Two CRPs are Better than One

We as nonspeakers always must rely to some degree on other people to make our thoughts known.These people are known as Communication and Regulation Partners or CRPS. For many of us it is our mom or dad who becomes our main CRP. That’s great and all but as much as I want to communicate with them, I also don’t want to tell mom everything. Like any other young man or woman or teenager, it would be nice to have some independence from our parents. We want to talk about girls (lol). And sometimes it is fun to talk about our parents too. There are tons of reasons to have multiple CRPs. It can be really challenging to only have one person to communicate with. Imagine if you could only talk if your parent or spouse was with you too. It’s pretty limiting especially when they can’t be glued to your side every minute of the day. It is even harder for our friends who have to rely on a practitioner to be able to spell. Parents please practice with your kids. One hour a week is torture. Imagine getting all you want or need to say out in just one hour a week. And remember that speakers can typically say a lot more in one hour than we can spell. On another side of things, when someone only has a parent, emotions can get in the way. It can be very difficult to stay regulated when trying to communicate with your mom about something emotional. Moms are trying, but they get emotional too. So many things go into building a CRP relationship. It is scary to think about what would happen to my communication if I only had one CRP and something happened to them. It is a real concern for us. Things happen, life happens. It is definitely a source of anxiety for many spellers and, let’s be honest, we already have enough of that. Our lives are not the easiest. We have many limitations, trauma, anxiety, yet most of us are some of the most positive people you will meet. Don’t let that lead to complacency and comfort of routine. If your spelling loved one only has one CRP, now is a great time to set a new year’s resolution to add at least one more.  It will take work and practice but the importance is beyond measure. And be sure to include your speller in the conversation about who they prefer as their next partner if possible. Consult us on all big, or small, decisions. It’s our life, help us live it fully. It is the best gift you can give us.

Remember all CRPs need proper training from a Practitioner. Ask your practitioner about it and keep an eye out for I-ASC’s upcoming CRP training.