On Advocacy

Dear Friends,

A gorgeous day here in San Diego! I love this place.

I want to highlight the Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network, of which I am a member. It is the advocacy branch of the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC). I have loved being part of this group for the past 4 years or so!

We are spellers over age 18, working alongside speaking allies, to advocate for ideas important to us. The current campaigns are Communication Equity and also Disability Aware Healthcare. I am on the Communication Equity committee, which advocates for more equitable access to spelling methods, particularly for BIPOC communities. This is so important. My black and indigenous peers face even more barriers to accessing communication due to systemic inequity in disability services. This is a question of human rights and dignity. I am hoping you will follow our campaign, by following I-ASC on social media. I will post more about it in the coming months.

The Disability Aware Healthcare is also important. This focuses on reaching out to healthcare professionals to educate them about speller needs. This includes our modes of communication and our regulation issues.

Check out our webpage at the link. And here are hashtags we are using for these campaigns:

General: #PresumeCompetence #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #AutismAcceptance #IASCYouToListen

Communication Equity: #CommunicationEquity #Aactivism4BIPOC #EmbraceDiversity

Disability Aware Healthcare: #DisabilityAwareHealthcare

I am so grateful to be part of this dynamic group of spellers! I have made amazing friends through this group. And that includes our fantastic allies! If you are a speller over 18, or interested in being an ally, please join us!

Your Friend,

Danny