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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- Inspired by the book Underestimated, the new full-length documentary SPELLERS challenges conventional wisdom regarding a group relegated to society’s margins: nonspeakers with autism, who most “experts” believe are cognitively disabled.
As the film opening asks, “What if we’ve been wrong…about every single one of them?” SPELLERS answers that question, in convincing fashion, through the stories of eight nonspeakers-Aydan, Evan, Sid, Maddie, Jamie, Vince, Cade, and Elizabeth-who all found their voice through the miraculous process of using a letterboard to communicate their thoughts and feelings. As Jamie explains, “We think, feel, and learn just like everyone else.”
The film blends beautiful cinematography with heart-wrenching stories of these eight spellers and a strong message for every parent of a nonspeaker: your child can do this, too. SPELLERS also demands that teachers, schools, and therapists wake up to the reality that we may have underestimated the abilities of more than 50 million people worldwide.
Please also visit www.underestimated.tv as the SPELLERS filmmakers unveil a riveting new series that delves deeper into the lives of nonspeaking Spellers. "Underestimated: The Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers" takes you on a compelling exploration of courage, resilience, and triumph against adversity.
In this groundbreaking series, witness familiar faces alongside captivating new stories as we traverse the realms of education, healthcare, inclusion, and beyond. With expert insights from leaders in education, occupational therapy, developmental optometry, and more, each episode unlocks the mysteries of spelling as communication, shedding light on the remarkable individuals and dedicated providers shaping this transformative journey.
Prepare to have your questions answered and your senses ignited as "Underestimated" shatters preconceptions and celebrates the indomitable spirit of nonspeaking Spellers. Join us for an unforgettable voyage into the heart of empowerment, only on our exclusive online platform.
Our daughter just became an open speller. Wooooooo-hoooooo!!! She's even more intelligent than we'd ever realized.
More importantly, she's truly happy for the first time in her life.
So great so happy for her and you
My son has DOWN SYNDROME and he started spelling about 2.5 years ago. This has been the best thing that has happened to our family. This method is changing lives for many many many in the DOWN SYNDROME community. My son finally free and has so much hope for his future.
Can I get more information please
That's awesome 👌 ❤
Great ❤
Great ❤
Spellers
This was amazing! Thank you for opening my eyes to understand so much more than I knew previously about the need for communication and this amazing opportunity that needs to be shared 🫶 The lives of these young people are Beautifully shared, captured and now can change the world 🌎 Revolutionary indeed!!!
My twins started spelling in early 2020 and it has changed our lives forever. We went from not being able to communicate at all to being able to get to know each other deeply! I can't imagine how life would have continued to be without the ability to communicate. Life was so daunting before we had the ability to connect and for my boys to be autonomous in their life!
Amazing... my 4-year-old baby girl is autistic... this video had me weeping from the start... there is hope for her and her future...I will look into this soon. Thank you.
Thank you JB and Jamie Handley for writing Underestimated! My son started spelling at 5 years old and is now 8. I would have not found S2C if it weren’t for your book❤that book and this movie will help so many people.
The book and the movie convinced me to train to be a practitioner of Spelling to Communicate (S2C). I'm just finishing up my course work this month.
@@tonyaprim3047 What a blessing you will be!
Thank you for making this available to everyone! So many lives are going to change!!
This is one of the most amazing documentaries I have ever seen.
I enjoyed watching this. People need to stop being deliberately ignorant about the many ways to communicate.
Let the Revolution Begin. This documentary is a must-see for all humans. LOVE.
❤ that this is now on UA-cam! We love our Speller!😊
7:45 perfect explanation!!!! It explained so well how my son is able to talk but not express. He’s able to say “that’s a fire truck” and say “fire trust is red” he’s able to say facts. But not express in words what he’s feeling.
While I'm extremely happy to have been recommended to watch this video, and it has brought so much awareness. Informed me in ways NO doctor or "program" has thus far.... I am also sad by the thought that this type of educational information is not made to be more public and common knowledge to the masses! I've seen ridiculous celebrity gossip videos get more views and comments than this one. Autism families are their own community and advocate and inform each other. That is how I found this video. NOT by a therapist, teacher, doctor or by "the system"! I will share this video to as many I know to spread the awareness & pray that someday this type of education and information is world wide as well implemented in EVERY educational system.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
This documentary is amazing! The paradigm shift is here!!!
It took my son 3 years of hard work to learn how to spell on a keyboard, he needed the help of trained therapists to get him there, if we'd sat him in front of a keyboard with no help he wouldn't have learned
A revolution has already begun🎉🙌🏻💓🥰👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
What a wonderful documentary. My grandson with CAS did not talk until 4y3m. At 9 he still has ST but is a very intelligent articulate young boy. We are grateful. We used an AAC. May others understand the doors and possibilities that await them!
Get him in the spelling boards. Spellers have said aac is like a gas station mini mart compared to a supermarket 😂
@@judystoltz234 I wish we had known about it then. He now talks and talks and talks.
This film is a huge hope for families like mine .
Incredible documentary I'm sure if the late great Rosemary Crossley was still around she would have loved what you guys have captured here. Well done, should be watched by every SEN school.
My non-speaking daughter is 6 and loves letters. She already uses beginning letters to communicate. For example "h" is often Hello when somebody greets her. "s" is usually "sing" and "z" zoo etc.
My son has autism but can speak pretty well. He recovered thanks to doctors who adress the medical causes that worsen autism. Having said that, when my son was in 6th grade, the teacher doing the accelerated math class wanted to kick him out because of his ‘lack of attention’ and other stuff. I recall helping my sin prepare for a test in which he knew all the answers but could not write fast enough to pass this timed test. Isn’t that silly ? Anyways with a meeting with the principal teacher etc in which my husband nearly threatened to sue, our son stayed in the class and did accelerated math for the next 3 years. It was a needed boost to his confidence and identity to be with the smart kids, being so deficient in other areas. Anyways, he’s in community college now and doing pretty good. So don’t give up.
Can you share more about your experience please
Thanks for sharing
You may want to see if spelling boards gets him even further
Can you please tell me the what medical causes were they able to treat.. was it to do with Gut, or functional medicine in general.. any lead in the direction would help all of us..
@@judystoltz234 he speaks, reads and writes. Even did some Speech and Debate in high school. I thank taca and his medmaps dr.
This video gives me great hope for my 2 non-verbal Autistic sons who are 5 and 7 years old! I always tell them I know they are so intelligent and have so much they want to say and I cannot wait until the day I can “hear” what is on their heart and mind. I really do hope to hear them verbally speak but I would be SOOOOO grateful no matter what way they can use their “voice”. Thank you so much for this video.
Their mouths might not say it, but their eyes, their eyes tell you vast stories in the merest of momentary eye contact.
They are non-speakers
but VERY VERBAL
And when they start spelling - their voices and words will come thru loud and clear 🩵
I gave my son an AAC two years ago when he was five. He’s Seven now and his favorite part of his board was when I opened up the keyboard screen.
He was fascinated and instantly started trying to spell.
What is AAC? PLEASE AND TY
For more information on motor planning, apraxia, presuming competence.....basically why spelling methods make sense according to brain science, read The Spellers Guidebook by Dawnmarie Gaivin and Dana Johnson. It also gives advice on how to start this spelling journey with your nonspeaker or minimal speaker.
Excellent book
Start with the chapter that is advice FROM SPELLERS to Spellers and parents
🩵
Episode 1 of the Underestimated series, sequel to the Spellers documentary, is now out. It focuses on the educational system.
What is it called and where can we find it Sir?
So proud of EVERY Speller that has gone against the grain of traditional education to open so many new opportunities for themselves! There are SO many people that believe in you and your abilities. Don't let the naysers get you down because YOU ARE AMAZING, competent, smart and intelligent! PRESUMING COMPETENCE makes such a huge difference!!! 🤟💌
Yes!!!!
This start me in tears ….
This is awesome to watch again. Now that I am familiar with the players and spelling its so exciting!!
Same - I keep watching different parts
Beautiful documentary! Very informative! And love the song at the end!
1:06:06 it’s almost like they don’t want a “cure” because the cost of the therapies and medicines would benefit them. So of course they would frown upon something that’s working. How would they get their money 🤔🤔🤔
Follow the money. ABA is A CASH COW, un-licensed group homes and Nigerian career conservators are a real conspiracy that is 💯 true. “Disability” is BIG BUSINESS !
The trainers are paid alot! And letter board services are ridiculously priced!! They are the ones profiting from this pseudo science.
@@BeckyKay-m7v the ‘cost’ of our non-speaking population is more than anyone can fathom
State/federal and insurance money has been paying for 1000s of hours of ABA, SPEECH, OT and other therapies not to mention RESPIT and other services to ‘help’ parents - often with little progress, yet these are considered to be ‘working’ ?!?
It’s a joke
The spellers in this movie have SHOWN that this works - they show their intelligence, thoughtful replies, sense of humor, personalities - AND you can see how hard some have to work to control their body. Research apraxia and dyspraxia
THIS is truly life changing for them and their families.
THIS is not a Hollywood production
This is real life, real people, and unedited.
@@BeckyKay-m7vweird! My son took off after 4 sessions, and was able to spell with me. I didn't need to pay for 20-40 hours of certain therapies, and it cost me nothing to practice with him. He has since moved to independent typing with his iPad on a desk, and to speaking his words as he types them. He has graduated, and is heading to university. Further, most strategies require that practitioners are paid money for their work--as it should be.
@@BeckyKay-m7vTrained professionals deserve to be paid for their expertise. Parents can learn too and the kids will then have the skill forever for free. Not sure how it is "pseudo science." I have seen many spellers spell and they are clearly doing it themselves. Ridiculous that this is such a controversy.
This is simply amazing.
Just imagine when they get brain link available to the public how amazing it will be for these people!!!!
Neura link or whatever it's called
absolutly amazing
I am an autistic polyglot and I want to translate this to various languages I speak at a proficient level. whom could I contact about it?
wonderful!!!
🙌🏾🙌🏽🙌🏿
Thanks ❤
24:58 wow 😮 🥺
How do I find the spellers rap song at the end? We love it
It is on Spotify!
ua-cam.com/video/TtgfMWNZVEo/v-deo.htmlsi=cgvZNO90p8bfAel9
I found it on UA-cam also it’s called doubt by swade 😊
Question: why are the facilitators holding and moving the tablets? Can't they just use larger tablets atached to the table?
Oh my gosh how can the kids keep their train of thought with her constantly saying “and” between each letter? It’s so amazing but that part drives me crazy.
My son is a speller - and there is something about the pace and rhythm that keeps their bodies going. And after you start seeing them spell complicated words and thoughts you di t even notice the ‘then’ or ‘after’ or the calling out of letters
It’s a dance
We've been at this a few years. My speller prefers that I don't do that unless he is having trouble focusing (calming his body, emotions, or still warming up his eyes). He's okay with me calling out the letters after he pokes them or having people look over his shoulder when he spells. Everyone is different though. My son can be singing a song and spelling something completely different- it's wild.
Tuanks for that ❤
This made me cry. Also, I see ads on youtube and elsewhere for making money online, a new type of cooking pan, or programs to get in shape… every day, every ten minutes or so.
Yet I don’t see any news about this Spellers program besides this video. WHY?!
Maybe it takes time and money, and I would understand if you wanted to keep it honest and clear, uncluttered by some business raptors ready to swoop in and market it. Or maybe not in a hurry for academic snobs eager to compete and critique for the sake of getting their opinion heard, to stay relevant and keep that pay as high as ever.
In this country, you should be able to get some serious sponsors, with deep pockets to help this word get out. This idea and approach needs to be typed and shouted to the world. There must be many, many people that have no idea that Spellers exists.
💓💓💓💓
Que increíble como logran comunicarse deletreando
Pero en el caso de algunos niños más pequeños no saben el significado de las palabras
Actually most Spellers have said they knew how to read and do math by age of 3or4 - they learn faster than others, they hear thru walls, they learn other languages from subtitles or overheard conversations.
PRESUME COMPETENCE 😊
Where can I get a letter board like that?
Spelling 2 communicate
It's ALOT more than the board ... It's teaching motor skills and a LOT of other things you have to find a trained teacher...DONT LOSE HOPE LOOK UP SPELLING TO COMMUNICATE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY TEACHERS IN YOUR AREA❤
Wow
Where can I buy the spellingboard?
Yes where can I buy the talking keyboard
49:03 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I just love Vince's outlook. He's so positive. He has a blog.
theunfilteredmindofvincent.wordpress.com/
Uma pena que o vídeo não está disponível para tradução automática em outros idiomas. Exclui-se muitas pessoas deste conteúdo.
Please help us in Montana USA
Do you teach them to read first ? I dont understand how they are learning language
These individuals report they could read and spell at an early age. Remember they are cognitively intact. Speech is the issue, not intelligence. They have been taking in everything including print for years. They just don't have a reliable way to show what they know due to motor planning deficits. Speech is fine motor.
Most can read and spell on their own. I'm learning my own son can read and spell after watching him go through UA-cam by typing in the videos/shows he's looking for. Randomly reading signs on the side of the road.
Many, like my own son, was in general education classroom throughout elementary school. Further, many receive explicit reading instruction, such as phonics. My son was taught through the wilson reading program, the edmark reading program, and then , in ABA--sight words.
Please , in Spanish
Por favor en español también 🙏🏻
I’ve worked with autistic children and teens for over 30 years, the majority of that time in the school system. I’ve used every single communication method there is, and I’m extremely familiar with the challenges of apraxia. There is no reason for a facilitator to be holding the stencil- in fact, a moving stencil would make it harder for someone with apraxia. Autistic people are also excellent at memorization and following patterns. I worked with a boy who typed into a device to communicate- but the only things he typed were pages and chapters of a random story. I found out that his parents had given him a random novel to practice his typing, and he had memorized the entire thing. When he made a request using the device, it consisted of a one word sentence, often misspelled. I think the “spellers” in this movie have just memorized the patterns of the words to common questions about being non-speaking, etc . The woman at 32.00? I believe she really was feeling sad. She didn’t enjoy the spelling activity. Also notice this “apraxic” woman had no problems with the sticker puzzle she was doing.
So what about the spellers who started with someone holding the boards and have progressed, with much practice, to typing from a keyboard on the cradle (not held by a person)?
The woman (Madison) may have been feeling sad at the moment of filming but that is just one session of so many. In fact she is seen again in the follow up series called Underestimated Episode 1. Not only is she happy and smiling, she is using a keyboard which means she has kept at it and is progressing in her spelling skills. She is discussing dating with a fellow speller.
This film was made to introduce spelling to communicate methods to those who haven't ever heard of it before and make people start to rethink their perception of the intelligence of non speakers. There is so much more to spelling and the brain science behind why it makes sense than this film shows. I encourage you to follow some spellers on social media, read books or blogs written by spellers, read The Spellers Guidebook. Spellers who have progressed to open, fluent spelling are not just answering basic, generic questions, they are taking college courses, writing about their experiences, advocating for nonspeakers. This is all unique communication, not memorized scripts....why?...because they received the motor planning training as a foundation that is taught through spelling to communicate methods.
@@srl1978 What concerns me is the “communication” is always about S2C or being Autistic, and the language used isn’t typical of a teen of their age. What’s missing from the S2C communicators is repetitive speech, scripting or talking about their special interests. They don’t seem to talk about what they want to do or what they like… and that is something speaking Autistic people love to do. They don’t even use any “yes” or “no” answers. Do you really think Sid answered “can you control your thoughts” with that “I am rudderless” monologue? That was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t 100% guarantee that Sid would not be able to point to the rudder on a picture of a boat, let alone understand its function. I feel terrible for Sid, he’s living his life trapped in his mother's delusion.
@@hilaryb8807I do believe Sid understands the language he uses as he spells. I believe this because he has a motor impairment not an intellectual one. Speech and language are separate parts of the brain. Speech production uses complex fine motor movements working together. Language (understanding what you hear and read) is cognitive. Due to apraxia there is a brain body disconnect. Speech is affected but not cognition. Nonspeakers and unreliable speakers have been soaking up language their whole life and until s2c was introduced didn't have the motor skills to show what they know. Teen and adult spellers have said (for example) that they no longer love Thomas the train as much as it may seem because they are stuck in a motor loop. They are absolutely talking about things that interest them. Yes and no questions can feed into impulsive motor movements, also a reason predictive text prompts are avoided. Spelling one letter at a time makes the movements more purposeful. We can agree to disagree but I encourage anyone reading this keep learning about spellers and learn from them.
Why not place these letterboards on a steady surface instead of holding it? What if the fascilitator would be blindfolded? What if the fascilatator does not give verbal cues? That would take away the possibility of influencing the communicator.
Fascilitated communication does not give non verbal people a voice, it takes it away. There are better ways to communicate now.
You should really look into apraxia and brain science. The Spellers Guidebook is a great resource that explains the reasons the communication regulation partner holds the boards....all biology/science reasoning due to fine motor difficulties including ocular difficulties. Many advanced spellers, who started out on the held letterboards, do eventually type on a keyboard held in a stand.
Listen to the podcast episode 213 of Autism Parenting Secrets.
@@srl1978 l'm not talking about autism, l'm talking about fascilitated communication in general
Everything has to do with motor control, eventually they can type on a keyboard in a cradle but that requires a high level of motor control. It just takes a lot of time and practice to get there. Get the Speller's Handbook or talk to a practitioner, the methodology makes total sense once you understand it.
What is the keyboard / monitor layout used by the young man? I am unable to find it although it looks simple enough to duplicate with an ipad and a simple keyboard.
Most people who spell use a standard qwerty keyboard layout. The only other possibility is alphabetical order.
1:04:30 okayyyyyy 😮
Curious why Speakers isn't on IMDB?
Well, the name of this movie is Spellers, so...
What am I really surprised about? Did the parents really not think of letting their child type on the keyboard? Do they really think that only the school is responsible for this? Scientists? No one cares more about a child than a parent, which can also be seen in this film. I was lucky, I gave the child a keyboard myself. I didn't expect anything from school, let alone scientists. Now I see it on film, 6 years later. A very good film and this idea should reach as many people as possible.
♡
That woman lives in a fantasy world shes off her rocker .Its all so wrong .I dont believe a word she says .
This is facilitated communication rebranded.
No it's not. In FC, the facilitator literally holds the person's wrist and moves it to the different letters. That's not happening here at all.
There are many problematic issues with this, but overall our non-speaking students have been largely left behind in so many ways. This is starting to change very slowly in research for non speakers, though community based intervention services and caregiver supports are SORELY lacking and completely fall off in adulthood. I recommend reading the full statement from ASHA.
1. There is uncertainty regarding who does the spelling.
With RPM, you can’t tell whether the words being spelled out belong to the autistic child-or to their aide. The aide holding the alphabet board may move the board unintentionally in the direction of the letter that they think the child should select next. This is called facilitator bias, a documented phenomenon in which a helper unintentionally influences the message produced. Aides might well have good intentions, but in using RPM, they may unknowingly insert their own assumptions and thoughts into the message. A simple way to reduce facilitator bias is for the aide to place the alphabet board on a table or mount instead of holding it in the air.
2. RPM creates dependence on another person, thus preventing independent communication.
The primary goal of speech-language intervention is independent communication, which is a basic human right. Independence is critical: It ensures that the words, thoughts, and feelings an individual expresses are indeed their own and not the words of another person.
3. RPM lacks evidence of effectiveness.
There is no research showing that RPM is effective in producing independent communication. Indeed, there is active resistance by RPM proponents to conducting research on the technique. They claim that research may put children in stressful testing situations-and that the process of conducting research is insulting or demeaning. From a scientific standpoint, this avoidance of appropriate testing of the technique, and this resistant attitude toward examining RPM, raises serious red flags about the technique.
4. RPM holds the potential for harm.
Children and their families can incur serious harm from the use of RPM. They risk wasting months to years on an unproven method when effective and appropriate interventions already exist. Untested techniques, like RPM, often prey upon vulnerable families. Families also risk losing money and time-which may already be scarce-that cannot be retrieved. Parents are often asked to travel long distances to attend expensive workshops to learn the technique.
5. RPM is similar to a discredited and dangerous technique called Facilitated Communication (FC).
FC is a pseudoscientific technique that has been widely discredited in a large body of published, peer-reviewed, scientific research. FC has resulted in serious harm to people with disabilities and their families, including false allegations obtained through FC of sexual abuse and maltreatment.
When is the use of a letter board appropriate?
Children and adults with limited oral speech may use a keyboard to type out messages. When used independently, letter, word, and picture boards are valid examples of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). AAC encompasses a variety of low-tech communication boards and high-tech speech-generating devices that help a person communicate. There are several ways to use these systems, including the use of eye gaze if the person cannot use their hands to access the system. SLPs are the trained professionals who can help people with severe speech and language difficulties find the best AAC option for them.
www.asha.org/slp/asha-warns-against-rapid-prompting-method-or-spelling-to-communicate/
Thankfully thousands of spellers haven't listened to ASHA and are continuing to spell through s2c or spellers method. When you see it in action in real time you can't unsee it. Spellers have advocated for health concerns that they couldn't articulate with any other method. It is truly amazing to witness this revolution happening.
To read a rebuttal on ASHAs stance, search JB Handleys response to ASHA
I’m not the expert here, but ASHA needs to update their opinion - even in the statement copied into your reply states that some can communicate ‘with eye gaze’
….. well …. There is a study that used eye tracking to prove the letters selected by spellers were first found WITH their EYES.
And those eye tracking devices are A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE and not as portable as a spelling board or laminate or wireless keyboard
But I’m just a parent of a speller who stated
“AUTISM IS NOT A BEHAVIORAL OR COGNITIVE ISSUE, ITS A MOTOR ISSUE”.
He has also told us thru spelling
“I’VE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD MY ENTIRE LIFE. PEOPLE ARE FINALLY GETTING A GLIMPSE INTO MY BEAUTIFUL MIND. I MIGHT BE SILENT BUT I NEVER STOPPED TALKING.”
@@judystoltz234 that’s great about your son! 100% agree that the motor impact of autism is huge and not well understood. Im a parent too and am VERY familiar with the motor impact of autism. There are numerous other options that are not tainted by the very real and complicated history of FC and RPM. Low tech Eye gaze boards are used often for people who cannot physically select a letter but the difference is that it is mounted or if held up the board is not floating around and moving. Eye gaze technology is now an accessibility feature on iPads and many laptops so it’s not really that out of touch any more. That study was open access and very small. I think larger studies and identifying characteristics of individuals who are successful is a great idea and really working to increase independent access and ensure facilitator bias is not happening. I think it’s worth hearing the concerns of ASHA and other professional organizations and others and thinking critically rather than exclaiming this a cure all revolution.
@@speechme4216 Research apraxia and how it affects an individual's ability to intentionally move their bodies. Talk to a practitioner so they can explain why they do what they do, it all has to do with motor planning and motor control, they are just teaching a motor skill. Once you understand it it makes perfect sense. Mindlessly repeating an organisation's stance without investigating the methodology doesn't help anyone. If you don't know anything about it, which it's clear you don't, then don't give your opinion as if you're an expert on it. Imagine you might be wrong.
This is very controversial and not backed by science. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has taken a rare hard-and-fast formal stance against these techniques and state they can do very serious harm. People watching this please do some research and dont be fooled, google RPM/Spelling to Communicate and it's dangers, don't subject your loved ones to harmful pseudoscience! Untested techniques, like RPM, prey upon vulnerable families when effective and appropriate interventions already exist. Please consult a speech-language pathologist if you can.
Yes do diligent research! Science and best practices are improved upon over time. This film is just the tip of the iceberg! Spelling is a complex process backed by brain science. Please read The Spellers Guidebook for great explanations of why spelling makes sense for those with apraxic bodies.
If anyone is interested in a rebuttal of ASHAs stance by JBHandley, search "ASHA tells 50 million nonspeakers, you aren't capable"
For a speech language pathologist perspective that is pro spelling methods search for the Oct 23. 2023 podcast called: Beyond words: Why some autistic people are non-speaking (The Autism Dad Podcast).
You guys, I'm so glad I didn't listen to this ^^^ kind of advice with my nonspeaking teenager. Because I was weighing the risk that this commenter talks about, and I realized spelling lessons only posed a danger to ME as a dad. I would be disappointed again. But as for my son, what harm could it do? This wasn't a drug he was injecting in his body, or a therapy that would twist his limbs. It was literally... THE ALPHABET. He would be pointing at letters. You guys, that's it. It's 26 letters and a pencil. Why are people so afraid of the alphabet? I realized that even if my son didn't have some big breakthrough, the worst that would happen is his motor skills would improve a bit.
They did improve. Dramatically. Now, he is spelling not only with his teacher, but with me and my wife, and the lady who works with him on a daily basis. Four different people (not counting the team of doctors he met with). If there was some secret to tip him off to what letter we wanted him to go to, that would be a STELLAR prank, and would signal an even greater level of intelligence than spelling would. I mean, the subtleties of picking up on those cues? That's Penn & Teller stuff right there. But no. We don't signal him. He sits down and points at the letters. Just an hour ago, we were talking with him about this film, and he said the following:
"This movie saved my life." How could he say that? Because he was locked inside himself and supremely depressed. Since we saw this movie and pursued spelling, his entire countenance has changed, as well as his future.
So this commenter talks about the risks... what is a greater risk? That a kid points to letters on a letter board and can't do it? Or that a competent, intelligent person is presumed to be incompetent and unintelligent HIS ENTIRE LIFE, and is not allowed the tools to break out, simply because UA-cam member H4CK41D says it's too risky?
We made our choice, and it's one of the best things we've ever done.
(And if you want to hold onto ASHA's outdated theory that a spelling partner is doing the work, that's fine. I get it. Just know that the minute the kid starts typing independently (as they do in this film, and as my son is moving toward), you've got to give up that theory, too, and admit you've been wrong this whole time.)
@@jhague78🩵ditto! For my son as well- life changing
Well said and so happy your son is a speller !!! 🩵
you can tell no one in this comment section has had a university education 👀
Only you, apparently. You are knowingly forwarding a flawed argument. As you are so much more educated than everyone in the comments, (despite many of us holding masters degrees and PhDs), do you think maybe it is you who are suffering from the dunning-kruger effect? I would give this consideration, as you seem to be clinging to a cognitive bias, and are overestimating your understanding of what would be helpful for nonspeaking individuals. Or, you can continue on your current path, and deny full communication , simply because your education ensures you know better. Even understanding how movement differences affect communication would be a win, regardless of whether you adopt spelling. Perhaps this knowledge can be used to develop novel modes of communication--modes that fit in with your worldview.
Sorry to rain on the parade and burst the bubbles, but they weren't wrong. Spelling to communicate it's just facilitated communication rebranded. Slick movies do not science make. There is an easy and free way to test S2C: put the letter board on a table and have the child type without anyone holding it, or touching, or standing next to the child. The biggest problem with pseudoscientific movements like these is the harm they cause to the very people they think they're helping. Try to step out of your confirmation bias about this issue and think about how you would feel if someone else were to put words in your mouth that were not spoken by you. Now I know that many people who believe in spelling to communicate, or facilitated communication, or rapid prompting are well meaning -and frequently concerned loving parents. But just as you would not subject your child to untested, unproven medical procedures, you should probably think twice about subjecting them to untested unproven, educational procedures. And, make no mistake about it: all of these techniques are not only unproven, but have been shown scientifically to not do what they claim. As someone once said, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Sign language, Braille....all took years and years to be accepted as valid communication. Spelling methods have come a long way in recent years. New studies are being done. The proof that you want could be years and years away. If nothing else, the message of presuming competence is the least dangerous presumption. I have read up on apraxia of speech and body, the brain body disconnect, and spelling methods make so much sense. Advanced spellers who type are confirming that it was their words when they were using the letterboards.
As someone also said "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". I am an occupational therapist and I understand the neuromotor implications behind this method. In fact it's a similar motor learning process to how you and I learn a new motor skill except these individuals have even more of a challenge because of what's called apraxia. I haven't worked with a speller who is able to type or use a letter board independently on the first day. I also assume that any new motor skill that you start to learn the first time is not perfect either. When you understand apraxia or dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder or sensory processing disorder, you may start to realize that there is a possibility that these individuals can do this. I encourage you to think about this as if you were learning a new motor skill. If I was learning to do a new motor skill (e.g. playing the guitar) I would hire a coach or a teacher to teach me and they use prompting to teach me the new skill. As I practiced the skills, I wouldn't need that teacher to prompt. The same goes for spellers. Once they have mastered the motor skills, the prompts are reduced. If you watched the entire documentary you would have seen Jamie type independently on the keyboard without anyone in the room. I have spellers who can type on the keyboard without me holding it. They all started with me holding the board as they learned the new motor skill and managed thier ability to regulate the sensory input around them. That is extremely difficult. I encourage you to review the research on autism and motor apraxia and consider this: if there is a motor issue (there is a lot of research to suggest that those with autism have sensory motor challenges) then how would one with a motor issue be able to do anything in life without practice and prompting? Since spelling and typing are motor skills, why couldn't they learn to do this? Maybe because they have a cognitive disability? We have to remember that any standardized test that is out there to measure thier cognitive ability requires efficient motor skills so any testing isn't a reliable measure of their ability (and I could also go on about the flaws of IQ testing as a whole). Hopefully I have challenged your thinking. I'm not here to argue, only to advocate for the spellers that I work with.
Did you even watch the film? Did you see how difficult it was for their attention to be held and how the facilitator was able to help keep them focused on task where they otherwise may have felt too overwhelmed by stimuli to do so? Most importantly, did you see how, in the end, they were able to type on their own after developing the fine motor skills needed to point and press buttons? I'm guessing not since you dismiss everything without even alluding to the film's content.
I think you need an attitude adjustment. Why not consider the idea that autistic people need the closeness of another to have the confidence to spell. Think what they have been through in their young lives, and instead of being to eager to debunk their achievements, extend some compassion.
There is an easy and free way to prove you wrong. The spellers who are now independently typing on a keyboard can attest to the fact that the things they were spelling while someone was holding the various boards for them were, in fact, their own words.
My son is a nonspeaking 33 year old. I have always told him I would never give up.. that I knew he was in there. I had always hoped and prayed that he was learning all along. At age 11, Dr. Bradstreet did a LORETA scan...shook his head at the results. I asked what was wrong. He said, 'He has the brainwaves of a college educated adult.' S2C/Spellers is proving this and answering prayers. I am blown away!😍😄💜💜💜
Loved Dr Bradstreet
What is a LORETA scan?
dr bradstreet was outed as a charlatan and a fraud.
Wild that some people will "warn against" something that gives Autistic people the ability to communicate. You don't need countless studies done when the evidence is right there in front of you. Schools are supposed to have an individualised approach anyway rather than assuming everything is one size fits all! It should be common sense that if a person cannot speak - see if there is a way for them to spell or type. Maybe the "specialists" are just afraid that when more Autistic people can communicate freely, there will be more of us talking about how the system fails us.
Yeah it's very strange how many people don't want the world to know just how amazing and intelligent they are. Instead they try to make people doubt the method
@@katagirl3000 Yes it's honestly so offensive that they would try to make out that "these people have no way of communicating" and then take away all possible means of alternative communication when Autistic people are actually able to think for themselves and have so much to say.
You wouldn't believe how many people are like that. It's so sad. It's like they can't accept someone could be different yet intelligent
OMG thank you so much for your opinion and views. I have an 8-year old with autism and man is it a fucking journey and to be doing it on my own ❤
Its fairly simple, who benefits? - Autism is a $250 BILLION/yr business.
This is spreading like wildfire. Thank you!! My son is also a speller. Three years into our journey now. It’s changed everything! 💕🙏🏼
My mother-in-law's friend's son just opened! He's 31 ❤ praise the Lord!
My youngest brother is learning to communicate through this incredible method. I think it’s taken me a while to watch this documentary, to start watching it that is, and it wasn’t because I didn’t know how to click play. It takes us who are neurotypical time over invisible hurdles to do all sorts of things. I’m so proud of him for achieving this breakthrough and for my parents who have pursued this and so many other methods before this to accomplish this breakthrough in communicating with him and even each other. Love this, thank you thank you for sharing
My daughter does this method of communication (started at age 11 and is 13 now) and ever since we started. Everyone has wanted to hear her voice. We have been invited on news segments 4 times just this year alone where she is interviewed live and in real time. And they want to keep doing follow ups. Tons and I mean tons of other opportunities have opened up for her too now that she can say what she wants and needs. I told her, because she was born this way, she now has the most powerful voice. Nobody cares what I have to say, but everyone cares what she has to say. These individuals are amazing.
where are these news segments?
What an incredible film! Sharing this with everyone I know to help spread the message
How was this not Oscar nominated?
Hollywood. Big screen needs big connections?
@@mmut8602 or cause they have an autism problem
@@mmut8602or an autism problem with The Academy
because it's actively harmful to the community, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has explicitly warned against it and taken a formal stance against it which was not taken lightly. do literally any research, one google search and you will be met with a bunch of warnings about this. if that doesn't convince you then you need to attend some kind of critical thinking class because you clearly never acquired that skill if some obscure youtube documentary is able to fool you that easily.
@@H4CK41D So let’s see. Someone comes up with a way for people to communicate with details, depth, and an association that will lose business because of this says it’s bad, and you think someone else needs a class in critical thinking?
My grandson is 6 years old and non verbal I am hoping he can try this . I think it will help. I know he is smart but can’t verbalize his thoughts. Thank you for bringing this information to the public.
You have no idea the impact of getting this out on UA-cam. No. Idea. I have had at least three people watch this in just ONE day. One who I BEGGED to watch since I have been screening since it came out! The impact is incredible! All my love to the foundation, to spellers and their parents, CRPs and practitioners! The momentum is building! It's time. 💗 Privileged and humbled to help my son get his voice out at long last.
Thank you so much! This documentary is life changing ❤
A wonderful movie. Spellers are heroes!
My son started last year and he’s getting better …
im here looking for answers and left in tears. thanks guys youre awesome
Can't wait to find somewhere closer that we can go for this help! I know he knows so much!
So I understand that there is a disconnect between the brain and the body’s ability to perform. Totally get that. My question though is….Why does there have to be someone holding this stencil or keyboard? If it needs to be at a certain angle to make it accessible for these learners, then why can’t it be on a stand at a particular height so they can access it? I u destined the facilitator gives verbal prompts to help them attend or stay on track. Couldn’t that still be done without touching the actual device? This sounds great however, there isn’t enough research available to stop me from thinking that there could be help coming from the facilitators intentionally or unintentionally. This sounds like facilitated communication repackaged.
There are spellers who advance to use mounted keyboards....they show some in this film. These same spellers have said it was their words when they spelled with someone holding the device.
I'm not an expert on apraxic bodies, but what I've observed is that some bodies are moving A LOT, especially in the beginning. It would be hard to make a stand that could adjust to each speller's movements in real time. To top that off, most have never been able to tell someone things like "Sometimes I see doubles of letters" or "when I look at a page the letters move". Very early on, my son was spelling short open-ended responses to questions from a lesson when the lightbulb went off in my head and I stopped the CRP and asked my son "You spell so perfectly! Do you read?" (Until that point, I had been drilling him with short sight words.) "Totally. Sitting still is the hard part." The Communication & Regulation Partner is usually the first person in their whole life who understands their apraxia and how it effects speech and eyes. The CRP adjusts to the speller- they know whether they need to speak fast and be animated or whether to slow and tone it down. They learn the patterns/motor loops that the speller can get stuck in. It's like a dance partner. If you finally find someone who gets you and knows how to help you, you would want them around. Could you do it without them? Maybe, at some point, but you might not want to.
As you are well aware, many spellers move to mounted keyboards and iPads. Further, many type with no person talking to them--while device is mounted.
Absolutely incredible!
1:00:11 real tears 🥺🥺🥹
This documentary has already changed my life!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
This is amazing! I have so much hope for this. I hope that this is available in Australia. This could be life changing for our family too.
Any connections in Melbourne Australia ?
Fabulous!!!! ❤
Truly a breakthrough for our unforgiving worlds!
👏🏻 🎉❤
❤️
👏👍
This is a godsend! My 2 year old son who is profoundly autistic just started spelling last month. We're so thankful for this method to communicate with our toddler. Today he spelled perfectly This exact phrase: "mom, I think what resides in me is more important than my outer self. Thank you for allowing me to communicate." Praise you all for this. We're so grateful!
how do u make a 2 year old spell? where does one start ?
@@shakeenidaYou don't make a 2 year old spell. You expose a 2 year old to literature and language that is age appropriate and continue that as the child ages even if speech output doesn't progress. The letterboards are introduced somewhere in the 4-6 year old range with young non speakers.
Wow 💙💙💙💙💙
Where can i get a talking keyboard as shown with Evan
Curious to see the success rate amount of how many students participated? Why not show younger children in the movie? This seems work and I’m for it . The movie also shows that almost all of the families have money cause it’s 1k for four 45 minutes of service.
More people are learning to teach it. We found someone who is helping our 9 year old son for 100$ per hour. There is also a website called communication 4 all started by Elizabeth Bonker it's free. You can learn to do it yourself.
I would like to see them do this with boards that are not held by humans. I don't believe they would see any results of they did that. To me, this is just another form of facilitated communication. And that was disproven and debunked years ago. You can visually see the trainer/parents slightly move the board to encourage them to choose a certain letter. If this method worked, schools would be teaching it to special needs kids for free, everywhere. I don't want parents to ever give up hope. Picture boards work excellent for communication! And can be used in all settings. At a very very low cost! Enjoy your kids and celebrate them as they are!!!
@@BeckyKay-m7v I know someone who has used the company. The student is more of a mod sever student. But I feel the company just gives the parent hope. This parent does not have a lot of money. The student guess alot when he pokes at the board. The main question is this process may take 10 years for him to get it. How much would it cost the parent.
@@BeckyKay-m7v Did you not see Jamie typing independently at the very end?
Not sure where you are getting your numbers - it is not $1000 for 45 minutes- that would be 8-10 hrs with most of the trained communication partners. And if you’ve seen what behavioral, speech, OT practitioners charge - this is totally in line. And I don’t know anyone who saw the results close to my son’s and others even after years of those other therapies (my son had thousands of hours over years PAID BY STATE AND INSURANCE with little results)
The schools and experts need to open their eyes and their minds. These spellers are all advocates for helping others like them who are locked in a cage of silence.
Presume competence instead of intellectual disabilities is a start.
Stop ‘studying’ this population and start LISTENING to them
Why have none of these Parents Lobbied Congress....??????
I think several of the speller's just went to capital hill.
I would like to know. I’m
Only 30 mins into this movie.. I see the children that are using the spelling board are able to sit in the chair and are more on the calmer side! So has there been successes with children that are severely autistic, nonverbal, aggressive, hard of hearing (will not wear hearing aids) and constantly hyperactive?
Can this work for a child of those behaviors?
YES! Their behaviors decrease as their ability to communicate increases. As presumed competence increases in the people around them - not just parents, but other family, educators, etc - behaviors decrease. As intellectual stimulation increases behaviors decrease.
Imagine finally being seen and treated as a person who understands.
They have issue regulating their bodies due to apraxia, and many spellers are able to tell us that they are not trying to act out.
And sometimes what looks like being upset is due to excitement
My 22 yr old son has said this last year is the best of his life, and his spelling journey is only just beginning