Communication Rights Archives

Countdown towards a ban of all forms of conversion therapy

Jorn Bettin September 14, 2021

From today we will will start counting the days until all forms of conversion therapies are banned in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our hope is that this page will only need to be appended a few times with further activities to remind the government of its commitment to banning conversion practices and of its commitment to human rights, including all the rights articulated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which our government has ratified in 2008.

Include all Conversion Therapies in Legislative Ban

Jorn Bettin September 7, 2021

In a submission to the Justice Select Committee, members from New Zealand autistic community groups say while they fully supported a ban on conversion practices targeting sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, protections should be extended to include all New Zealanders subject to these practices, especially neuro-diverse communities among whom conversion therapies also cause considerable harm.

The Autistics’ Question

Tejas Rao Sankar September 2, 2021

Tejas Rao Sankar challenges schools and society to invest in the autonomy of autistic people and not to deny nonspeakers the right to participate in the IEP process.

an RPM rapid prompting method letterboard stencil is in a tree with sunlight shining through the letters. Photo credit by autistic advocate matthew rushin.

Tiny Typing Kids: A letter to young nonspeakers

TrevorTypes August 28, 2021

Trevor Byrd is a teen nonspeaker who gained access to communication when he enrolled at Reach Every Voice. After seeing a young girl spelling on a letterboard, he wrote this letter to all the young spellers.

This image is for nonspeaking autistic author Ben Breaux's review of the film, The Reason I jump. The image features six photos from the film of the different autistic characters in the movie

REVIEW: The Reason I Jump – An Unusual Film With a Very Important Message

Ben Breaux August 2, 2021

Ben Breaux, nonspeaking autistic advocate and author, reviewed the award-winning film, The Reason I Jump, an adaptation of Naoki Higashida’s best-selling memoir of the same title. Breaux interviewed several members of the cast and crew to pen this critically-important and profoundly-insightful analysis of the film.

an indian american man looks out a window. he appears to be in deep thought

Forgoing and Going: The best and worst feelings autistics feel

Tejas Rao Sankar July 28, 2021

Tejas Rao Sankhar is a nonspeaking apraxic autistic. He talks about what feelings are the worst– and the best– when your brain and body don’t always communicate.

If not electroshock at the Judge Rotenberg Center, then what? Try access to communication

Terra Vance July 13, 2021

Proponents of the Judge Rotenberg Center’s use of electroshock as punishment on disabled children and adults claim that nothing else works. What about access to appropriate communication?

Poetry: Lullaby (To a newborn autistic baby)

Anantha Krishnamurthy July 3, 2021

Anantha Krishnamurthy, 13-year-old nonspeaking poet, writes a powerful and moving lullaby that would launch a world-changing paradigm shift if adopted.

The Hidden Rooms in my Mind

Posy Taylor June 30, 2021

RPM enabled me to communicate and express myself after 22 years of being misunderstood and unable to communicate. This is my first longer piece of work trying to describe my mind to people. It took me many sessions to write.

We are capable and deserving of an education

Chris Finnes June 29, 2021

Chris Finnes is a nonspeaking autistic who was bored with being taught the same simple lessons over and over in a school for students with disabilities. He later met Soma Mukhopadhyay and learned to communicate using RPM. Now, he wants to help others gain access to age-appropriate education.

The Autism Spectrum According to Autistic People

The Autism Spectrum
According to Autistic People

NeuroClastic

Change | Divergently

Communication Rights