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its a game changer

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What is Spelling to Communicate?

Spelling to Communicate (S2C™) teaches individuals with motor challenges the purposeful motor skills necessary to point to letters to spell as an alternative means of communication (AAC – augmentative and alternative communication other than oral speech to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas).

The goal of S2C is to help nonspeaking spellers achieve synchrony between their brain and their body. We address the motor differences that affect an individual’s ability to communicate by teaching them how to physically reach out, point, and touch a letterboard positioned in front of them to spell out the thoughts and ideas they want to communicate.

The ultimate goal of S2C is to help nonspeakers communicate anything they want to share by teaching and practicing motor skills. This creates new neural pathways that become myelinated through repeated practice, improving motor planning and control.

Reconsider your viewpoint

During our annual SpellX event, Damon challenged traditional thinking about nonspeaking autism. SpellX is a worldwide virtual event with incredible speakers from the spellerverse who create short presentations. In addition, I-ASC hosts multiple events and monthly free webinars. 

Damon eloquently explains his struggles as a nonspeaker with Autism and how people make assumptions about things he can and can’t control, and how each has nothing to do with the other. His intelligence shines through as you begin to see his understanding of the world around him, his empathy for others and how spelling has changed his life.

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I-ASC featured in film and print

I-ASC spellers on screen

Winner of 5 cinematic awards, The Reason I Jump is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida’s revelatory insights into autism with intimate portraits of five remarkable nonspeakers. Moments in the lives of each character are linked to Naoki’s journey through narrated passages from his writing which reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film weaves a rich tapestry leading us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.

Debunking the myths

About one-third of autistic people have limited ability to use speech. Some have learned to communicate by pointing to letters of the alphabet. This method is controversial because it requires the assistance of another person—someone who holds a letterboard in front of users and so could theoretically cue them to point to particular letters. Indeed, some scientists have dismissed the possibility that any nonspeaking autistic person who communicates with assistance could be conveying their own thoughts. Hear from Spellers and their caregivers how spelling with a letterboard or keyboard has changed their lives. 

Leading the way in nonspeaking research

In the research study “Eye-tracking reveals agency in assistant autistic communication,” I-ASC provided design input, subject recruitment, and subject run. Head-mounted eye-tracking was used on a sample of nine nonspeaking autistic I-ASC letterboard users to investigate communicative agency. They measured the speed and accuracy with which they looked at and pointed to letters as they responded to novel questions—their response times reflected planning and production processes characteristic of fluent spelling in non-autistic typists. The speed, accuracy, timing, and visual fixation patterns suggest that participants pointed to letters they selected themselves, not letters they were directed to by the assistant.

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Change the life of a nonspeaking child or adult

With considerable financial obstacles for families these days, we don’t want finances to be a barrier to accessing communication. In 2021 we donors helped start the Speller Access Fund, which helps new spellers who need financial assistance to afford S2C sessions with a registered S2C Practitioner. Qualified new spellers receive a full set of stencil letterboards, two workbooks, and vouchers for 5 sessions with a registered S2C Practitioner participating in the Speller Access Fund Program. 

help us grow

320 +
Certified Practitioners Trained due to your commitment
188
free Lessons you've allowed spellers to recieve
$ 30,000
raised for our speller access fund
13
countries our spellerverse has expanded to BECAUSE YOU'VE GIVeN
396
Events You've made possible that empower nonspeakers

Support Nonspeakers for Global Change

To ensure access to communication for all nonspeaking people, insurance coverage and wide availability are essential. I-ASC seeks to make spelling and the relevant supports accessible to every person who is unable to use speech as a reliable means of communication, regardless of geography, age, socio-economic or educational status.

Donations to I-ASC help us pursue our vision that nonspeaking individuals will have equitable and supported access to all aspects of life-long education, employment, relationships, and community by increasing access to communication through training, education, advocacy, and research.

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