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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Discover the layered experience of growing up alongside a sibling with complex needs. In this episode, Betsy Hicks-Russ and Libby Ingram are joined by their children, Jessie and Thomas, for an honest and deeply personal conversation. Together, they explore communication and their evolving understanding of connection—from spelling to telepathy. Through the sibling lens, this episode offers a powerful perspective on what it means to grow up, adapt, and awaken within a family shaped by autism.

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In this episode, Betsy and Libby sit down with Natalia Meehan and Maria Welch to map the major spelling pathways supporting non-speakers today. They explore and explain core concept underneath it all: apraxia (the brain–body disconnect). They break down why spelling is a motor-based communication method, why you can’t just “buy a letterboard,” and why communication partners hold and reset the board. The conversation also goes into presuming competence, what non-speakers report about being underestimated, and the emerging language around telepathy (non-local communication), including how Natalia and Maria are building a new curriculum and training called The Bridge that acknowledges what many families are already experiencing.

The Bridge Spelling Method by Maria Welch and Natalia Meehan

https://bridgetothriving.org/

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