Communication (Is Not Speech) Is a Civil Right

by Dora Raymaker · 2009-05-02 12:02:00 UTC
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a computer keyboard shown in extreme perspectiveThe American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) states,

It is the position of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) that communication is the essence of human life and that all people have the right to communicate to the fullest extent possible. No individuals should be denied this right, irrespective of the type and/or severity of communication, linguistic, social, cognitive, motor, sensory, perceptual, and/or other disability(ies) they may present.

I heard a story of an autistic boy who uses American Sign Language as his primary means of communication. The public school refused to provide him an interpreter on grounds that he is not deaf.

I heard a story of a school system that only allowed its students to use their communication devices at school, but not at home. Imagine being allowed to speak for 5 hours each day and then having that ability taken away from you for the rest of the time.

I read a story about the misconception that AAC is undesirable, when for many of us it is truly our greatest freedom.

My head is mostly tracked into this topic right now between my first intensive (and highly successful) use of Proloquo2Go last week, and preparing a presentation on AAC for the IACC for Monday, so that's about the only topic I can manage a post on today.

It's an important topic though.

Communication is a civil right.

Communication is not speech.

Don't overemphasize speech at the expense of communication.

Dora Raymaker
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