TGIM?
Mini bits on The Free Press, Vani, Communication4All, a poem by Geo, and broken seesaws
Lots of you probably know I was a Free Presser back when it was still Common Sense. OG. They’re trying to get to a milli subscribers by Dec 31st and I’m super into that because Nellie and TGIF are my main news source and help me LOL on the reg. So, my TGIM? is a less fun and less funny ode to you Nellie Bowles! Cheers.
So, if I get tons of you to subscribe for free there’s a chance I could get a used pair of Nellie’s socks and a lifetime subscription. I’ve been a paid subscriber since the get-go because at the time, no one else was actually doing journalism and I’ve got this weird thing for truth.
So. Here’s a link!
Next up. Lots of strangeness interesting vibes in the broader spellerverse recently. At least for me. Firstly.
What is Vani and how to we I feel about it?
Even though I know typing apps are intrinsically problematic for those with apraxia, I was still weirdly excited. What is it? Basically, it’s an app that makes your iPad into a Letterboard. Features include being able to change background / letter colors, algebra math boards, and voice output with many more to come I’m sure.
Initial problems - if your poke swipes down at all, the laminate swipes away. They’ve said that will be addressed in their next update.
Because there is little/no tactile feedback (even less than a keyboard) this app would not replace any physical stencil / letterboard in the acquisition phase of S2C… You can’t make a kid play baseball better just by giving them a fancier bat.
That being said, once someone is open/fluent on the laminate (like actually open), it may be an option for them to explore if they want to.
Possible benefits.
It’s sorta cool. My ten and eleven year old spellers like iPads. I like iPads. Make an app and I’m at least a little interested.
Schools (whether right or wrong) seem to LOVE anything tech. It may be an option for proficient spellers in the application phase in a school setting???
Basically. Don’t ruin this by trying to use the three boards on the app or by trying it with someone in the early acquisition phase. If they haven’t been successful with typing apps before, there’s no reason to think they’ll magically be successful with this one just because it looks like a Letterboard.
*More to come on Vani including thoughts from nonspeakers.
WTHeck is going on with this communication4all “case study”?
I’m just going to come out and say it as kindly as I can because someone has to. Communication4All is a nonprofit with a lovely mission. To provide communication access to as many people as possible free of charge. Find their mission here. Which sounds great and is commendable (except it doesn’t actually work that well in real life) and I get it. Until I didn’t. A couple days ago I watched session 4 of a “case study” with a 6 year old kid named Leon because it landed in my inbox. It floored me. Basically they’re like, ‘watch this! He couldn’t sit still now after six months he’s spelling his thoughts!’…except what I watched was shocking, and not in the good way.
I generally don’t call people out or speak poorly about other practitioners/methodologies and I don’t intend to do that now, however, I feel like this is more like when there’s a person dying on the sidewalk and a bunch of people are just watching because everyone thinks someone else is going to help.
THIS IS NOT S2C. As an S2C practitioner committed to best practice, I do not in any way want to be associated professionally with what I saw in that video.
I owe it to my non speaking kids to say:
THIS IS NOT OK.
Making a kid spell I WANT CANDY (when who knows for sure if he really does or not) is not “talking”
I have spent years working with my own kids and their schools and am protective of their futures and the futures of all nonspeakers. This isn’t about us, it’s about them (nonspeakers and protecting their right and access to communication).
I want Leon’s Mom to know that this isn’t normative practice.
I want Leon to know, there is still hope.
My non speaking son urgently wanted to write a letter to Leon after he saw just a 2 minute clip of the “case study.” He stayed up until 10pm to write it.
*More to come including thoughts from nonspeakers.
Poetry
My non speaking son Geo wrote his first poem with his other practitioner Tara. Sharing here because he’s already posted it on his site iosemt.substack.com
This is a transcript of the poem. Geo spelled the words out letter by letter on his laminate including the line breaks.
Having multiple CRPs is such a priority and I’m thankful that Geo is open with several people which brings me to…
Blogs
Some killer blogs on how to be a great CRP coming from Tara Sayuri Whitty. I so appreciate her thoughtfulness and how practical her writing is. These are great to print out and have on hand.
Slow is smooth, & smooth is fast
And finally. We’re not trying to get you to slow down just to be a drag.
It’s also not a cop out because we’re not as good as those practitioners who promise they can get you there faster. We are as good.
Here’s a blog I wrote as the beginning of a broken seesaw series that may shed light on going slow to go fast.
Patience.
Happy Spelling,
Gigi
Yes to it all! You are a brave girl and I’m sure are speaking for many here. Watching the video you linked made my stomach drop! Looking forward to hearing Geo’s take.
Nellie is funny. I’m a paid subscriber too. I definitely disagree with some of their collective bents but I also value keeping a pulse on disparate perspectives.
Thanks for these updates. Looking forward to Geo’s comments.