRP to find their own true words.”
Vestfold, NO
“What I enjoy most about being an S2C Practitioner is giving non-speakers the opportunity to show their knowledge and understanding, and ensuring that they are no longer underestimated. It is an honor to be by their side and support them through the process, from introducing the method and following them all the way until they can express themselves completely openly about their opinions, thoughts and ideas.”
Sacramento, California, USA
“I hope to create a network of nonspeakers that spreads knowledge about S2C, and fights against speech discrimination worldwide. I hope to create lifelong friendships between my spellers as well as raise awareness about how we need to stop underestimating our nonspeakers. I have no doubt that our students will be the ones to make this world a better place to live for future generations! “
Senoia, Georgia
“I hope to open this new way of communicating to as many nonspeakers that I can. Everyone deserves to have a voice. “
Glasgow, Scotland
“I want to give non speaking children and adults the same opportunity to communication through S2C and the knowledge of apraxia that I have given my son, making sure all non speakers are given the respect to presuming competence and educated appropriately.”
Nyack, New York
“I am an occupational therapist who has worked for 25 years with children specializing in sensory integration and other movement therapies. Right now I am solely working with nonspeaking or unreliably speaking clients interested in learning a more reliable form of communication. “
Redbank, New Jersey, USA
“As an occupational therapist with extensive experience in sensory integration, vision therapy, and MNRI reflex integration, I am deeply committed to fostering authentic membership, autonomy, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The Spelling to Communicate (S2C) program aligns perfectly with these values, as it offers a powerful and effective communication method for non-speaking, minimally speaking or unreliably speaking individuals. The program supports self-expression and self-esteem, engagement in social interactions, activities of daily living, and enhanced opportunities within the community”
Sherwood Park, Alberta, CAN
“I look forward to empowering my students to share their thoughts and emotions and help them show the world how intelligent they are. “
St. Petersburg, Florida
“I’ve been working with a 43-year-old for 2 years. She is just now starting to provide open responses. Her family can’t believe how smart she is. She’s been my most challenging client, and to have succeeded after so much work is amazing.”
Buckeye, Arizona
“I hope that I effectively communicate to all nonspeakers that I do presume competence, and that my focus is on helping them to develop a way to communicate their thoughts and ideas with others. “
St, George, UT
“S2C has changed not only his life but my entire families life and I want to provide that service to other families just like mine.”
Boise, Idaho, USA
“Every day is a new adventure and a new day of to learn something new. I have gained so many new and meaningful relationships through spelling and cannot wait to see how the nonspeaking community continues to change the world! “
Lafayette, California
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by giving them a voice! So that their humor, ideas, and insights can be put out into the world. Every voice matters.”
Sioux Falls. SD
“It is incredibly rewarding to witness individuals find their voices and express themselves in new and powerful ways. Empowering non-speaking individuals to share their thoughts and participate fully in their communities is a privilege that inspires me every day.”
Ocala, Florida, USA
“I love working with the community and changing the family dynamic. It is amazing to see the transformation in families as their speller becomes more fluent. It is like watching a fountain of pure joy between them. “
Fraser, Colorado
“After working in a relationship and sensory-informed model, I believed (and still do) in building trust and having a relationship to support working with individuals. While listening to advocates, I eventually learned more about the motor differences in non-speakers and knew to serve these individuals the best I could, communication and a different approach to purposeful motor couldn’t be ignored. My background and S2C training have given me tools to honor, respect, and presume competence with my neurodivergent clients.”
Collinsville, Connecticut
“Every single time I work with a client, I am blown away. Many of my current clients are former students of mine who I have known since they were 3. This particular group is now in their early 20s. Watching the pure joy in all of their faces is extremely moving every single time.”
Eagle Mountain, Utah
“What I like best about being a practitioner is providing resources to nonspeakers in my state that would otherwise be unavailable or scarce.”
Naples, Florida, USA
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by building their confidence and skill to communicate reliably.”
Barrington, Rhode Island
“I hope to help more families gain access through outreach, continuing to create programs for funding, and by helping bridge the gap between health, regulation, and spelling.”
Burlington, Vermont, USA
“I became an S2C Practitioner when I saw that there were many nonspeaking individuals in my community whose communication development were being dismissed. S2C can provide people with a reliable way of communicating and providing options for communication choice is important to me.”
Valley Head, West Virginia
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by helping them to discover their voice, their opinions and what is most important to them and be able to communicate these things. “
County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by giving more children in our school the opportunity to use S2C. “
Wilton, CT
“I want every nonspeaker I work with to feel in their bones how much I believe in their abilities, and to convey how capable I believe they are. “
Cumberland, RI
“What I like best about being a practitioner is seeing the intangible things: how someone learns to calm their anxiety, how they develop the ability to manage their body. One of my clients approached his mother and initiated into a long hug, something he’d never done before. “
Los Altos Hills, CA
“Seeing the difference S2C made in the lives of people around me was inspirational. Reliable communication is a basic right, everyone deserves to have access to it. Being able to help families access said communication and truly get to know their nonspeaking family member means the world to me. “
Corvallis, OR
“I became an S2C practitioner to increase communication access and quality in my community. I hope to impact nonspeakers by giving them a tool to make a life their own.”
Alton, UK
“I hope to help non speakers prove their intelligence so that they can access age appropriate learning and a proper education. “
Fresno, CA
” I have a Master’s degree in Counseling specializing in working with individuals with disabilities. As a mom to a non speaker, I’m excited to introduce other families to this life changing modality and grow the community of spellers, advocates and allies in the Central Valley. “
Portland, Oregon
“Since becoming an S2C practitioner, one of the most consistent comments I hear from staff is how regulated my spellers appear and how long they are able to sit, attend, and work during sessions. What looks like “good behavior” from the outside is actually the result of intentional co-regulation, respect, and presuming competence. When spellers feel safe, understood, and supported at a nervous-system level, their bodies no longer have to work so hard to communicate distress.
I’ve learned that regulation comes first. When I slow down, tune in, and help a speller co-regulate, everything else follows. Pairing that regulation with age-appropriate, meaningful material—and teaching a motor-based pathway that finally allows them to express their authentic thoughts—changes everything. Many of my spellers have spent years being underestimated; once they realize they are truly being listened to, their engagement deepens naturally.”
São Bernardo, Brasil
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by opening ways for them to communicate effectively on their letterboards, showing everyone his/her beautiful soul and personality hidden for years behind a body that they couldn’t or still cannot control before S2C.”
Brentwood, California
“I became an S2C practitioner because as an SLP I want to give nonspeakers a voice, by any means. “
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
“I love seeing each speller’s unique personalities, and giving them the opportunity to show the world that there is more to them than we think.”
Bellingham, Washington
“I have been a practitioner for many years (almost a decade!), and while things have evolved since I started, I’ll never forget the first time I got an open response from my first client at GKTC. It was short, maybe 2-3 words, but we did it! And then had a celebratory dance party after that. This client became one of my dearest friends over the years – and it’s his smiling face after that response that will continue to inspire me for many moons to come.”
Tasman, New Zealand
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by always making sure they know that I will never test their knowledge and that I am only there to help them learn a new motor skill. I want them to feel in control of the session and trust they will always be treated the same way through my presumption of competence.“
Litchfield, CT
“I became In S2C Practitioner to help more non-speakers have a voice.”
Sydney NSW, Australia
“I love all of it: the everyday bits — interesting lessons, the motor coaching, seeing the incremental progress; and the special moments: when the penny drops for the non-speaker that the method seems likely to deliver them on the path of real communication, and of course, when the parents hear the thoughts and ideas of their loved one for the first time.”
Canajoharie, NY
“What surprised me the most about working with nonspeakers is how presuming competence alone changes so much”
Manchester, New Hampshire
“I want to share Spelling to Communicate with nonspeaking and unreliable speakering individuals so they may communicate with their loved ones and communities. “
Dayton, Nevada
“It’s a tossup between phenomenal memories and the poetry in their words. Whoever thinks nonspeaking folks with autism don’t have empathy are so so wrong. I have witnessed the complete opposite.”
Fallon, Nevada
“My job as a speech-language pathologist is to allow those to have the power of communication. S2C does just that! “
Petaluma, California, USA
“I love that each day is a new day that I can help someone regulate their body enough in order to build communication skills. At the end of the day, I just want to see the spellers succeed and not only be their regulation partner but also their friend!”
Springboro, Ohio
“Their intelligence knows no bounds. It’s one thing to ‘presume competence,’ but when you really get to know a speller it is so much more profound than just knowing they are able to learn and understand. There is no boundary!”
Colfax, California
“I became a S2C practitioner for my nonspeaking son to become a speller after 14 years of silence. My son is my forever why! “
Hendersonville, TN
“I became an S2C Practitioner because I have always believed that communication is deeper than speech. After years in special education and autism support, I saw how often nonspeaking and minimally speaking individuals were underestimated simply because their bodies could not reliably show what their minds understood. S2C gave me a way to support communication through a lens of presuming competence, regulation, and motor access. I wanted to be part of helping families see what has been there all along.”
Charlotte, NC, USA
“The thing I like most about being a practitioner is getting to see my spellers personalities start to come through during our lessons together!”
Rome, Italy
“It’s not incredible that nonspeakers are intelligent; what’s incredible is that only few people know it. Believe in your nonspeaker! I’m here to help.
Non è incredibile che le persone che non parlano siano intelligenti; quello che è incredibile è che siano in pochi a saperlo. Credi nel tuo nonspeaker! Sono qui per aiutarti.”
Port Huron, Michigan, USA
“I hope that by guiding nonspeakers and their families to access communication and by educating the world about apraxia, we can make real change for this often misunderstood community. By doing so, I believe one day nonspeakers will receive motor based support right from the start.”
Donvale, Melbourne, Australia
“I started working with an 8-year-old student recently. He came inside extremely dysregulated, and he did not want me to come near him. When I came near him, he screamed a lot and would not stay in the room. By session 3, I witnessed a big transformation and could see in his eyes he “got it”, ie. it seemed he understood I could help him. He came up and gave me a big hug, and stayed in the room and was spelling on the boards.”
Brisbane, QLD, Aus
“I hope to impact non speakers by showing them there are people ‘in their corner’. People who presume competence, who believe in their potential and will support them through any challenges.”
Penobscot Bay Region, Maine, USA
“It is my goal to provide the nonspeakers with a way to purposefully communicate and uncover their thoughts and feelings that have been locked inside for far too long.”
Fort Lauderdale, FL
“I believe S2C is the key to opening the door to a world of endless possibilities for nonspeakers. My goal is that no child or adult will be left behind without an effective or reliable way to communicate his or her true voice. The unrealized potential of the nonspeaking population is enormous!”
Kaneohe, Hawaii
“Aloha from the island of O’ahu. I have been an elementary school teacher for several decades, and love working with kids (and adults as well). I have experience teaching students with a variety of needs and even taught for four years in a psychiatric outpatient day treatment program. When I read, the book Underestimated, I knew right away that I wanted to become an S2C practitioner because I love nothing more than to use something that works. The progress I see in my spellers is the highlight of my week!”
Easton, MA
“To support and empower nonspeaking and unreliably speaking individuals to access their voice through a reliable method of communication using spelling.”
Westfield, Indiana
“I strive to bring this reliable form of communication to all of the spellers that I get the opportunity to spell with. It’s time for the rest of the world to see just how BEAUTIFUL their MINDS really are.”
Montreal, Canada
“What I like most about being a practitioner is the joy and relief I get to witness on the faces of the parents as they get to see their children spell for the first time.”
Amsterdam, Netherlands
“I hope to impact nonspeakers by opening doors that have been closed for too long. Doors to learning, relationships, and self-expression. My goal is to build confidence and show them that their voices truly matter. “
Vero Beach, FL
“The best part about becoming an S2C Practitioner is seeing open spellers communicate without barriers. Getting to see their personalities and quirks shine through spelling is the coolest experience. “
Palm Coast, FL
“What I enjoy the most about being a practitioner is witnessing my clients’ inner voices express themselves with autonomy and a sense of agency.”
Knoxville, TN
“I decided to become an S2C practitioner so that my non-speaking clients can have access to another option of communication. I couldn’t know that there was a technique that could help my students voice come to life and not dive all in!.”
Sylvania, Ohio
“My hope is to build a lasting community for all the non-speakers in my area. I want to build something that will allow them to blossom beyond the chains of silence. “
Windsor, Canada
“Nonspeakers don’t need us to speak for them—they need us to believe in them, wait for them, and make space for their voice to be heard.”
St Eugene, Ontario, Canada
“Getting to know a client that I used to work with in school years ago in a new real way and being able to work with him again with S2C really impacted me since I became a practitioner. He is now open on the boards, and we can have a conversation.”
Carmel, New York
“I was inspired to become an S2C Practitioner because I want to do everything that I can to make S2C accessible to as many nonspeakers as possible. My two autistic nonspeaking sons have been communicating via spelling since 2021. We want all families of nonspeakers to experience this miracle. “
Limvady, Northern Ireland
“What I like the most about being an S2C Practitioner is meeting wonderful spellers and their families. “
Alberta, Canada
“I had the pleasure of assisting a speller with some self-advocacy and was awed by their kindness and grace towards people who were mistreating them. They lead with compassion and understanding and then asked for the same in return. It was a beautiful interaction.”
Lisbon, Connecticut
“As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I knew S2C was an essential tool to unlocking communication for nonspeakers. Becoming an S2C practitioner was essential for my clinical toolbox. I enjoy coaching nonspeakers to be able to advocate for themselves by using S2C and teaching parents, caregivers, and other professionals how to support nonspeakers by using S2C.”
Newport, Rhode Island, USA
“I hope to be the biggest cheerleader of spellers. I hope to help spellers actualize their potential by expressing themselves at first on letter boards (basic aided system) and in the future on high tech aided system such as keyboards and iPads. I would love to teach the spellers’ family members and friends everything I learned about balancing cognitive and motor challenges while helping spellers develop motor pathways.”
El Paso, Texas, USA
“I hope to be able to bring S2C to as many nonspeakers in El Paso as possible. I would like to see my clients participate more fully in every area of their lives as they are able to finally have the input they have missed out on for so long without a reliable method of communication.”
Seattle, Washington
“I’m a parent of a speller, so my primary motivation for becoming an S2C practitioner was growing my daughter’s community. She loves her friends and being with other nonspeakers.”
Oviedo, Florida, USA
“I hope to be a safe and encouraging space for the spellers I am lucky enough to work with, My goal is to help them find their voice so they have autonomy over the choices in their life including how best I can help them achieve their goals. I am hoping my spellers will help turn my clinic into the space they need, not the space I think they need.”
Adelaide, South Australia
“I love everything about being an S2C practitioner and an ally to nonspeakers. I’m deeply motivated by the broader impact of this work. Every student who gains access to communication helps shift the entire education system forward and challenges outdated assumptions. “
Kent, UK
“I want nonspeakers to know I will never give up on them, that they can access spelling and that once they do I hope they can find fulfilment and I will be there to champion them always. ”
Kent & London, England, UK
“I am bilingual in English and Swedish – so can work with spellers in both languages. I hope to inspire more people to presume competence with our non speakers. To speak to them age appropriately, offer them age appropriate activities and treat them with the respect they deserve. “
Eau Claire, WI
“What I like most about being a practitioner is being part of a beautiful community I never knew existed for most of my life. I love helping people and families have hope to be able to connect with communication. “
Khomas region, Namibia
“I want to help foster autonomy for nonspeakers, especially in education.”
Vestfold, NO
“The most rewarding part of being a practitioner is giving my students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding, ensuring they are no longer underestimated. Witnessing their progress is incredible, and it is a privilege to be part of their journey as they begin to express themselves openly.”
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
“I have worked with nonspeakers for many years as a speech-language pathologist. S2C checked all the boxes for what I was missing in being able to fully support my nonspeaking clients. “
Zarcero & San Ramón, Costa Rica
“What do I like best about being an S2C Practitioner?
So many things!
1. I get to work with brilliant human beings whose wonderful personalities I can help to reveal to the world.
2. Witnessing the speller’s self-confidence and possibilities in life grow.
3. Helping families and others to presume competence and watching their perspectives change regarding the capabilities and great potential of their loved one.”
Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
“Once I was introduced to the concept of presuming competence and truly began living it with my own child, I was blown away by the ways she began to shift and reveal more of herself. Our relationship and family dynamics transformed in noticeable and beautiful ways as we learned to see and support her differently. I recognized that my child and other nonspeaking individuals deserve access to a communication option that honors their intelligence, autonomy, and unique ways of expressing themselves. I knew I couldn’t stop with my own child. I had to help create more opportunities for other nonspeakers.“
“I became an S2C Practitioner to help non/minimal/unreliably speaking individuals find a way to not only communicate but help with regulation, motor control, and more skills that I learned through practitioner training. The goal still remains to help serve the students at Celebrate the Children, clientele at Communication Options, and beyond. Practitioner training has given me more confidence in helping families as well.”
“I became a practitioner because of my twin sister. One of my favorite quotes from her is, ‘Finding my communication brought me happiness and hopefulness.’ Watching her gain access to communication showed me how life changing it can be. There is something truly magical about seeing someone share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with the world after they have been waiting so long to be heard.“
New York, New York, USA
“I want every nonspeaker to be presumed competent from the first meeting. I want them to have consistent, respectful, unhurried access to a communication method that works for their body. And I want the systems around them — schools, providers, agencies — to catch up to what nonspeakers have been telling us all along, which is that they are here, they are thinking, and they have things to say.”
Akron, Ohio, USA
“A movement is in the works, that will allow a people group who has been oppressed for generations, to have freedom. I am humbled and excited to be a part of it. “
Cleveland & Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
“I hope to build a community where nonspeakers feel respected, heard, and empowered. I also hope to educate families, educators, and the community about the importance of presuming competence and providing meaningful opportunities for communication, learning, friendship, and inclusion.”
Rockford, Illinois, USA
“I hope to be part of a growing network of practitioners that believe in nonspeakers, look beyond their outer appearance and appreciate the richness they bring to their circle(s). “
Middleton, Wisconsin, USA
“I have a calming and grounding effect. I always focus on coregulation with my clients. I hope to be easy on their nervous system as non speakers learn and practice spelling. I am patient, gracious and uplifting while I strive to build self compassion and confidence. I also look forward to building a community of spellers in my area. It is such an adventure to be the first practitioner in the area.”
Crawley, West Sussex, UK
“I hope to enrich nonspeakers lives by building their ability to communicate, and bring the fun to sessions“
