Sign the Universal Declaration of Communication Rights

Signing the Universal Declaration of Communication Rights is an easy but important way of helping bring attention to people with communication disorders and the professional care that can help them.

THE DECLARATION

Communication is the most fundamental of human capacities. People need to be able to communicate to fulfill their social, educational, emotional and vocational potential. Barriers to communication impair an individual’s ability to

relate to and interact with others;
understand;
learn, share and apply knowledge;
achieve and maintain good physical and mental health;
participate appropriately and safely in purposeful occupations and/or leisure activities; and
have fair access to the justice system and other public services.
The opportunity to communicate is a basic human right. Everybody has the potential to communicate.


We, the undersigned, hereby commit to ensuring that people who have communication disorders receive appropriate support. We also commit to ensuring that communication disability receives deserving and appropriate attention and action from all relevant bodies and systems including

legislators and policymakers;
funding bodies and insurers;
medical, health, education, disability, aged and community sectors;
consumer and advocacy groups;
social care, justice and public services; and
the media.
PUBLIC PLEDGE OF SUPPORT

We recognise that the ability to communicate is a basic human right.
We recognise that everyone has the potential to communicate.
By putting our names to this declaration, we give our support to the millions of people around the world who have communication disorders that prevent them from experiencing fulfilling lives and participating equally and fully in their communities.
We believe that people with communication disabilities should have access to the support they need to realise their full potential.

SIGNATORIES
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) | Orthophonie et Audiologie Canada (OAC)
Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists
New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Speech Pathology Australia

JOIN US!
Add your organization's or your personal support to this cause by becoming a signatory.