What is S2C?
According to I-ASC (International Association for Spelling as Communication), “Spelling to Communicate empowers nonspeakers to overcome communication barriers posed by traditional oral communication by pointing to letters on a board as an alternative means of communication. This innovative method promotes synchrony between cognitive and motor systems. Through repeated practice, new neural pathways become myelinated. By teaching the motor skills necessary to point on a letterboard positioned in front of them, nonspeakers improve motor planning and control. This enables them to communicate their thoughts and ideas quickly and accurately.
Apraxia is the main reason many nonspeakers can’t speak reliably at all. It makes it difficult to initiate and follow through with actions, and often gives the impression that nonspeakers don’t understand words or instructions. This combined with sensory processing issues and reactions to stimuli, leaves our nonspeaking community misunderstood.
It is time to break down these barriers and build a world where every voice is heard and understood.”
The Process…
I will meet for an initial one on one to get to know your family and your speller. From there, we will meet up as often as you like and do sessions together. A typical session will look like me reading an age appropriate lesson broken down into chunks. After each chunk, I will help motor coach the speller to poke letters to answer questions from what they just heard.
The goal is to help myelinate their pathways and help their brain body disconnect in the form of poking the letter. We will go through different stages of the boards together (the 3 boards, the 26 stencil, and laminate) with the goal of getting the speller open. Open means the speller is able to communicate their thoughts and ideas with us with no prompting needed.
When it comes to spelling, I completely understand that each speller and practitioner spelling together is like learning to dance with a new dance partner. You don’t just get good at something automatically the first try. It may take a couple of sessions for it to click. Patience and flexibility is key. Each speller is unique. For some it may take just a couple of session for it to click and for others it may take years. All of this is completely normal.
The important part is to keep practicing and working on the motor. The more CRP’s (Communication Regulation Partners) and Practitioner’s a speller has the more opportunity they have to be open and build a community of people around them they can talk to.
Scaffolded Approach
First Level: 3 Stencil boards This helps support the motor and gives spellers a bigger target as they build new neural pathways.
Second Level: 26 Stencil board This increases the demand for spellers and is used for helping build accuracy.
Level 3: Laminate board This is for when spellers are fully open (can communicate their thoughts) and do not need any more gestural prompting.
Level 4: Keyboard This is the highest level of independence a speller can get to to be able to communicate their thoughts.
About Kara Sanders:
Certified S2C Practitioner as of December 2024
Welcome! I am so excited that you are interested in starting your S2C journey.
My name is Kara Sanders and I live in Boise, Idaho with my wonderful husband, our dog, and our cat. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Secondary Education. I am a former English teacher of 4 years and feel very passionately that everyone has the right to communicate.
I got involved in the S2C community starting in 2024: although, my journey with nonspeakers begins in 2016. In college, I met a family that I began to nanny for who has a daughter that is nonspeaking diagnosed PANDAS, ASD, and OCD. Through my 8+ years of experience working with her, I have learned so much and am forever grateful to have her in my life. It was because of her that I was introduced to the documentary “Spellers”. This movie ignited a fire in me, and in May of 2024 I began the training process to become an S2C practitioner through I-ASC (International Association of Spelling as Communication).
I have taken hours of coursework and classes to be certified to do this and love being able to share the joys of spelling within this wonderful community. I currently have 25 spellers in the Boise area and 5 near Pocatello that range in age from 5-33 years old. Please know that I am honored to even be considered a part of your speller’s life and welcome any and all questions. I can’t wait to meet you and your speller soon!
About Sierra French:
Certified S2C Practitioner as of October 2026
Welcome! I'm so glad you're here and considering Spelling to Communicate (S2C) to be a part of your journey.
My name is Sierra French, and I live in Boise, Idaho with my husband and our two dogs. I have a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Health from Northwest Nazarene University, and I believe all individuals deserve to find meaningful ways to communicate and connect with the world around them.
In the summer of 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Stella and spend time watching her communicate through spelling. I can still remember sitting there in amazement, hardly believing what I was witnessing. It challenged everything I thought I knew about communication and opened my eyes to the incredible potential that had been there all along.
I knew I wanted to be part of this community and help nonspeakers access the communication they deserve. Watching Stella find her voice ignited a passion in me to help other spellers do the same. To presume competence, support purposeful motor skills, and create opportunities for every individual to share their thoughts, ideas, and personality with the world. I have been able to pursue formal training through the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC), where I am becoming a certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) practitioner.
I know that beginning this journey can feel both exciting and overwhelming. My hope is to create a welcoming environment where your speller feels supported, celebrated, and empowered every step of the way. I believe every person deserves to have their thoughts heard, their voice respected, and the opportunity to communicate in a way that works for them. It is truly an honor to be invited into each family's journey, and I don't take that responsibility lightly. Whether you're just beginning to explore S2C or you're looking for continued support, I'm excited to walk alongside you. I can't wait to meet you and your speller!
I-ASC