Jordyn Zimmerman

This disability education law turned 50 today. Disability advocates want more. "Our civil rights are not up for negotiations," Rep. Lateefah Simon said.

For the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, I spoke with advocates about how this law is crucial–and the ways in which disability education can be made better as its under attack from the Trump administration at @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

@jordynbzim.bsky.social, a nonspeaking autistic person, didn't have access to an iPad which helped her communicate until she was 18.

“So that really highlights, both the flaws, but also the power in when the spirit is fulfilled with intentionality.”

[Image: Jordyn Zimmerman sits smiling on a rooftop bench, wearing a shirt that says “Speech does not make someone more human.” She holds an AAC device and a jacket. Behind her, partly cloudy skies and a tree-lined cityscape stretch into the distance.]

Just in time for your holiday shopping: Jordyn’s shirt is back! At this link only until 12/4: lnk.to/shpc. Give a gift that supports communication #advocacy. #SpeechDoesNotMakeSomeoneMoreHuman

@jordynbzim.bsky.social

[Image: Jordyn Zimmerman sits smiling on a rooftop bench, wearing a…

(1/2)

Apple’s second limited-edition iPhone accessory in a month is all about accessibility Following the introduction of iPhone Pocket, Apple announced today the Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand, celebrating the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple. Here are the details. more…

Apple’s second limited-edition iPhone accessory in a month is all about accessibility

[Image: A smiling Jordyn Zimmerman takes her place at a conference table. On the table in front of Jordyn is her AAC device, an iPad.]

Our Board Chair Jordyn Zimmerman advocates that people who need & use AAC must be leaders & co-designers of AAC technologies. She writes about this in Impact, a journal from the Institute on Community Integration. She's featured in its 40 Big Ideas issue! lnk.to/bigidea @jordynbzim.bsky.social

1/2

Before you share the “new cause” of #autism tomorrow, what are you doing to actually help the autistic community today?

Blue and gold back ground with Thriving Autistic logo and infinity symbol. Text reads: Conceptualizing and describing autistic language: Moving on from 'verbal', 'minimally verbal' and 'nonverbal' Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Alyssa Hillary Zisk, Jordyn Zimmerman, and Betty Yu (2025) "These studies aim to better characterize how autistic people who use little to no speech deploy a range of linguistic resources to achieve communicative ends." Conceptualizing and describing autistic language: Moving on from ‘verbal’, ‘minimally verbal’ and ‘nonverbal’ Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Alyssa Hillary Zisk, Jordyn Zimmerman, and Betty Yu (2025)

Blue and gold background with Thriving Autistic logo and infinity symbol. Text reads: 1. Non-speaking autistic people should be involved in the design and conduct of research 2. Use 'non-speaking' or 'minimally speaking' instead of 'nonverbal' or 'minimally verbal' 3. Describe and assess autistic language as a multidimensional, multimodal, and in many cases multilingual phenomenon 4. Autistic people with intermittent, unreliable, insufficient, or expensive speech should also be given access to language support, including AAC Conceptualizing and describing autistic language: Moving on from ‘verbal’, ‘minimally verbal’ and ‘nonverbal’ Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Alyssa Hillary Zisk, Jordyn Zimmerman, and Betty Yu (2025)

Research Reshare: Autistic Communication

Communication is the practice of using & making sense of language. It involves more than using speech especially for Autistic people
Use non-speaking/minimally speaking, recognise language as multimodal & multidimensional
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Picture of Jordyn Zimmerman presenting at the Future of AAC Research Summit, and text that reads “There must be deep understanding around our needs, desires, and pain points—with the goal of designing and developing in ways that efficiently address them." Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology Zimmerman (2025)

Jordyn Zimmerman calls for “a more user-centered design approach across the board—where AAC users are not merely participants, but leaders…”
Free at doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social

Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology As the digital landscape continues to evolve, access to communication, literacy, and technology have become essential for citizenship, community inclusion, and social and emotional well-being. This...

Non-speakers deserve a full education: "We have "a critical need for research into (1) why people are often denied access to AAC, (2) the systemic effects of this denial, & (3) how we can ensure access to AAC from infancy and onward." By @jordynbzim.bsky.social:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology As the digital landscape continues to evolve, access to communication, literacy, and technology have become essential for citizenship, community inclusion, and social and emotional well-being. This...

Check out my paper in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Journal, Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology.
doi.org/10.1080/0743...

‘Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid

Multiple Little Lobbyists families traveled to Washington, D.C., from across the country (Maggie and David traveled all the way from Alaska!) to deliver a simple message to their U.S. Senators:

DO NOT CUT A SINGLE DIME OFF #Medicaid!

Story via @nytimes.com
#ProtectMedicaid

I am thrilled to be included in the first-ever #ForbesAccessibility100 list that honors myself and others (many I admire so, so much) as the biggest innovators and impact-makers in Accessibility. Read more: www.forbes.com/lists/access... @forbes.com

"Everything you need to know to advocate for policy change - POLICY ADVOCACY 101 FOR AAC USERS AND ALLIES - June 26, 2025; 1:30-3:00 pm ET; Featuring Jordyn Zimmerman Bob Williams Angelica Vega Dean Strauss Toby Latham Samuel Habib Register: bit.ly/4l70z8f CommunicationFIRST"

Register now for the next CommunicationFIRST webinar on June 26: Policy Advocacy 101 for #AAC Users and Allies - featuring @jordynbzim.bsky.social, Bob Williams, Angelica Vega, Dean Strauss, Toby Latham, and Samuel Habib! us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #DisabilityRights

Good design is accessible design.
Good design is accessible design.
Good design is accessible design.

I Founded Girls Who Code. Now I’m Worried About Boys Boys and men are less likely to turn to their communities for social connection and support.

“We’ve all been sold a con: that progress is a zero-sum game. That when women rise, men must fall. That when someone new gets a seat at the table, yours disappears … If we’re too busy blaming each other, we’ll never imagine what we could build together.” time.com/7286184/worr...

Quick reminder that accessibility features can be leveraged for everyone! One favorite is using Live Listen on iPhone or iPad while watching TV, increasing the volume for those that want it and also reducing sounds for people who might not (like me 🙋🏻‍♀️). #GAAD

A group of attendees pose in front of an Inclusion Institute sign. They hold various photo booth props.

Brian Boyd stands at a lectern and holds his hands up in celebration while addressing the Inclusion Institute attendees.

Chih-Ing Lim stands at a lectern in front of a presentation screen and addresses the attendees of the Inclusion Institute. Paula Grubbs stands to her left.

Pam Winton stands at a lectern in front of a presentation screen and waves to the attendees of the Inclusion Institute.

Day one of the 25th International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute has been amazing! Thank you to keynote speaker Jordyn Zimmerman for an incredible presentation.

Let us know what your favorite part of the first day of the Inclusion Institute has been in the comments.

#FPGInclusionInstitute

Printed newspaper with the header, "Kennedy's Dangerous Autism Claims." Letters to the editor are below.

Over the past couple weeks, autism has been part of many conversations on here and in the news. Read my latest letter to the editor of @nytimes.com, available online and in print.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/o...

NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship - AAPD Thanks to a generous contribution from NBCUniversal, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is proud to announce the recipients for the 2023 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholar...

Great news for disabled college + grad students who want to pursue media, communications, or entertainment careers – the 2025 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship application is open! Apply by May 30 at 5pm ET.

www.aapd.com/nbcuniversal...

I'm looking for ideas for me as a journalist to do for a solutions story at @motherjones.com on how aging people (60+) are staying connected to each other through a cool activity (think slightly quirky). If you have any examples, please get in touch at jmetraux@motherjones.com

“Autism destroys families.”

No. No, it doesn’t. A lack of resources does that. Cutting programs and services does that. Spreading false information does that.

Conceptualizing and describing autistic language: Moving on from ‘verbal’, ‘minimally verbal’ and ‘nonverbal’ - Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Alyssa Hillary Zisk, Jordyn Zimmerman, Betty Yu, 2025

New editorial in @journalautism.bsky.social with @yesthattoo.bsky.social @jordynbzim.bsky.social and @bettyyu.bsky.social where we argue that "nonverbal" and "minimally verbal" are not useful constructs for grouping or describing autistic people. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Inside Apple: Sonic Accessibility Podcast Episode · Twenty Thousand Hertz · 04/02/2025 · 32m

Many of the greatest innovations in the future will continue to come from the accessibility efforts and discussions happening now. Learn about a few of those in this podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act | American Experience | PBS The dramatic story of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The film highlights the determined people who literally put their bodies on the line to pass the legislation tha...

"Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act" premieres on @pbs.org tonight, March 25th.

@jimlebrecht.bsky.social directed the film, which shows the "decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990."

Autism Acceptance Month Sale 2025 - AssistiveWare Everyone has something to say. Working closely with the AAC community, we build apps and share best practice to help you communicate with the world.

Autism Acceptance Month is coming and AAC/communication app developer @assistiveware.bsky.social is celebrating with their traditional 50% off sale! Mark your calendars for April 2-9:

www.assistiveware.com/aac-app-sale #AutismAcceptanceMonth2025 #AAC #autism

Jordyn, standing at the podium as she delivers her keynote during the AGOSCI conference. On screen there’s a message in white lettering, “Everyone has words worth sharing.”

A small group of people standing together at the Statewide Inclusive Education Services office. Jordyn is smiling in the middle.

Jordyn, knelt down next to a kangaroo, holding a cup in her left hand to feed it.

Elevator selfie with Shannon, Amanda, David, and Erin and Jordyn, smiling in the back.

I had an incredible time in Australia! The highlight? Presenting at #AGOSCI2025 and connecting with so many educators, advocates and users. Plus, from school visits to seeing penguins and feeding kangaroos — every moment was incredible. Thanks to all who made it that way!

Sold a Story has a new mini-series. We found a high-poverty school district where nearly every kid can read well. They’ve been teaching the same way for 25 years. But a new law, inspired by our reporting, put that at risk. All three podcast episodes are out now.

AAC user Jackson Schroeder sports a green CommunicationFIRST T-shirt featuring a quote by our Board Chair Jordyn Zimmerman: “Speech does not make someone more human.”

Back by popular demand! The “Jordyn Zimmerman tee” is available now until March 24! lnk.to/shpc. 📷: #VisibleAAC Photo of Jackson Shroeder by Jayne Schroeder

[Image: AAC user Jackson Schroeder sports a green CommunicationFIRST T-shirt featuring a quote by our Board Chair @jordynbzim.bsky.social…

CommunicationFIRST Board Chair Jordyn Zimmerman, standing in black, holds hands with a smiling Judy Heumann, who sits in a power wheelchair wearing a floral shirt.

It’s been two years since one of our founding Board members, #JudyHeumann, left us. To honor her legacy, you can help save the disability rights law that she helped get passed. Our partner, DREDF, created a resource to stop the attack on #Section504. lnk.to/tvbart

[Image: CommunicationFIRST...

A black and white Boston Terrier, sitting in his bed with a silver 7 balloon behind him. He is holding a treat in his mouth that reads, “happy birthday!”

Finding joy, like this pup turning 7 !!