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Category: Events

Tim Jin, a smiling AAC user with a shaved head, sits in his powerchair and presents onstage at the AAC Research Summit. Tim's AAC device is positioned by his bare feet, with which he types.

Tim Jin on Embracing Change in AAC Technology

December 30, 2024 Communication FIRST

Typing with his toes is one way our Board Director Tim Jin communicates. Tim’s key(board) to success has been embracing change in AAC technology! Learn more from his AAC Research Summit talk.

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Posted in: Events, News, Research, Technology, Uncategorized Filed under: events, films, Future of AAC Research Summit, research, technology
Lateef McLeod, a Black man wearing a black fleece top sits in his power wheelchair smiling at the camera.

Dr. Lateef McLeod on “How Ableism Impacts People Who Use AAC”

November 20, 2024 Communication FIRST

Dr. Lateef McLeod’s “How Ableism Impacts People Who Use AAC” presentation was first given at the Future of AAC Research Summit on May 14, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia.

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Posted in: Events, News, Research, Uncategorized Filed under: ableism, events, films, Future of AAC Research Summit, research
Bob Williams and Jordyn Zimmerman sit on a dais chatting with one another. They both have AAC devices in front of them.

Bob Williams on Literacy and AAC

August 23, 2024 Communication FIRST

Bob Williams’s Literacy and AAC presentation was first given at the Future of AAC Research Summit on May 14, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia.

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Posted in: Events, News, Policy, Research, Uncategorized Filed under: events, films, Future of AAC Research Summit, literacy, policy, research
Three different speech generating devices are on a round table among drinking glasses and dinner plates. An AAC user's hand is in view as they type on one of the devices.

Technology for Equitable Communication: AAC Users Weigh In

July 25, 2024 Communication FIRST

CommunicationFIRST held a brainstorming session to begin to identify some of the “good, bad, and ugly” ways technologies can uniquely impact people with speech-related disabilities.

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Posted in: Events, News, Policy, Research, Technology, Uncategorized Filed under: policy, public policy, research, technology, technology for equitable communication
Pancho Ramirez, a Latino AAC user, uses his AAC device.

New Film, 13 AAC Users: Priorities for Future Research

July 11, 2024 Communication FIRST

CommunicationFIRST publicly recruited a diverse group of AAC users who were willing to be interviewed on camera about their priorities for AAC research.

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Posted in: Events, News, Policy, Research, Technology Filed under: events, films, Future of AAC Research Summit, policy, research, technology
Screenshot of Alice Wong from her video presentation

AAC Research Summit: Select AAC Users on Research Priorities

June 21, 2024 Communication FIRST

In a first-of-its-kind event held May 13-14, 2024, people with speech-related disabilities from around the U.S. told senior federal officials and researchers how future research dollars should be prioritized.

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Posted in: Events, News, Policy, Research, Technology Filed under: events, films, Future of AAC Research Summit, policy, research, technology
A head-on view of the AUCD award, which is a tall pentagon glass cube with the back of the cube lined in white with the text: "CommunicationFIRST - For your leadership in advocating for inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities and their families - April 19, 2023" the AUCD for All logo appears at the bottom.

AUCD Leadership Award

April 24, 2023 Communication FIRST

On April 19, 2023, CommunicationFIRST was honored to be given an award from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities…

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Posted in: Events, News, Uncategorized
The Power and Art of AAC: Disrupting Racism, Ableism, and Oppression - A Conversation with Three Generations of Award-Winning Artists and Activists: Devva Kasnitz, Lateef McLeod, DJ Savarese, and Bob Williams. Text is on a bright yellow background, and the round CommunicationFIRST logo is in black and white, with the tagline, "Because communication is a human right."

The Power and Art of AAC: Disrupting Racism, Ableism, and Oppression

April 4, 2023 Communication FIRST

On June 20, 2022, the evening after Juneteenth, CommunicationFIRST Policy Director Bob Williams, and CommunicationFIRST Advisory Council member Devva Kasnitz…

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Posted in: Events, Uncategorized Filed under: communication, racism, rights

AAC Users Chat with Disability Rights Legend Judy Heumann

November 28, 2020 Communication First

“How do we, as AAC users, make people stop and listen to us?” “How do we elevate individuals who use…

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Posted in: Events, Uncategorized
Flyer titled "AAC User Chat with Judy Heumann," with Communication FIRST logo, headshot photos of Judy Heumann, Bob Williams, and Hari Srinivasan, with a description of the event and a link to register

July 17 Event: AAC User Chat with Judy Heumann

July 8, 2020 Communication First

We are excited to host this special opportunity for AAC users to engage with civil rights legend and CommunicationFIRST Board Member Judy Heumann on July 17!

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Posted in: Events, News

We need your support to help protect and advance the rights of people who are unable to rely on speech alone to be heard and understood!

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