J.B. Handley's memoir 'Underestimated' tells how his non-speaking autistic son Jamie began communicating on a letterboard, upending what they thought they knew.
I can only imagine the thrill Jamie and his parents experienced when the letterboard came to life and Jamie could communicate! So wonderful!
Jamie's experience seems very similar to that of Ido, who wrote "Ido in Autismland." I suspect your readers will want to read both books. I'm definitely going to read Underestimated No More. Thanks for the review!
Dalton Trumbo "Johnny Got His Gun" is the account of a soldier quadrapeligic who was trapped in a torso but has full mental capacity... Very similar, long before letterboards...
That movie gives me nightmares to this day! He was kept in a storage room in a hospital? bc they didn’t know what to do with him, didn’t know he was cognizant except for one nurse who figured it out.
A fantastic account of what is possible by asking the right questions. Stellar reason to never
"give up". The account was earning interest all the while.
Does not touch the causation issue, emphasis on solutions.
No question whatsover, the most likely causation for most autism is the vaccines... Really would like to know details. Regarding the interventions employed:
The reason that hyperbaric is useful is simple-
O2 under pressure perfuses tissue with oxygen.
The reason "gluten free" is useful is the avoidance of glyphosate (Round-Up)
The reason B12 (methylated) is useful has to do with CH3 groups. Many chemistry details...
I think all of these things can, CAN, truly help many autistic kids. I’m so exited that more and more people are open to all of these things, and heavy metal detoxes and other helpful treatments.
I look forward to a day when kids are no longer vaccinated at all, but in the meantime, I’m grateful for everyone in pursuit of help.
It is not just gluten, it is the grains themselves, which are highly allergenic. I read information in the early nineties about doctors in England who were helping autistic children by taking them off grains and dairy. I had stopped eating all grains in 1986, after I wound up with arthritis. I felt very guided to stop the grains...and in less than a month the pain stopped in my elbows; and I was able to lift up my arms.
Thanks for mentioning those three powerful tools: HBOT, wheat avoidance (there are many reasons for that!) and B vitamins. FDA head Dr. Makary spoke in a press conference 9/22/25 about how autism may be a cerebral folate (B9) deficiency. Like B12, folate is a powerful methyl donor which helps with cellular cleanup of toxins and heavy metals. Dr. M granted FDA approval of Leucovorin, a prescription-strength form of folate called follinic acid, for use in autism (Follinic acid is not to be confused with folic acid, a vitamin impostor that BLOCKS absorption of true folate). Folic acid is ubiquitous in enriched wheat products (bread, cakes, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, cereal, pastries, energy bars, pretzels, crackers, bagels, pizza crusts, etc.) and also MOST multivitamins, nutrition shakes and baby formulas. Folic acid avoidance is an important addition to the list!
HBOT is not an appropriate treatment for many on the spectrum. its contraindicated for any with issues of recurring yeast/fungal infections, for one thing.
my son is provably lead (& other metals) poisoned yet only the most mild forms of chelation were tolerated by him. sadly, none of the better treatments (not even nutritional supplements!) are covered by any insurances, not even Medicaid. so yeah, cost is also a big issue.
I do agree that unlike the other things on the list, HBOT is not without risk must be employed carefully. It is used successfully off-label for many things, but the lack of FDA approval for autism specifically means it is cost-prohibitive for most families. By contrast, the other things on the list-- wheat avoidance and B vitamin fortification (which includes folic acid avoidance)-- are within reach for everyone and also will move the needle the most.
Oxygen under pressure does not facilitate yeast. What possible mechanism would conclude that? Heavy metal toxicity is of grave concern. A chelation expert can down regulate to tolerance... Medical Docs in general are not a great source of information in either domain.
I wonder if anyone can tell me, will this work on people who suffer aphasia from TBI? Our adult daughter suffered a TBI 4-1/2 years ago. Speaking is difficult; the ST said it's aphasia. But she remembers from when she was a child the ASL letters taught in a free class offered at our local library. She signs yes and no more readily than saying yes and no. So maybe the letter board is something to look into for people with aphasia? Or, maybe the kids who need the letter board have aphasia? I'm just a person. Does anyone know about this?
its worth checking into. it probably depends on the location of the injury, for one thing. many of the kids who did well with S2C were also found to have significant eye/vision impairments.
J.B. and Jaimie were featured several years ago on Del Bigtree's podcast "The Highwire". It was an incredibly moving episode (called "Spellers", on the Spelling to Communicate/ S2C method). It's mind-blowing how something so simple can be revolutionary in helping break the autism speech barrier.
I bought and read, Underestimated then lent it out to another parent. not really upset that it was never returned. I will just buy another copy, specifically for my sister-in-law, who has a severe, non-verbal 10 yr old granddaughter. she doesn't understand why/how such a life-changing new technique is not immediately and completely embraced in the special ed community. (gee maybe for the same reason no one with any real power or influence seems interested in the causes of the autism epidemic! she has not a clue, sadly.)
we screened the SPELLERS movie at one of our biomedical treatment group meeting. not a dry eye in the room, of course. thrilled for the families who have benefited from this!
my 22 yr old is very verbally limited, yet his receptive language is quite good and he can read at maybe a first grade level. however, finding and then affording a S2C instructor seems quite the unattainable task, as a single mom, working full time, with very limited resources. last time I checked (about 2 yrs ago) the nearest one was almost a 3 hour drive away.
my son is a very good candidate for S2C so if anyone has any ideas or info for us, please share. (we are near the southeast side of Chicago.)
I can only imagine the thrill Jamie and his parents experienced when the letterboard came to life and Jamie could communicate! So wonderful!
Jamie's experience seems very similar to that of Ido, who wrote "Ido in Autismland." I suspect your readers will want to read both books. I'm definitely going to read Underestimated No More. Thanks for the review!
Thank YOU, Nancy.
Dalton Trumbo "Johnny Got His Gun" is the account of a soldier quadrapeligic who was trapped in a torso but has full mental capacity... Very similar, long before letterboards...
I remember the movie. It was so painful to watch that even now, decades later, I can't bear to think of it. And I agree with your assessment.
That movie gives me nightmares to this day! He was kept in a storage room in a hospital? bc they didn’t know what to do with him, didn’t know he was cognizant except for one nurse who figured it out.
The brilliance is the metaphor. Johnny is the horror of war.
Many are trapped in an existance where their voice is censored
or worse.
A fantastic account of what is possible by asking the right questions. Stellar reason to never
"give up". The account was earning interest all the while.
Does not touch the causation issue, emphasis on solutions.
No question whatsover, the most likely causation for most autism is the vaccines... Really would like to know details. Regarding the interventions employed:
The reason that hyperbaric is useful is simple-
O2 under pressure perfuses tissue with oxygen.
The reason "gluten free" is useful is the avoidance of glyphosate (Round-Up)
The reason B12 (methylated) is useful has to do with CH3 groups. Many chemistry details...
I think all of these things can, CAN, truly help many autistic kids. I’m so exited that more and more people are open to all of these things, and heavy metal detoxes and other helpful treatments.
I look forward to a day when kids are no longer vaccinated at all, but in the meantime, I’m grateful for everyone in pursuit of help.
It is not just gluten, it is the grains themselves, which are highly allergenic. I read information in the early nineties about doctors in England who were helping autistic children by taking them off grains and dairy. I had stopped eating all grains in 1986, after I wound up with arthritis. I felt very guided to stop the grains...and in less than a month the pain stopped in my elbows; and I was able to lift up my arms.
Thanks for mentioning those three powerful tools: HBOT, wheat avoidance (there are many reasons for that!) and B vitamins. FDA head Dr. Makary spoke in a press conference 9/22/25 about how autism may be a cerebral folate (B9) deficiency. Like B12, folate is a powerful methyl donor which helps with cellular cleanup of toxins and heavy metals. Dr. M granted FDA approval of Leucovorin, a prescription-strength form of folate called follinic acid, for use in autism (Follinic acid is not to be confused with folic acid, a vitamin impostor that BLOCKS absorption of true folate). Folic acid is ubiquitous in enriched wheat products (bread, cakes, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, cereal, pastries, energy bars, pretzels, crackers, bagels, pizza crusts, etc.) and also MOST multivitamins, nutrition shakes and baby formulas. Folic acid avoidance is an important addition to the list!
all true!
HBOT is not an appropriate treatment for many on the spectrum. its contraindicated for any with issues of recurring yeast/fungal infections, for one thing.
my son is provably lead (& other metals) poisoned yet only the most mild forms of chelation were tolerated by him. sadly, none of the better treatments (not even nutritional supplements!) are covered by any insurances, not even Medicaid. so yeah, cost is also a big issue.
I do agree that unlike the other things on the list, HBOT is not without risk must be employed carefully. It is used successfully off-label for many things, but the lack of FDA approval for autism specifically means it is cost-prohibitive for most families. By contrast, the other things on the list-- wheat avoidance and B vitamin fortification (which includes folic acid avoidance)-- are within reach for everyone and also will move the needle the most.
Oxygen under pressure does not facilitate yeast. What possible mechanism would conclude that? Heavy metal toxicity is of grave concern. A chelation expert can down regulate to tolerance... Medical Docs in general are not a great source of information in either domain.
I love it! There was a documentary about this.
I wonder if anyone can tell me, will this work on people who suffer aphasia from TBI? Our adult daughter suffered a TBI 4-1/2 years ago. Speaking is difficult; the ST said it's aphasia. But she remembers from when she was a child the ASL letters taught in a free class offered at our local library. She signs yes and no more readily than saying yes and no. So maybe the letter board is something to look into for people with aphasia? Or, maybe the kids who need the letter board have aphasia? I'm just a person. Does anyone know about this?
its worth checking into. it probably depends on the location of the injury, for one thing. many of the kids who did well with S2C were also found to have significant eye/vision impairments.
J.B. and Jaimie were featured several years ago on Del Bigtree's podcast "The Highwire". It was an incredibly moving episode (called "Spellers", on the Spelling to Communicate/ S2C method). It's mind-blowing how something so simple can be revolutionary in helping break the autism speech barrier.
I bought and read, Underestimated then lent it out to another parent. not really upset that it was never returned. I will just buy another copy, specifically for my sister-in-law, who has a severe, non-verbal 10 yr old granddaughter. she doesn't understand why/how such a life-changing new technique is not immediately and completely embraced in the special ed community. (gee maybe for the same reason no one with any real power or influence seems interested in the causes of the autism epidemic! she has not a clue, sadly.)
we screened the SPELLERS movie at one of our biomedical treatment group meeting. not a dry eye in the room, of course. thrilled for the families who have benefited from this!
my 22 yr old is very verbally limited, yet his receptive language is quite good and he can read at maybe a first grade level. however, finding and then affording a S2C instructor seems quite the unattainable task, as a single mom, working full time, with very limited resources. last time I checked (about 2 yrs ago) the nearest one was almost a 3 hour drive away.
my son is a very good candidate for S2C so if anyone has any ideas or info for us, please share. (we are near the southeast side of Chicago.)