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End Communication Discrimination

Spellers & Allies Campaign

Campaign Goal

#EndCommunicationDiscrimination is a nonspeaker-led campaign to increase public awareness about the issues spellers face in schools, employment, health care, and the justice system. We aim to bring change for nonspeakers in each of these areas. We will attain our goals by winning the hearts and minds of the general public and convincing thought leaders, ally organizations, and policymakers to give us a seat at the table on all issues that affect us.

campaign hashtags

#endcommunicationdiscrimination | #IASCyoutolisten | #NonspeakingDoesNotEqualNonthinking | #ECD | #CommunicationChoice | #CelebrateCommunicationDiversity | #spellersandallies | #iasc

We have started by launching a social media campaign to reach out to organizations and thought leaders in need of education about nonspeakers and our communication needs. We also want to express our gratitude and highlight organizations that have supported spellers and their method of communication.

Here’s how it works!
When you are given an #EndCommunicationDiscrimination letterboard, this is what we need you to do:

  1. Step #1: Decide which organization(s) you feel need education about us and which ones you are planning to thank for their support.
    Take photos of yourself facing the camera holding the #EndCommunicationDiscrimination sign prominently visible

We want you to take these photos in front of offices and buildings in your local area that house organizations that you want to celebrate for their demonstrated actions in welcoming the use of letterboards and keyboards by nonspeakers. This is not intended to be used to honor people who are just nice to us. This is for organizations that actively engage in communication with you and accept your method of communication as authentic.

In addition, please consider taking photos in front of the offices of organizations and thought leaders who would benefit from education about nonspeakers and our communication needs. For example, you might feel that your local pediatric group or disability advocacy group might benefit from learning about nonspeakers.

 

Take Action

  • Post about us on your social media using our campaign hashtags.
  • Connect us to others in our community who you think would be receptive to hearing about us. We would like to meet with smaller groups in person or on Zoom and are also available to give a presentation to larger groups.
  •  Send an email to a leader of the organizations you selected inviting them to:
    ○ Register to watch a Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network online webinar [You can find our upcoming events on our Advocacy page]
    ○ Watch this brief video written by one of our fellow nonspeakers, Gregory Tino .watch a brief video about nonspeakers
    ○ Invite us to a meeting either on Zoom or in-person to discuss our concerns about [insert name of organization] on the topic of nonspeaking people. [For example: “I am requesting a meeting with Dr. Smith to discuss the medical school curriculum
    about nonspeaking autistics.” Or “ I am requesting a meeting with [insert name of disability organization] to discuss the needs of nonspeakers and how we can work together.” ]
    ○ Make sure you attach to your email the photo you took!

Learn More

  • HERE are complete instructions about how you can get involved
  • HERE is the #EndCommunicationDiscrimination campaign sign
  • HERE are a few examples of People/Places/organizations where you may want to take a photo and send a letter
  • HERE are examples of topics to discuss with local leaders.
  • HERE is a template for organizations in need of education.
  • HERE is a template to thank organizations for supporting us
  • If you have any questions, please email us, and we would be happy to meet with you. spellers-allies@i-asc.org
  • Sign up for the monthly newsletter of the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC)
  • Follow the I-ASC on social media by clicking the icons at the bottom of our website.
Dispelling Common Myths about Nonspeakers
View campaign
End Communication Discrimination
View campaign
Inclusive Education for Nonspeakers
View campaign

The I-ASC Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network is a group of spellers and allies who advocate together around issues that concern nonspeaking people, such as agency, autonomy, and access. Through public education and advocacy campaigns, we seek to make real change for all nonspeaking people. The Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network welcomes nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking adults above the age of 18. We welcome allies and anyone over 18 interested in becoming an ally to join us.

Spellers & Allies Events

Currently we have no events scheduled, but please check back soon for more!

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