In this episode of Now What?, Betsy Hicks Russ and Libby Ingram sit down with engineer and independent researcher Becca Cramer to explore one of the most debated and rapidly evolving topics in the autism world: spelling as a form of communication.

As more non-speakers begin expressing themselves through letter boards and typing, a growing number of families, educators, and professionals are rethinking long-held beliefs about intelligence, language, and autonomy. And yet, despite thousands of individuals demonstrating clear, complex communication, these methods remain widely dismissed by major institutions and are often excluded from classrooms and covered care.

So what’s holding things back?

Together, they unpack the science and the skepticism. From the role of apraxia and the limits of traditional speech-based models, to the controversy around influence, message passing, and what it really means for something to be considered “evidence-based.”

Becca brings a grounded, analytical perspective to the conversation by bridging research, lived experience, and the questions the scientific community still needs to answer.

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