Do you think it was from a trusted healthcare provider?
How do families of nonspeakers learn about using letterboards and keyboards for communication? It should be from trusted healthcare providers because every nonspeaker has one. But that’s not happening now!
A quick survey of 10 spellers showed the following:
# who learned from healthcare professionals: 0
# who learned from other speller families: 8
# who learned by searching the internet: 1
# who learned from friends and neighbors: 1
Cian Fullam, a West Coast speller, tells a wonderful story about how his family learned. His neighbor was traveling and saw someone using a letterboard to communicate. Instead of just watching, he started a conversation with the speller and learned all about it. When he got home, he shared the information with the family of the nonspeaker he knew. The rest is history! Cian is now an active member of Spellers and Allies.
Isn’t it time we changed this situation? Why are nonspeakers waiting for a fortuitous circumstance to learn about spelling? Why aren’t our healthcare providers giving us useful information about accessing communication, like S2C?
We all visit our healthcare providers and rely on their advice. Currently, most seem like the neighbor in the anecdote above – curious, open minded, willing to trust their own powers of observation, but uninformed about spelling.
Spellers and practitioners, please step up to get the healthcare professionals you know to spread the word about the power of spelling. There’s one little thing for you to do. Mail or give our educational handout and cover letter to them. Please check out the DisAbility Aware Healthcare Campaign webpage. You will find what you need to move this information into the hands of people who can make a difference.
Let’s make sure our healthcare teams know how spelling is a lifesaver! 2.3 million nonspeakers are still in silence. Each of us taking a small action can make a collective big difference. Use our materials to educate your team today!
And please share YOUR story about how your family learned about spelling by commenting on this blog and reaching out to spellers-allies@i-asc.org.
About the author
My name is Ben Crimm. I am autistic and apraxic and have anxiety. In 2017 when I was 25 years old, I started using a letterboard to communicate. I celebrate the first day on the road to full communication as my milestone ‘bonus birthday’ because my life was born anew then. It took me more than a year to become proficient enough to carry on conversations with my immediate family and another year to feel comfortable talking with friends and people I did not know.
I am so grateful to be able to tell my family when I have a headache and to talk with them and my therapist about my anxiety. Without that ability, I would not get the treatment and tools that I need.
My biggest pleasure in life now, other than hanging out with my 6 month old niece, is working with my friends in the Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network. The work is so fulfilling, and we are having an impact. Plus I have a circle of friends that is ever-expanding.
One Response
Spellers movie was a life changer for me; I have 2 grandsons who are non speaking, one is 8 in May, other 6 in August. Younger brother is starting to talk and trying so hard to communicate…. Spellers gives me Hope!❤️