Speech Language Pathologists who provide RPM, S2C and/or Spellers Method services:

The premier professional organization for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the U.S. is the American Speech Language Hearing Association. ASHA grants the CCC-SLP, or Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology, which is a nationally recognized professional credential for SLPs. In addition to its position statements against facilitated communication (FC) and RPM (Rapid Prompting Method)/S2C (Spelling to Communicate) (see Opposition Statements), ASHA has guidelines for SLPs that, among other things, inform SLPs of their responsibility to warn people who are considering RPM that there is no evidence that RPM is valid and that “there is emerging scientific evidence that messages produced using RPM reflect the communication of the instructor and not of the person with disability.” While only RPM is mentioned here, ASHA’s discussion of its position statement against RPM, which precedes these guidelines on the same page, notes that S2C is “procedurally similar” to RPM, and that the position statement is “applicable regardless of the name used for the technique.”

Despite this warning, a number of SLPs, most of whom list their credentials as ASHA-certified CCC-SLPs, appear on public sites as S2C, RPM, and Spellers Method practitioners, with their SLP credentials prominently displayed. According to a search we conducted on 9/10/2024, they include (alphabetically by last name):

• Megan Brooks at Bridgehaven Academy.

• Danielle Corneille at Every Voice Matters and High Five Language and Learning.

• Samantha Fox at Beyond Speech Therapy Center.

• Darlene Hanson at Kindred Communication and Spellerverse

• Kate Hurst at RPM of Virginia.

• Taylor Janca at Amplifying Potential.

• Katja Piscitelli, via her Instagram site.

• Elizabeth Vosseller at Growing Kids Therapy Center.

• Maria Welch at The Welch Practice Speech Therapy.

• Bryana Williams at Growing Place Pediatrics and Every Voice Matters.

Occupational therapists who provide S2C and/or Spellers Method services:

While the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) does not make specific mention of FC and its variants, its most recent (2021) Standards of Practice for Occupational Therapy does call on OTs to use “best available evidence” when implementing interventions, and to be “knowledgeable about evidence-informed practice and appl[y] it ethically and appropriately to provide occupational therapy services consistent with best practice approaches.”

Nonetheless, a number of OTs appear on public sites as S2C and Spellers Method practitioners, with their OT credentials prominently displayed. According to a search we conducted on 9/10/2024, they include (alphabetically by last name):

• Katlyn Billue at Growing Kids Therapy.

• Shelley Carnes at Every Voice Matters.

• Jerzie-Ann Coppola at Live Love Grow Therapy.

• Brittany Fink at Holland Spellers.

• Emma Fiorita at Beyond Speech Therapy Center.

• Kelly Howe at Adroit Therapy Services.

• Abby Ihli at Holland Spellers.

• Dana Johnson at Invictus Academy.

• Madeleine Parker at Bridgehaven Academy.

• Julie Randall at Growing Kids Therapy.

• Jess Sibley at Every Voice Matters and Minds in Motion.

Board Certified Behavior Analysts who provide RPM, S2C and/or Spellers Method services:

While the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts does not make specific mention of FC and its variants, it does call for evidence-based practices in 6 of its standards: codes 2.01, 2.13, 2.14, 3.12, 4.06 and 4.08. Here are the relevant excerpts:

• “They [behavior analysts] provide services that are conceptually consistent with behavioral principles, based on scientific evidence,”

• “Before selecting or designing behavior-change interventions behavior analysts select and design assessments that are conceptually consistent with behavioral principles; that are based on scientific evidence;”

• “Behavior analysts select, design, and implement behavior-change interventions that: (1) are conceptually consistent with behavioral principles; (2) are based on scientific evidence; (3) are based on assessment results;”

• “Behavior analysts advocate for and educate clients and stakeholders about evidence-based assessment and behavior change intervention procedures.”

• “They [behavior analysts] design and implement supervision and training procedures that are evidence based, focus on positive reinforcement.”

• “Behavior analysts engage in and document ongoing, evidence-based data collection and performance monitoring (e.g., observations, structured evaluations) of supervisees or trainees.”

See also Quigley et al. (2024), referenced below. Nonetheless, several BCBAs appear on public sites as S2C and Spellers Method practitioners, with their BCBA credentials prominently displayed. According to a search we conducted on 9/14/2024, they include (alphabetically by last name):

• Nicole Johnson, listed on the Hawaii Autism Foundation website.

• Michelle Lubetsky of MichelleLubestsky.com.

• Missy Morris, via her Instagram site.

• Christina Stafford at AutismGivingTree.

Addendum and conclusion:

Most RPM/S2C/Spellers Method practitioners are not certified SLPs, OTs and BCBAs. Some have taken courses in speech therapy or communication science; others have degrees in special education. The majority, however, are people with no background in any special education services: parents who started using S2C, RPM or variant with a minimally speaking child and later decided to sell their services to other families. Many practitioners obtain RPM-based credentials (e.g., “Level 4” or “Soma certified” RPM provider) or S2C-based credentials (“certified S2C practitioner,” “AT-ACP”, or “I-ASC (ACTS) Certification”), but these “certifications” are arbitrary. Neither are there national standard, licensing, or regulatory bodies that oversee FC/S2C/RPM or Spellers Method, nor is there any evidence to back up their claims of promoting authentic tools for independent communication.

Given that all forms of FC are non-evidence-based, and given all that we have written about FC and its variants here on this blog, we aren’t suggesting that it makes any practical difference whether or not an FC practitioner has a particular credential. However we do want to stress here that those who are certified as SLPs, OTs, or BCBAs are not only engaging in a non-evidence-based practice that is likely to suppress and hijack the communications of the people they wish to help, but also contravening the professional guidelines that underpin their credentials. If people come across SLPs, OTs or BCBAs in their area who are providing FC/S2C/RPM services, we encourage them to report those individuals to their state or national organizations.

REFERENCE:

Quigley, S.P., Haag, M., Bly, L. et al. Ethics Dialogue: Spelling to Communicate as a Treatment Recommendation. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01001-4