218 | the brain-body disconnect: what Spelling to Communicate taught me about autism and communication

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇

communication is not only about spoken words.

and for many autistic individuals, especially non-speaking or minimally speaking individuals, the challenge is not a lack of thoughts, understanding, or desire to communicate. it may be that their body does not reliably do what their brain wants it to do.

in this episode, dr. tay shares reflections after observing several Spelling to Communicate (S2C) sessions, including sessions with open spellers who were able to describe their own experiences of motor planning, communication, and brain-body disconnect.

this conversation is about more than one communication modality. it is an invitation to think differently about communication, apraxia, motor planning, autonomy, consent, and what it means to presume competence.

even if your child uses complex spoken language, this episode offers powerful insight into why communication can still break down, why behavior may not always mean what we think it means, and why giving time, space, and access matters.

a special shoutout to Olivia of Brain2Body Therapy (Instagram: @brain2bodytherapy) and the families who allowed me to observe sessions - I am SO grateful!

in this episode, you’ll hear:

• why communication should not be defined only by spoken language
• how S2C supports communication through motor planning
• what apraxia and brain-body disconnect can look like in autistic individuals
• why some autistic individuals may say one thing while their body or spelling communicates something different
• how autonomy, agency, and consent can show up in communication work
• what open spellers can teach us about presuming competence
• why time, regulation, and a trusted communication partner matter
• how these lessons apply even when a child has spoken language

timestamps

00:00 introduction to Spelling to Communicate (S2C) and why this topic matters

02:08 understanding communication beyond spoken language

05:49 observations from S2C sessions

12:00 autonomy, agency, and consent in communication work

18:08 motor planning, apraxia, and communication challenges

23:48 key insights from open spellers

28:05 when communication does not match what the body is doing

30:20 understanding how much effort communication can take

34:29 the brain-body disconnect and what it can teach us

39:10 navigating consent, autonomy, and “no”

46:53 the importance of time, space, and regulation in learning

51:51 reflections on communication, presuming competence, and learning differently

resources

⚡️ listen to episode 132 for more information on S2C and episode 159 to learn more about apraxia

⚡️ learn more about Dr. Tay's current clinical services offered as well as her educational membership at drtaylorday.com