Sign the New York State Communication Bill of Rights Petition!

Communication 4 ALL logo on top left. Background photo contains a white-presenting person typing on an iPad keyboard, while another white-presenting person to their right holds the iPad at the level of a table in front of them. The iPad's text area reads "autism ed." Orange and blue text on a translucent white background on the right reads "Every Person Deserves a Voice. Support the New York State Communication Bill of Rights. Sign the petition today!" with a QR code.

15 Oct Sign the New York State Communication Bill of Rights Petition!

Posted at 01:14h in Events, News, Uncategorized by

Every person deserves the right to be heard.

For many New Yorkers with communication disabilities — including the more than 40% of people with autism who are non speaking – that right is still not guaranteed in practice. New tools and techniques now allow people once cut off from meaningful interaction to express themselves, make choices, and participate fully in their communities. But those rights are too often denied or ignored by the systems meant to support them.

S7792b (Fahy) — the Communication Bill of Rights for People with Disabilities — would ensure that every person with a disability in New York State has the right to communicate in their preferred way and to receive the support needed to do so in schools, agencies, and group homes. Its Assembly companion, A7363c (Santabarbara), already passed unanimously last session— a landmark victory. It reinforced the fact communication is a human right – not a privilege granted by bureaucracies, trade organizations, or politicians.

The bill’s language is simple and profound:

“In order to ensure that each person with a disability is able to lead a life of dignity, all persons with a disability shall have the right to communicate in their preferred manner and utilize any communication supports that meet their needs, and all staff and providers under this section, shall ensure and acknowledge such rights.”

Communication 4 ALL, a nonprofit with the mission to ensure all nonspeakers have access to communication has shown how transformative these supports can be. By helping non speaking students learn to type and communicate, we’re proving that when people are given the right tools, they thrive — academically, socially, and emotionally. The message is simple: Communication is equality.

Take Action! We urge New York State Senators to co-sponsor and pass S7792b.

Sign the petition today!

Let’s make sure that every person with a disability – no matter how they communicate – is heard, respected, and empowered to live a life of dignity.