New to Spelling?

We’re here
to help.

9 Steps to get started

1) Enroll in Training and/or Hire a Practioner

Enroll in training to become a practitioner or parent training course. Hire a practitioner for in-person or online support. There are several options, click the button for a link to a list of organizations.

2) Join Groups & Explore Websites

Main Websites: 

International Association for Spelling as Communication

    • Don’t overlook their blog page that covers a variety of topics and is written by both spellers and professionals! 

    • Also, don’t overlook their research page if you are interested in reading studies that are relevant to the efficacy of S2C. 

SPELLERS

Communication4All

Full of FREE or donation-based resources and video “classes” to follow along with while learning at home

Additional Websites: 

Join Facebook Groups

Local Facebook Groups

Worldwide Facebook Groups

4) Gain Knowledge about Spellers from Spellers

Read books and blog posts by nonspeakers, follow nonspeakers on social media, and attend webinars with nonspeakers to gain knowledge and insight about their lived experiences with apraxia and using the method of spelling or typing as communication.

5) Presume Competence

The least dangerous assumption is to presume competence and to provide opportunities consistent with high expectations that are age-appropriate. Presuming competence is not the same as presuming knowledge. Instead of assuming your child/student/patient knows everything already, you are assuming they are capable of learning anything.

7) Feed the Brain!

Start exposing your speller to age-appropriate experiences and materials – whether these are educational, recreational, or just new and interesting things! Trust that your speller has a drive and desire to learn and experience new things, even if they can’t show it. This could look like reading age-appropriate books together, watching age-appropriate and novel movies, listening to educational or interesting podcasts, or anything else you can think of!

Sometimes, people with apraxia (or other related sensory-motor challenges) can get stuck in "loops" (repetitive actions) and may not seem interested in doing age-appropriate things. TRUST that they are in there and listening, and expose them to new and interesting things by reading to them, playing them videos, playing podcasts out loud, going out into the community, etc.!  Here are some free online ideas for things like that.

6) Keep in Mind: Listening Does Not Have a “Look”

Sometimes listening can look different for different people. Not everyone listens best when they are sitting still, making eye contact, or facing the person speaking to them! People with motor and sensory differences often listen best in unique ways in order to process things – so despite what a person’s body is doing, trust that they are absorbing what is being talked about to them or around them.

8) Learn about Purposeful Movement & Self-Regulation Strategies

Many Spellers benefit from purposeful movement exercises and self-regulation strategies. These are activities for Spellers to calm their bodies and sensory systems to help them spell.

Start practicing purposeful movement any chance you get, and don’t forget to coach the MOTOR instead of coaching the brain! 

9) This is a Marathon, not a Sprint

Start slowly with your practice sessions of spelling. Start with 5 minutes and work your way up to longer sessions. Be patient and kind to yourself and your Speller. Try to remember you aren't testing your Speller, you are practicing Spelling to Communicate. Seek out support from others.