Communication is a Human Right

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA, n.d.), communication is “the active process of exchanging information and ideas.” 

Communication is an essential part of everyday life. It can bring joy and connection through conversations with our favorite people. It is important for safety, such as communicating with a police officer or asking for help. It is a key skill for employment as communication is often a critical skill in the workplace. There are so many examples of the meaningful ways in which we use communication in our everyday lives. 

As school staff and family members, a critical role we play is to ensure students have access to tools that allow them to communicate.

Explore the Resources

Please take some time to explore the following resources to learn about why communication is a human right. 

• Watch this video of Jordyn Zimmerman (CBS Mornings, 2024), a disability rights advocate who shares her communication journey. 

• In addition, watch this video of Bob Williams (Communication First, 2024) co-founder of the organization CommunicationFIRST who shares the story of his life as a disability advocate. 

• Finally, review the Communication Bill of Rights, 3rd Edition which describes the “communication rights [that] promote full participation across the lifespan” (National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2024). 

  • As you are reading, consider what it would be like for any of these rights to be missing in your life.

  • Celebrate the communication rights that you are successfully promoting, and identify the communication rights you’d like to focus on with greater intentionality moving forward.

  • Consider posting the Communication Bill of Rights in your classroom, school, or home. 

As you are experiencing these materials, reflect on the importance of promoting communication for everyone.