My husband, Chase, and I are parents to two boys - Chase Jr. and Miles. Our oldest, Chase, is a nonspeaker with Autism - a label I approach cautiously, as it often carries with it assumptions, misconceptions and limiting beliefs. Though he developed typical language early on, he lost it between 18 - 24 months and received his Autism diagnosis at 2.5 years old.

For 12 years, we pursued every evidence-based therapy, alternative intervention, and carefully vetted "woo-woo" approach imaginable, hoping to reconnect with his voice and unlock his inner world. While spoken language hasn’t emerged (and might not), a breakthrough came in 2021 when we discovered Spelling to Communicate (S2C) as a form of communication. It was during his second session, when Chase answered a question about the topic being read and spelled “KUIPER BELT,” that fundamentally shifted my perspective on non-speakers and presuming competence. In the years since, this method - using letter boards to spell - has unlocked Chase’s profound intelligence, revealing thoughts and ideas of his that we had longed to hear for years!

Witnessing this miracle first hand inspired me to learn more! In June of 2025, I completed an intensive 6 month training course to become a Spellers Method Provider. My mission now is to empower nonspeakers, minimal speakers, and unreliable speakers with a method of communication that will allow them to share their deeply profound thoughts, insights, creativity, and voices with the rest of the world.

Spelling on letter boards is a transformative method of communication that allows nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals to communicate effectively.

Traditional forms of communication—such as verbal speech, typing, and writing—rely heavily on many fine motor skills. For individuals who struggle with these movements (mostly due to whole body apraxia), society has often assumed a lack of intelligence or ability to communicate. This outdated belief has limited their opportunities to connect with the world around them.

Unlike traditional communication methods, spelling on letter boards relies on gross motor skills of their arm, such as pointing to letters using a pencil or finger. This movement originates from the elbow, making it more accessible for individuals who struggle with fine motor control.

Through structured lessons, spellers practice pointing to letters on a hierarchy of letter boards, eventually working toward typing on a keyboard—a process that requires dedication, practice and patience, but yields life-changing results.

When your speller steps into my office, I always start with one foundational principle: presume competence. I treat every individual with respect and engage them in an age-appropriate manner. Together, we focus on building gross motor skills through consistent practice. While the journey requires hard work, the ultimate reward is extraordinary—the ability for your loved one to share their thoughts, feelings, and dreams with the world.

To learn more about Spellers Method visit: https://www.spellers.com/faqs