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Category: Uncategorized

A smiling child wearing a gold crown sits in a mobility chair outside while looking at an AAC device.

Virginia Legislature To Require AAC Training in Schools

March 28, 2025 Communication FIRST

Earlier this week, Virginia adopted its first law expressly addressing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Read our summary and statement of the law here.

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Posted in: Accessibility, Health Care, Policy, Resources, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, accessibility, augmentative and alternative communication, health care, Medicaid, Medicaid cuts, policy, save Medicaid
Multiple white marble columns on a bright day.

CommunicationFIRST Statement Opposing Attack on the Administration for Community Living

March 27, 2025 Communication FIRST

Read CommunicationFIRST’s statement in response to the planned elimination of the Administration for Community Living.

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Posted in: Accessibility, Health Care, Policy, Resources, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, accessibility, augmentative and alternative communication, health care, Medicaid, Medicaid cuts, policy, save Medicaid
Black words over a white background read: “The most powerful way to advocate is to tell your story.” Blue quotes surround the text.

Advocating for Policy Change

March 19, 2025 Communication FIRST

Medicaid is at risk! Your elected representatives need to hear how losing your Medicaid waiver would change your life. This Policy Advocacy for AAC Users toolkit provides some tips.

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Posted in: Accessibility, Health Care, Policy, Resources, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, accessibility, augmentative and alternative communication, health care, Medicaid, Medicaid cuts, policy, save Medicaid
Alongside their aides, AAC users eat boxed lunches at a table in a hotel atrium.

What Would You Do Without Your Aide?

January 31, 2025 Communication FIRST

Share how Medicaid cuts would hurt you or those around you who need Medicaid to stay in the community. We put together some resources from our amazing partners to make this easy!

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Posted in: Accessibility, Health Care, Policy, Resources, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, accessibility, augmentative and alternative communication, health care, Medicaid, Medicaid cuts, policy, save Medicaid
A voice amplification device hangs from a strap around Sophie Bohnen's shoulder, and its microphone attachment is positioned by her mouth. Sophie smiles and looks at the camera as she holds up a printed program.

My Voice Wasn’t Coming Back

January 22, 2025 Communication FIRST

Sophie Bohnen navigates the world with a whisper. When Sophie developed Laryngeal Dystonia, she adopted a voice amplification device and found her voice in advocacy. Sophie is creating a platform for people who go unheard to share their stories.

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Posted in: Accessibility, Guest Blog, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, accessibility, augmentative and alternative communication, guest blog
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
Outside the U.S. Capitol, CommunicationFIRST Policy Director Bob Williams poses with Executive & Legal Director Tauna Szymanski. The smiling co-founders sport sunglasses. An AAC device is fixed to Bob’s powerchair.

Bob Williams on the Power of Free Speech

December 15, 2024 Communication FIRST

In celebration of Bill of Rights Day, Bob Williams reflects on the power free expression holds for those of us who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood.

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Posted in: Accessibility, Policy, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, accessibility, augmentative and alternative communication, nonspeaking, policy
A glimpse over the shoulder of Ren, a fat nonbinary person with glasses and a partially shaved head visible, as they type into the AAC app on their smartphone. On their lap, a blanket is visible, patterned with smiling cartoon ghosts in the colors of the transgender flag.

Communicating in Times of Stress

December 5, 2024 Communication FIRST

Our resource guides people with speech-related disabilities and mental health conditions, allies, and lifeline workers.

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Posted in: Resources, Uncategorized Filed under: AAC, augmentative and alternative communication, crisis, mental health, nonspeaking, resource, speech-related disabilities
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
A smiling young girl uses her AAC device. Three women surrounding the girl cheer her on, and another woman sitting at the dining room table with them takes notes.

Connecting on AAC Research Opportunities

October 29, 2024 Communication FIRST

If you are a researcher, an AAC user interested in research opportunities, or a person supporting an AAC user interested in these opportunities, learn about how we can best connect you!

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Posted in: News, Research, Uncategorized Filed under: aac research, research, researchers
A drawing of five hands represents the Five Finger/Number voting method. The first hand holds up one finger, the second hand holds up two, the third hand holds up three, the fourth hand holds up four, and the fifth hand holds up five.

Tips for Online Meetings with AAC Users, by AAC Users

August 30, 2024 Communication FIRST

This resource includes quick tips written by AAC users on organizing and hosting online meetings with AAC users.

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Posted in: Accessibility, Resources, Technology, Uncategorized Filed under: accessibility, online meetings, resources, technology, technology for equitable communication
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
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

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