I first heard about Spelling to Communicate (S2C) three or four years ago when someone from work sent me a podcast from a father of a son with autism sharing about the breakthrough in communication for his non-verbal son using the S2C method. I remember thinking, yes this is great for that family, but I can’t see how helpful it would be to fly with Micah across country to try yet another program just to come home with yet another failed attempt to really help him. A heart can only take so many dashed hopes without starting to shut down. Fast forward to early last year when I heard about a movie called “Spellers” about the success stories using S2C. I actually signed up to watch the video on line…and missed it. I think I just spaced the date and time I was to sign in for the showing.
Fast forward again to last fall when Erin, the family friend I wrote about last month, told me about a family she was doing some work for in MA who have a nonverbal child with autism who had found S2S to be very helpful for their child. Erin asked me if I had seen the “Spellers” film and I had to admit that I had signed up for it but missed it. Both Erin and I said we needed to find that film and watch it. But we did not. Then less than a month ago, Julie, a friend I have made via our pursuit of housing for our adult children’s group, told about the breakthrough her son had using the Spelling to Communicate method with a local practitioner. This got my attention big time as Julie’s son has Level 3 Autism (most severe) like Micah, he is non-verbal with limited communication. Julie sent me information about the book “Underestimated” and suggested I read the book and contact the S2C practitioner that her son has been working with. I ordered the book, deciding to read it before making contact with anyone else.
The book is a must read for any parent of a nonverbal child with autism. I was still guarding my heart as we have tried so things to help Micah, from extensive therapies; 21 years of schooling; special diets; faith healers; infusions; and a boat load of medications with no real changes in his ability to communicate. As I have written before, Micah is what is called an “unreliable speaker” meaning he might say “no” when he does want something, or at times the “yes” comes out easily. Suffice to say after reading the book, I contacted Julie to share my cautious excitement about this method. Julie was supportive and suggested I talk with her husband Mark as he has been taking the lead in learning the method and taking their son to his sessions. The call with Mark enforced the feeling that this method was worth a try. I made an appointment to have a phone conversation with Beth Frede, the S2C practitioner.
Beth was so kind and supportive on the phone, explaining how the first session would unfold if I decided to bring Micah to meet her. I told her I really did not want to set Micah or myself up for another stressful negative experience and she reassured me that we would know in the first session if Micah could benefit from S2C. This statement brought the risk factor down to a manageable level in my mind; at least we would not have to wait long to see results if they were to happen. I also shared with Beth that Micah’s father was a good speller, but I am not; spellcheck saves me constantly and sometimes even spellcheck gives up as it cannot figure out what word I am trying to spell. I wondered if I have passed on my spelling challenges to Micah, and if so, would that hinder him. Again, Beth was reassuring, she did not think this would be a problem. I set up the appointment for this past Saturday. I should note, Beth’s office is only 45 minutes from our home…no trip to California.
You need to read the book to better understand how S2C works, but I will try to give a quick summary. Beth sat next to Micah while Melody (Micah’s long term support staff) and I sat in chairs behind them. Micah was visibly stressed as Beth began to read Micah a few paragraphs about Louis Braille, about his life and how he developed the braille system for the blind. Micah did not appear to be even listening as he was grinding his hands into his forehead, a sign he was not happy to be there. He turned around frequently to look at me, probably wondering why I brought him to the session.
After Beth read the first paragraph she showed Micah how to hold the pencil and poke it through the letters in letter boards one at a time to spell the answer to questions from the paragraph. What happened next blew me away…Micah, without seeing the words, spelled correctly words that I cannot spell correctly without spellcheck assisting me. Let me say that again: MICAH SPELLS BETTER THAN I DO!!! Not only that, but his retention of what was read to him was amazing. He remembered what year Louis was born in, his place of birth, his father’s occupation, things that I could not recall after hearing the paragraph one time. The session went for 50 minutes and Micah went from grinding his head to smiling when Beth praised him on how well he was doing. A few other paragraphs about Lois were read with Micah correctly recalling and spelling the words with some guidance if he poked through the wrong letter the first time (it was usually right next to the right letter). Beth said this is not uncommon as he is just learning the gross motor movements needed, which will take some time to feel natural for him.
Here are just a few words he spelled after hearing the paragraphs read to him one time: FORMATION; UNIVERSAL; MUSEUM; UPHOLSTERY; INADEQUATE; CHARLES BARBIER ( name of person who developed night writing, all I could recall was his first name was Charles, Micah knew the whole name and spelled it out) ….and many other words. To say that he blew us all away is a vast understatement. But there is more!
In one of the paragraphs that Beth read to him there was a statement that blind people used to to have to survive as beggars before they had braille to help them. Beth said to Micah “What is the old adage….Beggars can’t be__________________________. ” Micah typed in CHOSERS… he just missed one O which Beth said it was a common challenge as it is harder for Micah to poke into the same letter twice in a row as his brain does not process the double movement at first, but he will get it in time. I know I have not ever said that saying to Micah as it would make no sense to him (I thought), but he knew it, it was just locked away in his brain. The other question she asked him that was not in what was read to him was “Tactile = our sense of touch; what is our sense of hearing?” Micah spelled in the letters AUDITORY.
I know I don’t need to tell those of you who know Micah and his story that this is life changing in so many ways that I cannot yet begin to hope or wrap my mind around the possibilities. I understand if you are skeptical, believe me I was as well, and would not have believed it unless I witnessed it. Micah has only had one session and I hope to learn the techniques to support him as he learns. If you read the book, you will see how far the others in the book have progressed, it may be a longer process, but Micah has already proven his auditory comprehension and spelling skills are remarkable. Beth said nonverbal people with autism have honed those skills to survive as they listen and observe intensely to all that goes on around them. I cannot wait to take him back next week.
When Micah was little and we were frantically trying to find a program to help him progress, Micah’s father and I used to talk about the need to keep trying until we found the silver bullet to help Micah. Somewhere in the 30 years of his life, I decided I needed to just accept and love him as he was and quite frankly, I gave up the hope of significant change. I am so thankful that we have been led to S2C. I wish I had followed up earlier on the nudges that came at me time and time again, but there is no looking back. There are so many possibilities for Micah ahead. Who knows, I have been writing this blog” The Micah Lens ” for a few years now to help share and educate about life with autism; perhaps someday Micah will be the one to share his story with you. Nothing will make me happier.
Jan Lessard Peightell April 22, 2024