Rethinking Evidence-Based Practice for Supporting Nonspeaking Individuals

• By: Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island Jessica Teixeira, MS, CCC-SLP Play Haven Pediatric Therapy
• July 9th, 2026
• assistive communication, autism research, clinical expertise, communication supports, evidence-based practice, nonspeaking individuals, speech-language pathology, Summer 2026 Issue
• 7    0

In considering the issue of evidence-based practice (EBP), we take on a deceptively simple question—what counts as "evidence" of effectiveness of approaches in supporting the communication of nonspeaking autistic individuals? Beneath that question lies a deeper and more contentious issue—how...

My Journey to Independent Typing: One Autistic Nonspeaker’s Story

• By: Gregory C. Tino Non-Speaking Autistic Self-Advocate
• July 9th, 2026
• apraxia, assistive communication, autistic self-advocacy, communication support, independent typing, letterboard communication, nonspeaking autism, spelling to communicate, Summer 2026 Issue
• 3    0

Each autistic nonspeaker I know is trying to become independent with their communication. Of course. Why wouldn't we? If you have something to say, you want to be able to do it without help. Typing seems to be the holy grail for most. Why? Because the sad but true fact is that the...

Why Message-Passing Tests Are Unethical

• By: Jared Hansen Parent of a Speller
• July 9th, 2026
• AAC, assisted typing, assistive communication, authorship testing, communication access, ethics, message-passing, non-speakers, RPM, S2C, spellers, spelling, spelling to communicate, Summer 2026 Issue, validation testing
• 7    0

Spelling as a method of communication access for non-speakers is rapidly expanding within the Profound Autism community. Thousands of Spellers have gained communication through Spelling to Communicate (S2C), Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), Spellers Method, and other assistive communication methods....