Learning to spell to communicate requires determination, patience and partners to walk this journey with you. We are excited for you to hear your loved one’s thoughts and ideas, that treasure trove that so many parents long for with their non speaker.

You will learn not only the techniques of spelling but also the why behind it. Our practitioners have various training in Spelling to Communicate, the Spellers Method and assistive technology.

We presume competence in each person that walks through our doors. They are not here to prove that they are intelligent. We already know that they are. We believe that each person wants and has the capacity to learn alongside their peers with age appropriate material.

We know that the body is struggling to do what the brain wants. This is also known as apraxia and in layman’s terms, the brain body disconnect. It's all about making connections between the body and the brain. There is so much to learn from other voices about what this experience is like.

Our founder, Melissa, is mom of four children, one of whom utilizes a letter board to communicate. With a bachelor’s degree in Bible and a love for people, she has worked in various settings building teams to love those in her community. It wasn’t until spelling entered their family did she see where she could direct more of her energy.

She loves working with her husband and fellow practitioner to bring more voices to the Arizona valley. Melissa is an assistive technology specialist and has experience working with families across the country over zoom by also teaching and mentoring in the CP Course with Spellers.com .

Daniel earned a B.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language and spent 18 years as an educator in person and online, in various roles including teacher, mentor and lead teacher, middle school manager, and instructional coach. He has an MS in Biostatistics and worked as a biostatistician at Phoenix Children's Hospital before stepping down to work as a full time caregiver for his non-speaking son and stay at home dad for his four children. He has since completed the practitioner training for Spelling to Communicate through I-ASC and is a Speller's Method trained practitioner working with clients in Mesa alongside his wife Melissa, who is also a spelling practitioner. Daniel has seen his son experience the frustration of not having schooling options that suit individuals who are intelligent and capable but who are not treated as such because they are non-speaking.

Claudia is a local ASU alumni with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. She has an extensive background in leadership and business operations within the Financial Industry. She spent many years coaching and developing professionals, before taking an opportunity to focus on her passion of working with kids. She is a mom of 4 and loves getting to work with children of all ages. 

She is enthusiastic about being on this journey to bring awareness around spelling to communicate and helping our Body Brain Connection families thrive.re