Spellers Method sessions for nonspeaking and minimally speaking individuals, led by a mom who has walked this road herself.
Meet Sunny
My journey into the world of spelling began with my son, Jackson, and it has forever changed the way I see the world, my son, and the incredible potential within every nonspeaking individual.
When Jackson was 10 years old, we began our spelling journey. At the time, I could never have imagined just how profoundly it would transform our lives. Three years later, Jackson is now an open speller, and the growth we have experienced together has been nothing short of life-changing.
What began as a journey to help my own son find his voice has become a calling to help others discover theirs.
Spelling has given Jackson an opportunity to express his thoughts, share his knowledge, and show the world the incredible person he has always been. But the transformation has gone far beyond communication. It has completely changed the way we approach everyday life.
Today, we presume competence in everything Jackson does. We focus on purposeful motor skills, encourage independence, provide age-appropriate learning opportunities, and approach challenges with an entirely different perspective. We no longer allow the limitations of his body to define the potential of his mind.
Most importantly, Jackson is living a fuller, richer, more abundant life. And as his mom, there is no greater gift than watching my son discover new possibilities and knowing that his voice matters.
This journey has changed me just as much as it has changed him. It ignited a passion in my heart to help other nonspeaking individuals and their families experience the same hope, connection, and possibilities that spelling has brought into our home.
That passion led me to become a Spellers Method Practitioner and ultimately to co-found True Vine Mission, a Christ-centered learning community dedicated to serving nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking children and adults.
At True Vine Mission, our vision is to create a place where individuals are fully presumed competent, challenged with meaningful, age-appropriate education, supported in developing purposeful motor skills, and given opportunities to strengthen their communication, build relationships, and grow in independence.
We believe every individual is created with purpose, has incredible gifts to share, and deserves the opportunity to learn, belong, and thrive. Our mission is not simply to provide education, but to cultivate a community rooted in faith, dignity, connection, and possibility.
I know firsthand what can happen when someone is finally given the opportunity to communicate. I have watched it transform my son’s life, and I believe it has the power to transform countless others.
And I truly believe this is only the beginning.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11
Services
The first 1–2 sessions focus on assessing your loved one's motor skills to choose the right board, along with their ocular motor skills and sensory profile.
Each session is 45 minutes.
Parents and guardians are an essential part of the journey toward communication. Starting in session 2, you'll be coached on how to get on the boards with your speller.
Book one-on-one session
Personalized feedback, practical strategies, and the confidence to support your speller at home.
Record a 20-minute spelling session with your speller and complete a reflection worksheet. Then we meet for a 45-minute Zoom consultation to review what I observed, celebrate successes, and work through challenges together.
Book parent coaching
Traveling because there's no local practitioner near you? Whether you're just starting your spelling journey or need a tune-up, an intensive might be a great fit.
Families have 2 sessions per day during their visit.
Book your intensiveThe Spellers Method
Spellers treats the gap between what someone knows and what they can say as a motor challenge — not a cognitive one. We presume competence and train the skills that let thoughts reach the letterboard.
01 / 05
Intentional, targeted movement builds the motor pathways a speller needs to point to letters with accuracy, rhythm and growing independence.
Once Adrian started spelling with Sunny, he gained the confidence to keep working with me at home. As a mom, I got so much direction and so many tips from her to keep us spelling. Sunny took the time to show Adrian how, praised him when he did great, always presumed competence, and encouraged him not to doubt himself. He's spelling so much better now — and his future is so bright.
The first time Sunny worked with us, we were ALL in tears. Spellers Method is liberating my 3 nonspeakers! Sunny has helped ME in Presuming Competence in my spellers. She also trains ME (mom) so that we're more successful at home. Sunny is incredibly knowledgeable, HIGHLY intuitive, and very regulating as a communication partner. We've learned so much since starting with Sunny, and seen real life miracles. I recommend her to ALL autism families.
The Spellers Method is an innovative, motor-based approach designed to support nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals in developing the purposeful motor skills needed to communicate by spelling.
At Spelling with Sunny, we believe that the ability to speak does not determine the ability to think, learn, or understand. We presume competence and recognize that every individual deserves access to age-appropriate education and meaningful opportunities to express themselves.
Through structured lessons, purposeful movement, and individualized motor coaching, spellers learn to use letterboards and eventually keyboards to communicate.
The journey typically begins with three stencil letterboards and progresses toward a full alphabet board, laminated letterboard, and keyboard as motor skills develop.
Our goal is to help each speller build greater independence, confidence, and access to communication, one letter at a time.
Spelling with Sunny welcomes individuals ages 12 & up, including adults, who are nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or unreliably speaking.
Many individuals we work with have autism or other conditions that affect their ability to communicate consistently through speech.
You do not need to have prior spelling experience to begin!
Whether your loved one is just starting their communication journey or has already developed spelling skills and wants to continue progressing, sessions are tailored to their individual needs.
We focus on meeting each speller where they are, supporting their motor development, and creating a positive learning environment that recognizes their potential.
Consistency is an important part of developing new motor skills and building confidence with spelling.
For families just beginning their journey, I generally recommend starting with one to two sessions per week, depending on the speller’s individual needs, goals, and family schedule.
Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and focuses on developing purposeful motor skills, accuracy, and confidence.
Progress looks different for every speller. Some individuals benefit from more frequent sessions, while others need additional time to practice and integrate their skills between appointments.
I also encourage families to become active participants in the process. Building skills outside our sessions can be an important part of supporting long-term progress.
Together, we can develop a schedule that works best for your family.
Yes! Spelling with Sunny offers virtual sessions for families regardless of their location.
Virtual sessions allow us to connect from the comfort of your home while continuing to support your speller’s communication journey.
During virtual sessions, I provide individualized instruction, motor-coaching guidance, and feedback to help families and communication partners support their speller.
For hands-on spelling activities, a parent or trusted communication partner will need to be physically present with the speller to assist with letterboard positioning and motor support.
Virtual sessions are also a wonderful opportunity for parents and communication partners to strengthen their skills, ask questions, and gain confidence in supporting spelling at home.
Virtual sessions are $90 for 45 minutes.
No matter where you live, my heart is to help your family feel supported, encouraged, and empowered throughout this journey.
Parent Coaching Sessions are designed to empower parents and communication partners with personalized feedback, practical strategies, and the confidence to support their speller at home.
Before our meeting, you’ll record a 20-minute spelling session with your speller and complete a reflection worksheet that I provide. You’ll send both to me so I can review your session, observe motor patterns, prompting techniques, letterboard positioning, and areas of progress.
We’ll then meet for a 45-minute Zoom consultation to discuss my observations, celebrate successes, work through challenges, and explore individualized strategies to strengthen your coaching skills.
My goal is to help you feel confident, equipped, and supported as you guide your speller through their communication journey.
Cost: $90 — includes video review, worksheet feedback, and a 45-minute virtual coaching session.