The Communication Bill of Rights

I sat next to New York State Senator Patricia Fahy in her Albany office a couple of months ago. With me were fellow nonspeakers Abby Newbold, Danson Wambua and Noah Howarth, along with friends, family and supporters. She saw us  type. As the chairwoman of the Senate Disability Committee, she had every opportunity to get Senate Bill S7792, the Communication Bill of Rights, passed. It passed the Assembly unanimously in June, and had broad bi-partisan support in the Senate. The bill stated that no one can deny the use of any method of communication in any government setting. Senator Fahy decided to amend the bill, adding the words “verified” and “autonomous.”  In doing so, she has excluded from the bill’s protection anyone who requires assistance to communicate. In fact, people who need sign language interpreters, people who use finger spelling (like Helen Keller), as well as we who type for communication, are all now excluded and are at risk of having our methods of communication denied in group homes, day care settings, and more. 

It strikes me that Senator Fahy has not considered the full ramifications of her actions. And worse, on a personal level, it’s insulting to us. I sat directly next to her, and she saw me type. I am tired of being disrespected. 

By the way, the right to use any method of communication that works for any individual is already protected by the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act. 

People are suffering now, and instead of attempting to help us, the chair of the committee that should be on our side is hurting many with communication disabilities. It’s time we take matters into our own hands.  Please call and write, and tell her to restore the bill to the version that passed the Assembly.
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TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!  
PLEASE WRITE TO SUPPORT OUR NONSPEAKERS! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE (ALTHOUGH NEW YORKERS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR FIGHT)!

ASK SENATOR FAHY TO REVERSE THE CHANGES TO THE COMMUNICATION BILL OF RIGHTS (bill S7792) WHICH NOW EXCLUDES ANYONE WHO USES ANY METHOD OF COMMUNICATION THAT IS NOT "AUTONOMOUS." EMAIL IT TO THE FOLLOWING SENATORS: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected].

PLEASE BCC: [email protected]

If you need an example of what such a letter should look like, please Colin at [email protected]. It really, really matters what happens in the next 48 hours.