Guarantee Communication/Education Rights and Supports
The Issue
We are seeking to establish a Communication Bill of Rights for individuals with disabilities in Georgia. This bill of rights will recognize the competence and worth of every human being, despite limitations to demonstrate their competency. This legislation will acknowledge that communication requires motor control, coordination, and planning. With motor impairments, communication requires the support, investment, and compassion of others, while not diminishing their access to education and all other civil and human rights.
This landmark legislation affirms a basic truth: everyone deserves the right to be heard and included. These protections were affirmed by the ADA, but public institutions have failed to uphold these basic principles and protections.
Schools across the country have denied students with disabilities their constitutional, educational, and civil rights and imposed unfair legal burdens of proof for 30 years, since the ADA was established. The US Supreme court ruled UNANIMOUSLY that these burdens of proof were not lawful and were against the nature and intent of the law Congress had passed. This makes it easier for parents to hold school systems accountable. However, it would be so much easier if schools simply educated all students equally. In order to enforce the ADA, we seek this communication bill of rights to remove any restrictions and limitations unduly, unlawfully, and unethically imposed on individuals with disabilities. The New York Assembly has unanimously passed the first Communication Bill of Rights and the bill now advances to the New York Senate. We seek similar legislative protections in Georgia.
Whether someone communicates through spoken words, needs the support of a communication partner to motor plan in order to spell, type, use sign language, a letterboard, gesture, or any device or method that works for them—this bill ensures their voice is recognized, respected, and protected.
Elizabeth Bonker, a nonspeaker civil rights leader, commented regarding this legislation.
“Nonspeakers suffer in silence. We can free them.
…The bill is just the ADA for communication.We are the last to get our civil rights.”
Let’s make sure no voice goes unheard.
#DisabilityRights #CommunicationForALL #InclusionMatters #AutismAcceptance #AAC #HumanRights #CommunicationForAll #GAStateAssembly
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The Issue
We are seeking to establish a Communication Bill of Rights for individuals with disabilities in Georgia. This bill of rights will recognize the competence and worth of every human being, despite limitations to demonstrate their competency. This legislation will acknowledge that communication requires motor control, coordination, and planning. With motor impairments, communication requires the support, investment, and compassion of others, while not diminishing their access to education and all other civil and human rights.
This landmark legislation affirms a basic truth: everyone deserves the right to be heard and included. These protections were affirmed by the ADA, but public institutions have failed to uphold these basic principles and protections.
Schools across the country have denied students with disabilities their constitutional, educational, and civil rights and imposed unfair legal burdens of proof for 30 years, since the ADA was established. The US Supreme court ruled UNANIMOUSLY that these burdens of proof were not lawful and were against the nature and intent of the law Congress had passed. This makes it easier for parents to hold school systems accountable. However, it would be so much easier if schools simply educated all students equally. In order to enforce the ADA, we seek this communication bill of rights to remove any restrictions and limitations unduly, unlawfully, and unethically imposed on individuals with disabilities. The New York Assembly has unanimously passed the first Communication Bill of Rights and the bill now advances to the New York Senate. We seek similar legislative protections in Georgia.
Whether someone communicates through spoken words, needs the support of a communication partner to motor plan in order to spell, type, use sign language, a letterboard, gesture, or any device or method that works for them—this bill ensures their voice is recognized, respected, and protected.
Elizabeth Bonker, a nonspeaker civil rights leader, commented regarding this legislation.
“Nonspeakers suffer in silence. We can free them.
…The bill is just the ADA for communication.We are the last to get our civil rights.”
Let’s make sure no voice goes unheard.
#DisabilityRights #CommunicationForALL #InclusionMatters #AutismAcceptance #AAC #HumanRights #CommunicationForAll #GAStateAssembly
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Petition created on June 16, 2025