Inner Voice

10/11/2025

A poem by Mika who is an unreliable speaker.

30/09/2025

Today is nonspeakers awareness day. To raise awareness and acceptance for this special but misunderstood group of humans, we share part of a blog written by nonspeaker Akha Khumalo.

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.