Perspectives will be updated regularly with profiles and guest blogs from our members and allies, essays, news, photos, videos, and other features. Come back often!

COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit

By Communication First | Mar 27, 2020
image of hospital hallway with hospital bed and people in scrubs in the distance

CommunicationFIRST has prepared a COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit, recognizing that our population—people who face significant barriers being understood with speech and accessing effective communication supports in the best of times—is likely to face even greater barriers to accessing our necessary communication supports if we are hospitalized due to a coronavirus infection.
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What Is My Name?

By Communication First | Feb 22, 2020
Melissa Crisp-Cooper smiling, sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a purple t-shirt with the CommunicationFIRST logo.

I often wonder if something as basic as my name is so difficult for people to understand, then how are they supposed to understand anything about my personality, my core, the basic essence of my being. How was I supposed to come across as smart, snarky, sexy Melissa Crisp if everyone heard Marissa Crap tumble from my lips?
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CommunicationFIRST Joins Federal Lawsuit Against Illegal Restraint and Seclusion

By Communication First | Oct 8, 2019
image of US Supreme Court

Washington, DC – A lawsuit filed today alleges that students with disabilities in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) experience unjustified discrimination, psychological trauma, and physical harm from the widespread and improper use of restraint and seclusion.
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Making Communication a Reality for All

By Communication First | Oct 2, 2019
wood plank hand-carved with capital letters A-Z and numbers

We can and must advocate together for the human and civil right to effective communication for all children and adults, regardless of condition, disability, and support need. Here is why I believe this is CommunicationFIRST’s urgent, essential duty.
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Defining “Intellectual Disability”

By Communication First | Oct 1, 2019
stylistic quotation marks on orange background

Does the “ID” Label Do More Harm Than Good? CommunicationFIRST recently submitted comments in response to the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) July 1, 2019 public call for input on a proposed revision to the definition of “intellectual disability” (ID) in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual…
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Meet Board Chair India Ochs

By Communication First | Aug 29, 2019
base of white marble columns evoking justice theme

Meet CommunicationFIRST Board Chair India Ochs, a lawyer, social justice advocate, parent, avid soccer player, fan of musical theater, and student of karate, not necessarily in that order. She was also born with a speech-related communication disability and is a life-long AAC user. India has been active throughout her…
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Meet CommunicationFIRST Director Judy Heumann

By Communication First | Jul 24, 2019

Anyone familiar with US disability rights history needs no introduction to Judy Heumann. We are honored that she has decided to take up this important fight and to share her wisdom and experience from decades leading the disability movement and advancing civil and human rights worldwide. Judy kindly agreed…
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