Communication First

TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE ESTIMATED 5 MILLION CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO CANNOT RELY ON SPEECH TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, SYSTEMIC REFORM OF POLICY AND PRACTICE, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY.

COMMUNICATIONFIRST SEEKS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE ESTIMATED 5 MILLION CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH SIGNIFICANT SPEECH-RELATED DISABILITIES. WE WORK TO ADVANCE SYSTEMIC CHANGE THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, POLICY AND PRACTICE REFORM, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY. IN 2021, IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS, COMMUNICATIONFIRST: (1) CREATED LISTEN: A SHORT FILM MADE BY AND WITH NONSPEAKING AUTISTICS TO PROMOTE AUTHENTIC DISABILITY REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA AND SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE HARMS OF PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. THE FILM HAS BEEN VIEWED OVER 100,000 TIMES, TRANSLATED INTO 6 LANGUAGES, INCORPORATED INTO SCHOOL AND PROFESSIONAL CURRICULA, WON A TOP AWARD AT THE ASTORIA FILM FESTIVAL, AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD; (2) PUBLISHED GUEST BLOGS BY AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC) USERS ON BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE, GENDER IDENTITY, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION, AND OTHER TOPICS; (3) HOSTED WEBINARS ON GUARDIANSHIPS AND LESS RESTRICTIVE DECISIONMAKING MODELS FOR AAC USERS, AND ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE WITH A SPEECH DISABILITY; (4) PARTICIPATED IN CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS HOSTED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON COMMUNICATION RIGHTS; (5) CONTINUED WORK ON THE SEE US, HEAR US PROJECT, A SERIES OF SHORT FILMS HIGHLIGHTING THE DIVERSITY AND STRENGTH OF OUR POPULATION AND TO FOSTER SOCIETAL INCLUSION; (6) RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY SHOWING THE EXTENT TO WHICH STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT SPEECH-RELATED DISABILITIES WERE BEING DENIED SAFE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC; AND MORE. IN THE AREA OF POLICY AND PRACTICE REFORM, IN 2021, COMMUNICATIONFIRST: (1) DRAFTED A COMMUNICATION EQUITY CALL TO ACTION, ENDORSED BY 47 OTHER DISABILITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, FOR THE NEW BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, URGING POLICY MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO NEED AAC; (2) EXPANDED WORK ON SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GUARDIANSHIP (INCLUDING SUBMITTING INVITED TESTIMONY AT A US SENATE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING); (3) SUBMITTED COMMENTS TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING TO: (A) THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET ON MAKING THE US GOVERNMENTS POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES MORE EQUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH SPEECH-RELATED DISABILITIES; (B) THE US INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE, URGING A GREATER FOCUS ON THE ONE-THIRD OF AUTISTIC PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE AAC TOOLS AND SUPPORTS; AND (C) THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAS GOVERNING COUNCIL TO URGE IT TO ELIMINATE A REQUIREMENT FOR IQ TESTS TO BE USED IN DECIDING WHO QUALIFIES TO RECEIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES. COMMUNICATIONFIRST ALSO CONTINUED WORK ON LEGISLATION TO CREATE A NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR AAC. COMMUNICATIONFIRST WAS ALSO AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE CONSORTIUM FOR CONSTITUENTS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION, HEALTH, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND RIGHTS TASK FORCES. IN THE AREA OF LEGAL ADVOCACY, IN 2021, COMMUNICATIONFIRST SUCCESSFULLY SETTLED ITS FIRST LAWSUIT, FILED IN 2019, ON THE DISCRIMINATORY AND HARMFUL USE OF RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION IN FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN VIRGINIA. COMMUNICATIONFIRST ALSO PARTICIPATED AS AMICUS CURIAE IN COURT CASES ON DISABILITY RIGHTS ISSUES. COMMUNICATIONFIRST CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF COVID PATIENTS WHO REQUIRED IN-PERSON SUPPORTS IN HOSPITALS TO COMMUNICATE, AND SETTLED A COMPLAINT AGAINST MEDSTAR HEALTH, INC., FOR DENYING PATIENTS WITH COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES ACCESS TO IN-PERSON SUPPORTS IN THEIR FACILITIES IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA. COMMUNICATIONFIRST ALSO CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZED INTERNATIONAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE DIALOGUES WITH OTHER DISABILITY RIGHTS LEADERS AROUND THE GLOBE, AND BEGAN WORKING WITH FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS TO IMPROVE PROTOCOLS USED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM CRIME VICTIMS AND WITNESSES WHO CANNOT USE SPEECH TO COMMUNICATE.