
We postponed our 4th birthday fundraiser in early October due to world events. This week, we are combining Giving Tuesday with that annual fundraiser and setting an ambitious goal of raising $25,000 by December 1! Help us celebrate our birthday and Giving Tuesday at the same time. We cannot advance our mission to improve the civil rights of people with speech disabilities without your support. The first $2,500 was matched by the law firm of Vanaman German LLP. The next $7,000 in contributions will be matched by The Gupta Foundation! Thank you for your generosity!
Help us reach our goal!
With your help, over the past 4 years, we have begun to transform the national conversation about the legal rights and lived experiences of people who need and use augmentative and alternative (AAC) tools and supports. We are ensuring conversations at the federal and state level around policy issues that impact us – guardianship, access to health care, restraint and seclusion, education, access to justice, employment, institutionalization, effective communication, and more – include our voices and address our interests. We are ambitious and unrelenting disabled advocates who believe in radical inclusion and acceptance. We are fighting to change hearts and minds, and to build a world that centers justice, community, dignity, and humanity. And we are just getting started. We have so much more to do and with your help, we will!
Running for Office with a Speech Disability
Have you ever thought about running for political office? Here’s your chance to hear from four people with speech-related disabilities…
Restraint and Seclusion Litigation Against Fairfax County Public Schools Is Resolved
We are pleased to announce that CommunicationFIRST, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates…
Meet Pancho Ramirez, CommunicationFIRST’s Newest Board Member!
Pancho Ramirez is CommunicationFIRST’s newest Board member. As a Mexican immigrant farmworker, he acquired his speech disability in 2003 at…
Tell the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to Support Nonspeaking People and Communication Access!
The U.S. Government‘s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) helps determine how federal government money related to autism is spent. Although…
Guest Blog: Communication Barriers Faced by AAC Users in Accessing Health Care
by endever* corbin This guest blog is adapted from a presentation given at the August 2021 Reinventing Quality conference. I’m…
CommunicationFIRST to DC Council: Eliminate IQ Requirement to Qualify for Services
On November 5, 2021, CommunicationFIRST’s Policy Director, Bob Williams, submitted written testimony to urge the DC Council (Washington, DC’s legislative…
AAC Users Interview Jordyn Zimmerman (Updated with Recordings)
On November 10, 2021, CommunicationFIRST hosted an opportunity for AAC users to interview Jordyn Zimmerman about the new documentary This…
LISTEN wins Film Festival Award!
We are thrilled and humbled to share that our film LISTEN: Made by and with Nonspeaking Autistics won the Zukor…
This Is Not About Jordyn
On October 13, 2021, CommunicationFIRST is excited to join with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism,…