Inner Voice

23/09/2025

20/08/2025

A great article about why we don’t ask yes/no questions.

We don't ask yes/no questions in S2C.
Keep reading to find out why!

1. For our Spellers, communication is limited to when/how often the letterboard is put infront of them. Since that is the case, we always want our questions to be as broad as possible to open the floor for them to communicate anything that they would like to say. Asking a question that only requires a YES or NO limits their expression if you take the board away after you have received the answer that you were looking for. But what if the answer is not as simple as a yes or a no? In the English language we have words like "but", "however", "and" that allow us to add additional thoughts to our answer. But our spellers cannot do this if you take the board away before they can follow up on their answer. Instead, try something like "How do you feel about...?" Now, you are leaving the door wide open for any form of expression and answer.

2. The other issue here is that over-practiced motor patterns become automatic which can lead to loops. This can happen on the letterboards too if you are not careful. It is why we make sure to always have variety in lesson topics and vocabulary to ensure that practice of motor patterns is to the individual letters versus an entire word. The last thing we want is these loops to impede true authentic communication.

Keep these things in mind the next time you want to hear your Speller's opinion. Leave the door wide open for them to answer in any way that they would prefer.

28/07/2025

What an honour to attend Motormorphosis. The only conference I have even been to where there were more spellers and families in attendance than practitioners. A space of love and acceptance, of fun and of learning. So many excellent presentations ranging from research to lived experience. To meet and connect with like minded people from around the world was such joy. My head and my heart are full.

12/07/2025

I am absolutely thrilled to be attending Motormorphosis this year. Looking forward to meeting and learning from researchers, S2C practitioners and the real experts - nonspeakers, minimal speakers and unreliable speakers.

04/07/2025

July is disability awareness month. An estimate 16% of the world’s population have a disability. Awareness. Acceptance. Inclusion.

25/06/2025

Imagine being unable to speak but yet having a full inner world filled with thoughts, ideas, and feelings all trapped inside. For the estimated 30 million nonspeaking individuals around the world, that’s a daily reality. However, an innovative teaching method called spelling to communicate, or S2C...

20/06/2025

01/06/2025

Akha was invited to speak in Durban this weekend.
“TRUST THAT YOUR CHILD IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THEY APPEAR”.

25/05/2025

(*and other forms of spelling and typing as communication) When exploring opinions on Spelling to Communicate (S2C) and other forms of spelling and typing as communication online, various perspectives emerge. Some express unfavorable views, often rooted in outdated assumptions about autistic individ...

01/05/2025

This is so beautiful in the vulnerability it conveys. We always need to do better.

“The belief that we are capable is everything. Your sea of beliefs is where we (Nonspeakers) sink or swim.” ❤️
-Emily

30/04/2025

I love this