Where Communication Becomes Possible.
What is Spelling to Communicate (S2C)?
Imagine having so many thoughts, ideas, and feelings, but your body doesn’t cooperate to get them out. For nonspeakers, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals, this is a daily reality. Challenges like apraxia and sensory processing disorder can result in a brain-body disconnect that can significantly impact speech. The motor-based, evidence-informed approach of S2C reminds us that the mind is full, even when words are hard to speak.
The Spelling to Communicate method brings synchronicity between the motor and cognitive systems. It bridges the gap through guided motor coaching, helping learners develop purposeful, accurate movements to point to letters and spell words. With consistent motor coaching, learners move from spelling words, sentences, and paragraphs, to complex ideas and thoughts; unlocking the ability to truly express themselves.
Over time, through practice, individuals can eventually:
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Share personal thoughts, stories, and opinions
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Build independence and self-advocacy
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Connect meaningfully with family, peers, and community
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Engage in social, recreational, and employment opportunities
S2C is more than a method, it’s a bridge between mind and body,
giving voice to ideas that were always there.
Apraxia and the Mind-Body Disconnect
Apraxia is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to carry out purposeful movements. It’s not about understanding or intelligence, it’s about reliability. For people with apraxia, the brain knows exactly what it wants the body to do (i.e.: speak, point, type, print), but the body doesn’t always cooperate. This is what we call the mind-body disconnect.
This disconnect can affect any part of the body and may show up in different ways:
• Speech: coordinating the mouth to speak
• Gestures: pointing, waving, or initiating movement
• Eyes: shifting gaze or tracking
• Whole-body regulation: staying still, initiating action, or following through
Why It Matters
When we understand apraxia, we shift from asking “Why won’t they?” to “How can I support?" Recognizing apraxia shifts our perspective from judgment to compassion. It invites us to rethink what communication looks like; asking us to trust the person, not the performance.
It’s a call to connect, co-regulate, and believe.
Spelling to Communicate is built on a foundational truth: the issue is not cognition, it’s motor. For nonspeakers, minimal speakers, and unreliable speakers, the challenge isn’t knowing what to say. It’s getting their body to say it.
Apraxia creates a disconnect between intention and action. The brain sends a message, but the body doesn’t reliably follow through.
Spelling to Communicate Doesn’t Test Knowledge, it Supports Purposeful Movement.
Why It Works
S2C meets apraxia head-on. It doesn’t ask the body to do what it can’t (like speak on command). Instead, it offers a clear, repeatable motor plan: pointing to letters that the body can learn over time.
