10/12/2026
Sometimes the best question isn't an open-ended question. ❤️
When we work with spellers, we have to remember something that is incredibly easy to forget:
Every letter takes movement.
For a person with significant motor movement and motor-planning deficits, getting from one letter to the next can require an incredible amount of physical and cognitive effort.
Yes, we want our spellers to have access to open communication.
Open communication means they can be asked essentially ANY question and independently generate whatever answer they want.
That's beautiful.
That's freedom.
Here's the thing:
Open communication isn't more valuable than choice-making.
Think about how we communicate ourselves.
Someone asks you:
“Where do you want to go to dinner tonight?”
Then:
“Why?”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“What sounds good?”
“What restaurant?”
“What kind of food?”
Suddenly, you're like…
“I don't know. You pick.” 😂
Not because you don't have thoughts.
Not because you don't have an opinion.
Because sometimes too many possibilities require too much effort.
Now imagine being asked that same question while every single letter you use to formulate your answer requires intentional, physically demanding motor movement.
Instead:
“Do you want Mexican or Italian?”
Suddenly, you know.
“Mexican.”
“Do you want Don Jose’s or Vincent’s?”
“THIS ONE.”
That communication can be fast, meaningful, purposeful, and completely authentic.
So when we're working with spellers, we need to be cognizant of the motor cost of communication.
We have to ask ourselves:
Is this question worth the effort it requires?
Sometimes the most respectful thing we can do isn't to demand a long, open-ended response.
Sometimes it's giving them two meaningful choices.
Sometimes it's narrowing the field.
Sometimes it's letting them conserve their stamina.
Their energy is finite.
We want them to have enough of it left for the things that truly matter:
The thought they desperately want to share.
The joke they want to tell.
The question they've been waiting to ask.
The opinion they want heard.
The conversation they want to have.
Our job isn't to make every interaction as difficult as possible in the name of independence.
Our job is to create access to communication.
Sometimes, the most accessible communication is simply:
“This one… or this one?”
That answer can be just as meaningful, just as intentional, and just as worthy of being heard.
Communication doesn't have to be difficult to be real. ❤️
