Disability-led 501(c)(3) protecting the civil rights of humans who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood. https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mvbekidz222b#TheRideAhead team will host a free webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7pm EST: Air Travel While #Disabled! Elizabeth Dicker, Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson, Emily Ladau, & Rosemary McDonnell-Horita will discuss ways to make flying more #accessible. Register at lnk.to/ATWDis. [Image: a promotional…11 Sep 2026 20:07 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbekidz222bhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3muxb7fn5nk2dA Joy Grant from the WITH Foundation funded nearly a year of film screenings for our team! We learned together while we viewed and discussed #disability-themed #documentaries. We're excited to share CommunicationFIRST's 2026 #FilmFestival Lineup with you: lnk.to/C1docs. [Image: Four members of…07 Sep 2026 19:40 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3muxb7fn5nk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mumosgtajk2yIn U.S. v. Florida, #DOJ won protections for children with complex medical needs from unnecessary #institutionalization. We are alarmed that it is now trying to undo this decision. It may lead to life-altering outcomes for children with #disabilities. lnk.to/USvFL 📸 Image Credit: #VisibleAAC…03 Sep 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumosgtajk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3muctz5ukak2rAlong with Rep. Lateefah Simon & other #disability leaders, we attended NCIL’s #ADA march, rally, & conference in DC. “No one is coming to save us,” said Simon, who reminded us to keep fighting for our rights. Though we were unable to capture her sharing remarks, she inspired us! @ncil.bsky.social…30 Aug 2026 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3muctz5ukak2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mtzel2f6ik25CommunicationFIRST is joining a community call to make sure our voices are listened to: lnk.to/CTAIACC. Last week, we submitted comments on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)’s Strategic Plan, including detailed, constructive feedback on communication- & AAC-related research. 1/526 Aug 2026 22:20 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtzel2f6ik25https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mtyq2yxc4s25We're endorsing the HCBS #Access Act. The act will make sure every state offers home & community-based services without waiting lists. It will protect our right to live in the #community! Tell your senators to vote YES on #HCBS. We want it to become law. lnk.to/HCBSAA 📸Image Credit: Disabled & Here26 Aug 2026 16:14 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyq2yxc4s25https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mtp5o5zq5226Help protect our right to live in the #community! Ask your Governor and State Attorney General to sign the Commitment to #CommunityIntegration for People with #Disabilities. It’s a commitment to defend and follow the integration mandate. More info here: lnk.to/defOI. @bazeloncenter.bsky.social22 Aug 2026 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtp5o5zq5226https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mt7qyim46c2xThe Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, #IACC, advises the government on #autism research & funding. They drafted a Strategic Plan that got some things right & some things wrong. Submit a comment to improve their plan before Thursday, August 20. lnk.to/IACCcmt 📸 Photo Credit: Disabled & Here16 Aug 2026 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt7qyim46c2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3msr3selg2k25Amicus briefs help us share insights with the legal system. We recently joined one supporting the National Association of the Deaf & its challenge to the federal government’s decision to stop providing #ASL interpretation in official White House briefings. lnk.to/suefed 📸 Photo… 1/210 Aug 2026 21:57 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3msr3selg2k25https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3msgclibufc2kAre you worried about #Olmstead? The Bazelon Center made a guide to resisting DOJ’s harmful memo. It includes a statement for your governor and attorney general to sign in support of our right to live in the community: lnk.to/olmbkg. @bazeloncenter.bsky.social 📸 #VisibleAAC photo by Shira Wakschlag06 Aug 2026 14:59 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgclibufc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3ms4lqul3is2zPush back on the narrative of Medicaid being fraudulent or wasteful! Share your experiences with #Medicaid & #HCBS to inform the upcoming Senate Budget Committee Hearing. Email your statement for the record to Anirudh_Srirangam@budget.senate.gov by Wednesday, August 5 @ 12pm ET. [Image: A close-up…02 Aug 2026 18:17 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms4lqul3is2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mrsekaljps2fOur partners at DREDF and AAPD released a new report on barriers to #DisabilityBenefits. They found more barriers came about as the government cut staff and regional offices, replacing some with #AI: lnk.to/barrier. @dredf.bsky.social @aapd.com 📸 Photo Credit: @affecttheverb.com/Disabled and Here…29 Jul 2026 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsekaljps2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mrif5xxrk22fWe conducted focus groups with #AACUsers to better understand our community’s perspectives on #ArtificialIntelligence. Findings informed the Consumer Technology Association white paper on #AI and #Accessibility: lnk.to/AIwhtppr. [Image: Focus group participant Juan Cobeñas sits at a desk with… 1/225 Jul 2026 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrif5xxrk22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mr6gm4sfls2oWith George Washington University’s handy new tool, keep track of, and submit your own updates on how federal policy changes are impacting home and community-based services for disabled people: lnk.to/trackHCBS. #HCBS @milkeninstitute.org 📸 Photo Credit: @affecttheverb.com/Disabled and Here 1/221 Jul 2026 18:25 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6gm4sfls2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mqufgdk32k25“When other people know how to be respectful…they’re much more likely to include us.” Check out a new guide to #allyship by our own Ren Koloni, & learn AAC-related rights & tips for supporting them! Ren is featured in Autism Spectrum News’s Summer Issue. lnk.to/ltpfAAC [Video: Ren Koloni… 1/317 Jul 2026 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqufgdk32k25https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mpr7ufmvj22kWe should not have to prove that we deserve #healthcare. The federal government has a new rule that could make it harder for people who need #AAC to keep #Medicaid. Send in your comments to oppose this by July 31 at 11:59pm ET! Use our helpful tips: lnk.to/wrkreq. 📸 Photo credit: Norma Mortenson…03 Jul 2026 18:54 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpr7ufmvj22khttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mpr7ufmvj22kWe should not have to prove that we deserve #healthcare. The federal government has a new rule that could make it harder for people who need #AAC to keep #Medicaid. Send in your comments to oppose this by July 31 at 11:59pm ET! Use our helpful tips: lnk.to/wrkreq. 📸 Photo credit: Norma Mortenson…03 Jul 2026 18:54 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpr7ufmvj22khttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mphg7npms22dThe #DOJ released a memo stating it will not enforce the #Olmstead decision, which protects the right of people with #disabilities to choose where to live. Learn about this attack on our community & how to take action via the explainer: First In, Last Out. lnk.to/olmmem [Image: “We must not… 1/229 Jun 2026 21:21 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mphg7npms22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mp2htpjxcs2yReady to wear the change you want to see in the world? The Jordyn Zimmerman Speech Does Not Make Someone More Human Shirts are back, but only through June 30! Get yours now and support the fight for #CommunicationRights. lnk.to/shpc @jordynbzim.bsky.social [Image: Sitting in front of a… 1/224 Jun 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2htpjxcs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mojarlmlic2jWe helped create plain-language versions of articles published in the Journal of #AAC. Articles drew from the Future of AAC Research Summit we organized in May 2024 with the RERC on AAC. Authors include #AliceWong: lnk.to/nwacs. Thanks to NWACS for leading this effort! [Video: Alice Wong with… 1/317 Jun 2026 21:24 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mojarlmlic2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mo74jykwp225Enter our Jordyn Zimmerman Shirt giveaway! Think of someone who's new to CommunicationFIRST & tag them in a comment. You could win a Jordyn Shirt (of your choice), which supports the fight for #CommunicationRights. A winner will be randomly chosen on 6/18. lnk.to/shpc @jordynbzim.bsky.social 1/213 Jun 2026 20:41 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo74jykwp225https://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mnusby5ke22vCongrats to our friends Samuel & Dan Habib on winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding #SocialIssue Documentary! Watch their film #TheRideAhead on 6/30 at 1pm PT/4pm ET. CommunicationFIRST Board Member Judy Heumann & co-founder Bob Williams are interviewed! lnk.to/rascreen [Image: Co-directors… 1/209 Jun 2026 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnusby5ke22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mnatyinzjc2yOur Director of Policy & Legal Advocacy Sam Crane spoke at Healthier Together! Sam, Henry Claypool (Brandeis’s Community Living Policy Center) & Michelle Meade (Univ. of MI Center for Disability Health & Wellness) discussed #HealthCare best practices for people with disabilities. 1/401 Jun 2026 19:49 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnatyinzjc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mmp3kodgbs2c“Every message already takes attention, motor planning, & time,” says Hari Srinivasan, Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate & #AACUser. “When technology adds corrections & guesswork, it compounds that effort.” He explains how engineered exclusion harms #AACUsers: lnk.to/desdig. @neuroscientist.bsky.social25 May 2026 18:16 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmp3kodgbs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/communicationfirst.bsky.social/post/3mmf4fd22t22uFather’s Day will be here sooner than you think. Be ready to show the father figures in your life some love. Get them (and the whole family!) CommunicationFIRST gear to help us win the fight for #CommunicationRights and #access: lnkfi.re/c1shp. [Image 1: A grandpa wearing a CommunicationFIRST… 1/321 May 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmf4fd22t22u