Sec. 2. Findings

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Congress makes the following findings: Communication is a basic human need and fundamental right, and is essential to self-determination, social inclusion, and emotional and physical well-being. In enacting a provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (referred to in this section as the ADA ), Congress recognized that physical or mental disabilities in no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all aspects of society, and that the discriminatory effects of communication barriers are a form of discrimination.

Three decades after the passage of the ADA, Americans with significant expressive communication disabilities still experience discrimination in the form of communication barriers, institutionalization, segregation, and relegation to lesser services, programs, activities, benefits, jobs, or other opportunities compared to Americans without significant expressive communication disabilities. Data about augmentative and alternative communication is lacking, but it is estimated there are at least 4,000,000 people in the United States who cannot reliably meet their daily communication needs using natural speech.

The population of individuals with significant expressive communication difficulties is at substantial risk for limited education, unemployment, poor health outcomes, poverty, and low quality of life. People can acquire a significant expressive communication disability and need augmentative and alternative communication as a result of many health and developmental conditions at all stages of life. Research indicates that individuals who belong to racial or ethnic minority communities face a greater likelihood of being born with or acquiring expressive communication disabilities, as well as added difficulties in obtaining intervention services, including augmentative and alternative communication.

Individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities, schools, families, employers, direct support providers, health care providers, the justice system, and the general public need more information about how to effectively deploy, implement, and ensure continued access to robust communication tools, services, and other supports for individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities. The lived experiences and writings of individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities demonstrate the positive impact augmentative and alternative communication has on their lives.

These lived experiences and writings also illustrate the harm that results from denying augmentative and alternative communication to those who need it. The leadership of individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities is critical in crafting and implementing effective policies and programs affecting their lives, including policies and programs regarding augmentative and alternative communication. The freedoms of expression, and to be understood, are essential to both democracy and to individual well-being.

Individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities must be afforded equal rights, opportunities, strategies, technologies, services, and other supports to effectively express themselves and participate in their communities and in democracy.