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communicationfirst.bsky.social
Disability-led 501(c)(3) protecting the civil rights of humans who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood.
74 posts 982 followers 117 following
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Register now for the next CommunicationFIRST webinar on June 26: Policy Advocacy 101 for #AAC Users and Allies - featuring @jordynbzim.bsky.social, Bob Williams, Angelica Vega, Dean Strauss, Toby Latham, and Samuel Habib! us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #DisabilityRights

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

#ProtectMedicaid! U.S. House committees have voted to cut $715 billion from Medicaid and $300 billion from SNAP, and the budget bill is now headed to the Senate. This would be the largest cuts ever made to these programs - in order to pay for tax cuts to the wealthy!

submitted 27 days ago • 2 comments

Who was Devva? Wonder why people feel disability pride? This series of free online events honoring our late Advisory Council member starts tonight (May 14) at 7:00 ET US time. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/.../reg.../d.... More info: iloveyou-leadon.com/devva/?utm_s....

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

My daughter’s speech therapist went out of business because Medicaid reimbursement rates were too low. We do not have Medicaid. I’m going to keep posting this until people understand that when Medicaid gets cut *everyone* loses services.

submitted 46 days ago • 161 comments

Excellent reporting here by North Jersey. When residents are denied access to the communication tools and supports they need to communicate effectively, the institution dehumanizes them even further. #AAC #AACForAll #PrioritizeCommunication www.northjersey.com/story/news/w...

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

Are you a researcher looking for #AACUsers for participatory research? We have multiple resources to help you! Sample research ideas resource: lnk.to/AACrsrchpriorities Priorities for Future Research by AAC users video: lnk.to/13flmx ...

submitted 53 days ago • 1 comment

CommunicationFIRST is a proud partner in the five-year federally-funded Link Center, a national resource center bridging the mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities systems. One feature of the Link Center is the Shared Learning Groups sessions...

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

Over the past couple weeks, autism has been part of many conversations on here and in the news. Read my latest letter to the editor of @nytimes.com, available online and in print. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/o...

submitted 63 days ago • 2 comments

As an organization that seeks to advocate for the rights and interests of anyone in the United States who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood, CommunicationFIRST's community includes millions of people who experience aphasia. [cont.]

submitted 64 days ago • 1 comment

Do you want to have a say in or contribute to research about you and about #AAC? Join our research email list to receive opportunities to participate in AAC research: lnk.to/rlist To learn more about research generally, read our research plain language resource: lnk.to/whatisrsrch [Image: A...

submitted 66 days ago • 1 comment

[Pt. 2] Our Medicaid disability services are at risk. What can we do to save them? Our Policy Advocacy for AAC Users toolkit has everything you need to get your voice heard: lnk.to/aactoolkit [Image 1: White text over a blue...

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

Our Medicaid disability services are at risk. What can we do to save them? Our Policy Advocacy for AAC Users toolkit has everything you need to get your voice heard: lnk.to/aactoolkit [Image 1: White text over a blue background reads: #MEDICAIDMATTERS “What can I do to help protect Medicaid?”...

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

TIME WE LIKE They talk like we are not listening. They want to teach me to think like them. I want to think like me. They are like everyone. It's time to be like me. ASA JONES, AGE 9 [Image: Black and white image of a white-appearing, blind, nonspeaking, straight-haired boy's face with...

submitted 85 days ago • 1 comment

Earlier this week, Virginia adopted its first law expressly addressing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Read our summary and statement of the law here: lnk.to/aacbill [Image: A smiling child wearing a gold crown sits in a mobility chair outside while looking at an AAC device.]

submitted 91 days ago • 0 comments

Read CommunicationFIRST’s statement in response to the planned elimination of the Administration for Community Living: lnk.to/aclcuts [Image: Multiple white marble columns on a bright day.]

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Time is running out! Get your “Jordyn Zimmerman tee” today! Available only until March 24! lnk.to/shpc [Image 1: Our staff member Marrok Sedgwick sports a green CommunicationFIRST T-shirt featuring a quote by our Board Chair Jordyn Zimmerman: “Speech...

submitted 98 days ago • 1 comment

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. lnk.to/aactoolkit [Image: Black words over a white background read: “Your representatives...

submitted 99 days ago • 1 comment

CommunicationFIRST had a fantastic time at the #ATIA2025 conference! We loved connecting with so many dedicated fans of #assistivetechnology and can’t wait for next year! [Image 1: Two men in power chairs...

submitted 107 days ago • 1 comment

Back by popular demand! The “Jordyn Zimmerman tee” is available now until March 24! lnk.to/shpc. 📷: #VisibleAAC Photo of Jackson Shroeder by Jayne Schroeder [Image: AAC user Jackson Schroeder sports a green CommunicationFIRST T-shirt featuring a quote by our Board Chair @jordynbzim.bsky.social…

submitted 115 days ago • 1 comment

It’s been two years since one of our founding Board members, #JudyHeumann, left us. To honor her legacy, you can help save the disability rights law that she helped get passed. Our partner, DREDF, created a resource to stop the attack on #Section504. lnk.to/tvbart [Image: CommunicationFIRST...

submitted 121 days ago • 1 comment

Help us welcome Yebeen Chang & Marrok Sedgwick to our team! Yebeen is our new Community Engagement Associate, & Marrok is our new Program Manager. Yebeen was raised by an AAC user, & Marrok is a full-time AAC user with an acquired #SpeechDisability. lnk.to/abtus [Image 1: A young woman smiles…

submitted 126 days ago • 1 comment