What is S2C?

Spelling to Communicate (S2C) is a form of Assistive Technology that supports individuals who are non-speaking, minimally speaking, or unreliably speaking. S2C assists individuals to achieve purposeful motor skills that allow them to progress through a series of spelling boards. Each series of boards builds competencies resulting in greater levels of fluency and mastery. Spelling to communicate is a unique form of communication supporting motor skills that strengthen brain-to-body connections and gives non-speaking, minimally speaking, or unreliable-speaking individuals a means of communication.

Mission Statement

Our mission is clear and simple: we “presume competence” in nonspeaking, minimally speaking and unreliable speaking individuals and know that there is a voice in each of them. We will be there as their communication regulation partners and support their efforts with all the tools and resources at our disposal. Our ultimate goal is to create a thriving community of non-speaking, minimally speaking, or unreliable-speaking individuals who have mastered S2C and strive to gain more control over their own lives and outcomes.

Philosophy

Our philosophy begins with providing a regulating environment in which we presume competence in our spellers and practice on making brain and body connections.
We work on coaching the body to be a productive communication partner to our clients. We believe this work helps to support the speller to then use spelling to communicate as a means to effectively communicate their wants, needs, and opinions and to become active advocates for themselves.

Lastly, we:

- Presume Competence
- Myelinate neuron pathways with consistent practice
- Support Regulation
- Coach motor

Science

There are many different areas of the brain that are involved in understanding language, producing speech, and motor movement.

Source: Dr. Sana Suri, Oxford University

There are two areas of the brain responsible for language. When we listen to someone speak, speech sounds enter through our auditory system and are received in Wernicke's area, which is responsible for comprehension. As we listen and understand what another person is saying, we are forming thoughts and opinions in Broca's area. This process occurs in the brain before we even produce speech to respond.

Producing speech, however, takes place in a separate area of the brain, called the Motor Cortex. Speech production is a complex fine motor task. 75% of the Motor Cortex, also known as the Motor Strip, is responsible for the digits and articulators (mouth, lips, vocal cords, etc.).

Our spellers have difficulty with producing meaningful speech because of apraxia, where the brain knows what it wants to do, but the body has difficulty planning and executing motor. Through Spelling to Communicate, we coach the speller's body to point to letters on letterboards to create new neural pathways in the brain. This leads to more purposeful motor, accuracy on the letterboards, and meaningful communication.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse