PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION: Please sign this petition calling for federal HHS guidance to protect the rights of nonspeaking people to access the communication methods that work best for them. To be clear, this petition does not ask the federal government to endorse any single communication method. Rather, it seeks guidance that reinforces existing protections for individualized communication access under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensures that nonspeaking people are not denied access to communication that meet their needs.

WHY THIS MATTERS: More than 30 years after the ADA became law, people who communicate using federally recognized Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) options such as letterboards and keyboards still face barriers. Recycled controversies, outdated studies, and access denials discourage many families from exploring these motor-based options, when traditional communication approaches have failed to unlock the voices of their loved ones.

TAKE ACTION: Communication access should be individualized, not restricted by outdated assumptions. Please help protect the rights of nonspeaking people by signing and sharing this petition.