Our Board Chair Jordyn Zimmerman advocates that people who need & use AAC must be leaders & co-designers of AAC technologies. She writes about this in Impact, a journal from the Institute on Community Integration. She's featured in its 40 Big Ideas issue! lnk.to/bigidea @jordynbzim.bsky.social 1/2

Before you share the “new cause” of #autism tomorrow, what are you doing to actually help the autistic community today?

Research Reshare: Autistic Communication Communication is the practice of using & making sense of language. It involves more than using speech especially for Autistic people Use non-speaking/minimally speaking, recognise language as multimodal & multidimensional journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Jordyn Zimmerman calls for “a more user-centered design approach across the board—where AAC users are not merely participants, but leaders…” Free at doi.org/10.1080/0743... @communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social

Non-speakers deserve a full education: "We have "a critical need for research into (1) why people are often denied access to AAC, (2) the systemic effects of this denial, & (3) how we can ensure access to AAC from infancy and onward." By @jordynbzim.bsky.social: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Check out my paper in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Journal, Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology. doi.org/10.1080/0743...

Multiple Little Lobbyists families traveled to Washington, D.C., from across the country (Maggie and David traveled all the way from Alaska!) to deliver a simple message to their U.S. Senators: DO NOT CUT A SINGLE DIME OFF #Medicaid! Story via @nytimes.com #ProtectMedicaid

I am thrilled to be included in the first-ever #ForbesAccessibility100 list that honors myself and others (many I admire so, so much) as the biggest innovators and impact-makers in Accessibility. Read more: www.forbes.com/lists/access... @forbes.com

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

Good design is accessible design. Good design is accessible design. Good design is accessible design.

“We’ve all been sold a con: that progress is a zero-sum game. That when women rise, men must fall. That when someone new gets a seat at the table, yours disappears … If we’re too busy blaming each other, we’ll never imagine what we could build together.” time.com/7286184/worr...

Quick reminder that accessibility features can be leveraged for everyone! One favorite is using Live Listen on iPhone or iPad while watching TV, increasing the volume for those that want it and also reducing sounds for people who might not (like me 🙋🏻‍♀️). #GAAD

Day one of the 25th International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute has been amazing! Thank you to keynote speaker Jordyn Zimmerman for an incredible presentation. Let us know what your favorite part of the first day of the Inclusion Institute has been in the comments. #FPGInclusionInstitute

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...

Great news for disabled college + grad students who want to pursue media, communications, or entertainment careers – the 2025 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship application is open! Apply by May 30 at 5pm ET. www.aapd.com/nbcuniversal...

I'm looking for ideas for me as a journalist to do for a solutions story at @motherjones.com on how aging people (60+) are staying connected to each other through a cool activity (think slightly quirky). If you have any examples, please get in touch at [email protected]

“Autism destroys families.” No. No, it doesn’t. A lack of resources does that. Cutting programs and services does that. Spreading false information does that.

New editorial in @journalautism.bsky.social with @yesthattoo.bsky.social @jordynbzim.bsky.social and @bettyyu.bsky.social where we argue that "nonverbal" and "minimally verbal" are not useful constructs for grouping or describing autistic people. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Many of the greatest innovations in the future will continue to come from the accessibility efforts and discussions happening now. Learn about a few of those in this podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

"Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act" premieres on @pbs.org tonight, March 25th. @jimlebrecht.bsky.social directed the film, which shows the "decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990."

Autism Acceptance Month is coming and AAC/communication app developer @assistiveware.bsky.social is celebrating with their traditional 50% off sale! Mark your calendars for April 2-9: www.assistiveware.com/aac-app-sale #AutismAcceptanceMonth2025 #AAC #autism

I had an incredible time in Australia! The highlight? Presenting at #AGOSCI2025 and connecting with so many educators, advocates and users. Plus, from school visits to seeing penguins and feeding kangaroos — every moment was incredible. Thanks to all who made it that way!

Sold a Story has a new mini-series. We found a high-poverty school district where nearly every kid can read well. They’ve been teaching the same way for 25 years. But a new law, inspired by our reporting, put that at risk. All three podcast episodes are out now.

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…

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...

Finding joy, like this pup turning 7 !!

Hello! We’re excited to announce the re-launch of Disability Power & Pride (DPoP)! As a 501(c)(4) org, we are here to elevate the political voices of the disability community. We want to get to know YOU! Introduce yourself! #DPoP #DisabilityRights #Inclusion #PoliticalPower

Re lawsuit that could dismantle Section 504, South Carolina attorney general apparently is talking to other states' AGS and "expect the lawsuit to be withdrawn." If not, the South Carolina AG "will withdraw from it." www.postandcourier.com/education-la...

Really confused by the people who work in accessibility, but are cheering for policy change that will fundamentally make places, services, and products less accessible. If that’s you, can you please explain ! Feel free to DM.

I’ll never understand why they won’t do picture-in-picture when it comes to the ASL interpretation for the #SuperBowl . It baffles me. I want to see the homey Matt for the Halftime Show ASL work. I shouldn’t have to look for it elsewhere when that time comes.

No, the FAA did not recruit people with intellectual disabilities to work as air traffic controllers. Despite what the President said about anti-discrimination programs. My story @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/01/30/n...

Couldn’t resist getting a pic with @jordynbzim.bsky.social using the cool Voice Control Accessibility feature on iOS 18. Thanks @apple! #techspo25

15 Years Ago: Apple Announced iPad.

How can AI be more inclusive of people with disabilities? In our latest Q&A, @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social, an attorney and disability rights advocate at @cendemtech.bsky.social, shares how AI and algorithmic systems can perpetuate ableism—and what we can do about it.

Our hearts grieve the passing of Devva Kasnitz (z”l), a monumental contributor to the #DisabilityCommunity and CommunicationFIRST's long-time Advisory Council Member. At this link, share memories and get updates on opportunities to honor her loving soul. lnk.to/kasnitz

Have you seen the NEW Standards for Inclusive Classrooms from The Nora Project and @jordynbzim.bsky.social? #EduSky I took time to review them and write my initial thoughts here: fieldingnotes.substack.com/p/new-standa...

Today, The Nora Project released its Standards for Inclusive Schools! I am so proud to be a lead author and am excited for the impact these groundbreaking Standards will have on students and educators everywhere. Check them out and spread the word! #EduSky

For years, much research has confirmed the importance of including students with disabilities — benefitting non disabled students too. (Yet, as long as we continue to separate students out as special ed and general ed, we will carry on with upholding segregated systems of delivery.) #EduSky

A 67 year old amputee and wheelchair user lived with his son who had cerebral palsy. They were killed in the Eaton fire while waiting for an ambulance that never arrived. Many disabled people can not evacuate on their own. They need to be included in evacuation plans (yet almost never are)

Praying for LA. Thinking about everyone who is left behind by inaccessibility or a lack of inclusive disaster planning, and unable to evacuate.

FTC orders AI accessibility startup accessiBe to pay $1M for misleading advertising

"If you have concerns about vaccines and autism, please listen to my story of becoming—but then un-becoming—a passionate anti-vaxxer autism parent." By @shannonrosa.bsky.social, At TPGA. tinyurl.com/MyAutisticCh... #VaccinesSaveLives #neurodiversity #ParentingTips

We wish everyone in our community a magical holiday season full of joy! As 2024 ends, please consider including us in year-end #giving plans. #Donating by 12/31 gets you an invite to a virtual coffee session with our Board Chair & Executive/Legal Director. lnk.to/endyr

Recently finished “Lovely One” and am feeling all the nostalgia for Speech & Debate + Coach @amyroediger.bsky.social. Thank you for your powerful writing, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson!!

“What this view misses is that disabled people can and do lead lives of dignity and self-determination. Real health leadership does not, cannot, mean complete avoidance of disability, or treating it as a fate worse than a deadly infectious disease.“

A2 If accessibility isn’t the trend gaining the most traction, we’re doing something wrong. I know AI is going to lead this convo but accessibility needs to be king. It’s a must to be a part of anything else answered in this question. I know @jordynbzim.bsky.social would agree! #EduSkyChat

Very telling to see the #Disability organizations who AREN’T commenting on the Department of Labor announcement on the overdue phase out of the discriminatory & antiquated practice of paying #Disabled people pennies on the dollar. Sad. Disability Rights are Human Rights.