Inner Voice

12/01/2026

At least one third of autistic people have limited or no speech. Most nonspeaking autistic people are never provided alternatives that would enable the full range of expression that speech allows, si...

07/01/2026

When following an instruction has absolutely nothing to do with understanding it.

A motor nightmare. Someone says, "Bri, get the blue cap on the table behind you." I know what a cap is and I know blue. I know left and right, in front and behind. I know it all. Yet I cannot navigate my body to execute your directions.

Pointing isn't particularly helpful because I have trouble operating my ocular muscles like everything else. I remember people claiming I didn't have the joint attention to follow a point. Who comes up with this stuff? Visuals won't help. I know what it looks like. I just can't get myself to follow your plan. And I can't make my hand grab the right thing when my eyes do find it.

You might ask how I can swipe that candy from the same table the moment you leave the room, and all I can say is my impulses drive my body a whole lot more effectively than the rest of my brain.

[Image: Shoulders up of Bri, with short brown curly hair, looking off to the right side of frame and smiling, wearing a maroon shirt, olive green jacket, blue and gray necklace. Sitting in the grass in a large field with trees in the background.]

22/12/2025

This is going to be amazing!

Join us for the S2C Summit: Africa!
Calling all advocates, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, families, and spellers!

Registration for the S2C Summit: Africa is now OPEN! 📣

📅 February 20 & 21, 2026
📍 Trinityhouse, Centurion, South Africa
🔗 Learn more & register: https://i-asc.org/s2c-summit-africa/

Hosted by: I-ASC, , Spell It Out S2C Services, ,

For too long nonspeaking individuals have been sidelined in the conversations that shape their lives and it’s time to change that.

You can expect:
- Insightful discussions & expert panels
- Lived-experience perspectives from families and spellers
- Strategies to aid in regulation and empowerment of nonspeakers
- A chance to get to know the local spelling community

Whether you’re a speller, caregiver, professional, or ally, your presence matters. Join us in Centurion, South Africa to ensure everyone has a seat and a voice at the table.

[image: Graphic for the S2C Summit Africa 2026. Text lists Feb 20 – S2C Practitioner Day and Feb 21 – General Admission in Centurion, South Africa. Includes a letterboard and pencil, a “Register Now” button, partner logos, and a ribbon in African flag colors.]

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25/11/2025

So true Lian.

💛💡Well said Lian….💡🧑🏼‍🏫🧑🏼‍🏫💛

17/11/2025

Please save the date! We are so excited that Elizabeth Vosseller will be coming to South Africa to help us host our first S2C conference. It’s for parents, practitioners, the spellers and anyone who you think may benefit for learning more about S2C. Community building!

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.

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.