Organizations Filed Purposes:
TO REPRESENT THE RIGHTS AND ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE ESTIMATED 5 MILLION CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO CANNOT RELY ON SPEECH TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, SYSTEMIC REFORM OF POLICY AND PRACTICE, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY.
COMMUNICATIONFIRST REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH SPEECH-RELATED DISABILITIES THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, POLICY AND PRACTICE REFORM, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY. IN 2020, COMMUNICATIONFIRST PIVOTED AWAY FROM ITS FIRST-FULL-YEAR PLANS TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ITS POPULATION. IT ADVOCATED FOR COMMUNICATION ACCESS RIGHTS IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS AND CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES BY CREATING A COVID-19 COMMUNICATION RIGHTS TOOLKIT AND FILED TWO SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS WITH THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, TO AFFIRM THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACCESS NECESSARY IN-PERSON SUPPORTS IN HOSPITALS DESPITE COVID NO-VISITOR POLICIES. COMMUNICATIONFIRST ALSO RELEASED A KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS TOOLKIT FOR STUDENTS WITH EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES ON IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL ACCESS RIGHTS DURING COVID-19. COMMUNICATIONFIRST HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL PUBLIC WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES ABOUT ITS WORK AND RESOURCES. IT BEGAN WORK ON THE SEE US, HEAR US PROJECT - A SERIES OF VIDEOS HIGHLIGHTING THE DIVERSITY AND STRENGTH OF OUR POPULATION AND TO FOSTER ACCEPTANCE AND SOCIETAL INCLUSION. COMMUNICATIONFIRST PARTICIPATED IN AN INTERNATIONAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVE WITH OTHER DISABILITY RIGHTS LEADERS AROUND THE GLOBE, AND BEGAN WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO CREATE A NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER ON AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION. COMMUNICATIONFIRST WON ITS FIRST GRANT IN 2020, FROM THE WITH FOUNDATION. TOGETHER WITH TEMPLE UNIVERSITYS INSTITUTE ON DISABILITIES, THE ASSURING BETTER COMMUNICATION FOR DECIDING TOGETHER INITIATIVE CONVENED A NATIONAL THOUGHT LEADER PANEL AND GROUP OF YOUNG ADULT ALTERNATIVE AND AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC) USERS TO CREATE A TOOLKIT FOR IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AND DECISIONMAKING BETWEEN ADULT AAC USERS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. COMMUNICATIONFIRSTS FIRST LAWSUIT, TO STOP THE OVERUSE OF RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION IN FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RECEIVED A FAVORABLE DECISION IN 2020, ALLOWING THE CASE TO PROCEED TO TRIAL. COMMUNICATIONFIRST ALSO JOINED AS AMICUS CURIAE IN A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT CHALLENGE TO REGULATIONS REVISING SECTION 1557 OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. COMMUNICATIONFIRST CONSULTED, TRAINED, AND PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS, AND DISABLED PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES ON COMMUNICATION ACCESS RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY IN HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND OTHER SETTINGS.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Suzanne Lotharius | TREASURER | 5 | $0 |
| Maria Ott | SECRETARY | 5 | $0 |
| India Ochs | CHAIR | 4 | $0 |
| Clarissa Kripke | VICE CHAIR | 3 | $0 |
| Melissa Crisp-Cooper | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| Jordyn Zimmerman | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| Judy Heumann | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| Erin Sheldon | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| Gita Gupta | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| Tim Jin | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202101379349307870_public.xml