Designing a Future with Universal Communication Access

Universal communication access is achievable through the assistive technologies we already have and continue to expand upon. However, the problem is making that technology more accessible. Assistive technologies such as hearing aids, captioning devices, and communication devices are often a significant financial burden. People should not be forced to pay excessive amounts for something that should be made more easily available, to ensure equal treatment and opportunity from the start.

Here at the Center for Independent Living, we see a future in which communication access is universally available from the start. We are advocating for less restrictive insurance coverage for assistive technology by challenging the standard of what is considered medically necessary and shifting the conversation toward what is medically fair. Everyone deserves to have equal comfort and quality of life.

We encourage employers to provide captioning devices and have interpreters readily available and included in team meetings by default to promote equal understanding and equity in the workplace. If that means allocating a portion of workplace budgets to accessible systems, then it is important to acknowledge that need and ensure those resources are provided.

We look forward to a future in which communication access is universal and expected. It is important for everyday environments such as schools, jobs, hospitals, and public spaces to have accessible communication systems built in from the start. One example of encouraging accessible communication could be providing ASL training in the workplace or as part of a regular school curriculum.

Everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves in the way that feels most natural to them without being judged or treated differently. A future with universal communication access encourages a broader understanding of different perspectives and more equal engagement in conversations.

 

The Center for Independent Living encourages you to spread the importance of designing a future with universal communication access.