How Is Spellers Method Different From Other Spelling Methods?
One of the most frequent questions I receive is: How is Spellers Method different from the other spelling-based communication methods out there? It’s a great question—especially since Spellers Method is relatively new and emerging as a trusted approach for nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or unreliably speaking individuals with motor disabilities like apraxia.
A Brief History of Spelled Communication
Spelled communication has actually been around for decades. Occupational therapists, like myself, have used letter boards with individuals who suffered strokes or other motor impairments as a means of communication. The concept of pointing to letters to communicate is not new.
The controversy began with Facilitated Communication (FC)—a method in which a communication partner physically supports the speller’s arm or hand to help them point to letters. While FC provided many nonspeaking individuals a way to express themselves, critics claimed that the communication partners were intentionally guiding the spellers, casting doubt on the validity of the communication. Despite this, FC remains in use today. In fact, I currently work with clients who began with FC but are now seeking to build the motor independence to spell or type on their own.
The Rise of Rapid Prompting Method (RPM)
The Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) was developed by Soma Mukhopadhyay for her son, Tito, who is nonspeaking but highly intelligent. Soma created RPM to teach academics to her son using letter boards, recognizing that his challenges were motor-based, not cognitive. Over time, other families sought her help, and RPM evolved into a method for academics.
While RPM has helped many, parents often share that it can be difficult to replicate at home. They watch their child succeed with a trained RPM practitioner but feel discouraged when they can’t achieve the same results themselves. Full disclosure – as an occupational therapist, I’ve studied RPM through webinars and conversations with families but have not completed the RPM training offered by Soma. I have read her books and educated myself as much as possible to learn more about how she supports the sensory motor differences of our spellers. I appreciate Soma’s contributions, but I’ve observed that RPM places less emphasis on specific motor skill-building and sensory-motor integration—critical components for individuals with apraxia.
Although some spellers eventually use RPM for communication, it was not originally designed with that as the primary goal. RPM’s initial goal was to demonstrate academic learning. When families realized it could also be used as a communication method, it put more emphasis on open communication. Another challenge is that the method often centers around the practitioner spelling and working with the individual, rather than empowering the parent or caregiver to become the speller’s main communication partner.
Spelling to Communicate (S2C): A Motor-Based Approach
The next evolution in the world of spelled communication is Spelling to Communicate (S2C). I was in the very first training cohort of this method and was immediately drawn to it as an occupational therapist. S2C emphasizes motor learning progression, which aligns with how we naturally develop physical skills—starting with gross motor control and refining into precise, fine motor movements.
S2C offers a clear structure and progression, which makes it easier for parents and new communication partners to follow. It also prioritizes open communication as the end goal, distinguishing it from RPM, which initially focused more on academic output. However, over time I realized that even S2C did not fully address key areas such as vision and it’s impact on motor skill development and individualized sensory-motor profile of each speller, which are essential for building the skills needed to communicate openly on a letterboard or keyboard. Additionally, coaching the parent isn’t a primary focus of S2C, and practitioners will play the role of the communication partner rather than the parent.
Why We Created Spellers Method
After years of working with spellers and studying their needs, Dawnmarie Gaivin and I created Spellers Method because we saw a critical gap in existing approaches. Many spellers were labeled as being an “open communicator,” but lacked the foundational motor and sensory regulation skills needed to spell with good endurance and stamina—especially with caregivers or others outside of their practitioner sessions. The goal isn’t for Spellers Method Providers to be occupational therapists, but the training related to whole body apraxia, and how to determine the sensory motor profile of a speller is lacking. Without this knowledge the process of moving to open communication and even independent communication on a keyboard may be overly challenging and the opportunity for influencing increases.
Parents often felt frustrated and discouraged, believing they were the reason their child wasn’t succeeding. We knew that wasn’t the case. What was missing was a solid foundation in motor skills, regulation, and vision support. We developed Spellers Method to empower parents as the primary communication partners, not the practitioners.
In Spellers Method, we focus on training and equipping caregivers so spellers can communicate at home, every day, without relying solely on trained professionals. We ensure that spellers and communication partners have the foundational skills necessary before moving forward to more complex motor tasks like the keyboard. Regulation, vision, and accurate motor planning are essential components we address from the start.
What Makes Spellers Method Unique?
Unlike other methods, Spellers Method was built from the ground up with whole body apraxia and neuromotor disabilities in mind. We believe communication should be accessible and consistent in the home—not just during provider sessions. That’s why we train parents and caregivers as Communication Partners (CPs) from day one.
We also work hard to reduce any potential influence in the communication process. It’s about working through the foundations and supporting the speller to develop independent, intentional motor control over time.
Spellers Method is also grounded in the latest research in occupational therapy, vision science, and neurodevelopment, providing a more comprehensive and functional path to communication for those with motor planning challenges. You can learn more about Spellers Method at Spellers Center Tampa.
In Conclusion
I want to be clear: I’m not saying that RPM or S2C aren’t methods that could support nonspeakers. They were essential stepping stones in the evolution of spelled communication. But Spellers Method exists because we saw a need to fill critical gaps—particularly in motor development, vision integration, regulation, and parent empowerment.
As I continue to learn, research, and work with families, my mission is to make Spellers Method the most robust, practical, and parent-centered communication method available. Most importantly, it is designed to support the speller as a whole person, ensuring they have the tools, support, and foundation to be successful—at home, in life, and on their terms.
