Words At My Fingertips

Where Non-speakers and Minimally-speaking Individuals Learn to Communicate using Letterboards and Keyboards

My Story

About T4C – Typing for Communication

The ability to communicate, to share information, thoughts, beliefs and desires with other individuals, is so integral to a person’s wellbeing that it is considered a fundamental human right.(1)
Because many non or minimally-speaking people are unable to communicate effectively, they are
severely limitd in their opportunities for socialization, education and careers. However, within the last
decade, some non-speaking or minimally-speaking people have learned to communicate by pointing to
letters on a letterboard or keyboard, unlocking and unleashing all their thoughts and feelings, enabling
them to write essays, blogs, poetry and books.
The aim of Words At My Fingertips is to teach non-speaking or minimally-speaking individuals to
communicate using letterboards and keyboards via the T4C method, as taught by Judy Chinitz at Mouth
to Hand Learning Center in Mount Kisco, NY. This method is similar to other practices of teaching non-
speakers to use letterboards, including the Spellers Method and S2C, Spelling to Communicate:

T4C uses successively more difficult letterboards, going from larger to smaller letters, and then
to a keyboard.
The practitioner reads a lesson. In the beginning the pratitioner asks questions that the content
is known to the speller and progresses to more difficult questions until the speller is able to
communicate openly and fluently, expressing ideas, thoughts, needs and wants.
Sessions can be one on one, or they can be small-group sessions, which foster social skills and
friendships.
In addition, at Words At My Fingertips, parents are taught the techniques employed with the T4C
method, so they can become another CP, communication partner. They can learn to communicate with
their child, and assist their child in communication with others, which extends the communication
fluency beyond the T4C sessions.
United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. General Assembly
Resolution 217A, https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights (1948).

About Me

Spelling practitioner

Laura has been working with minimally speaking individuals since December 2021. She started her rigorous training in November, 2021 in the S2C, Spelling to Communicate method, finished her classes in May, 2022 and then completed her internship in September, 2022. Laura then furthered honed her skills with training in the T4C method, Typing For Communication. She is now a certified T4C practitioner. Her role as a T4C practitioner is to foster independence and socialization through communication, with an ultimate goal of assisting the client to reach their full potential.

Laura has worked with children for many years in different roles, including being a published children’s book author and teaching violin and viola to people, ages 4 to adult for over 40 years.

Education: Laura holds a B.A. degree in Biochemistry from Colgate University and a M.A. from Touro College.

She lives in Wantagh, NY and interests include consciousness exploration and cooking. She is an avid reader and beachgoer.

Community Classes

“My community classes are Fun, Educational and Foster Friendships.”
Laura Masciarelli
Spelling Practitioner

Mindfulness

This class explores different techniques for promoting calmness and reducing stress and anxiety.

Fitness

Includes all different forms of exercise presented in a way that is conducive to having fun while getting
fit.

Health and Nutrition

This class instructs in the very basics of healthy eating, covering macronutrients, calories, food groups, and vitamins and minerals

Test Preparation

Preparation for success in standardized tests.

Brain Science Club

Explores topics in how the brain works.

Classes are open to all ages and All Skill Levels

Words At My Fingertips Sessions