Speller's Stories

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.