People communicate in many different ways such as speech, gestures, body language, pointing to objects and pictures, reading and writing. Successful communication happens when people understand each other's messages whether that is in conversation, over the telephone, on a videoconference, through an email, text message, written letter or social media. Depending on the nature of the speech and/or language disability, one or more areas of speaking, understanding what others are saying, reading or writing can be affected. A person who has a speech disability does not necessarily have difficulty understanding spoken language. Many people who have speech and/or language disabilities use augmentative and alternative communication methods such as communication boards and speech generating devices.

When an individual has a speech and/or language disability, he or she may require accommodations to make communication successful in certain situations.

People who have a speech and/or language disability have the right to:

• Be acknowledged and treated with respect.
• Use their preferred ways to communicate, such as speech, gestures, communication display or speech generating device, sign language interpreter or communication assistant.
• Be given the individualized accommodations they request/ require to make communication effective.
• Ask the person with whom they are communicating to say or do things differently, allow extra time and /or provide a quiet space for communication.
• Expect that the person with whom they are communicating to make reasonable efforts to understand their messages.
• Be listened to, taken seriously and have their opinions, desires and feelings acknowledged.
• Have opportunities to engage in meaningful communication including and beyond responding to questions posed by another person.
• Be communicated with in ways that they can understand.
• Direct and use a communication assistant or sign language interpreter to assist them communicating with a person who is unfamiliar with how they communicate.
• Expect essential services to procure the services of a trained person to assist with communication, where such support is required and not already in place. Essential services may include healthcare, education, legal, law enforcement, courts and other services deemed critical to, and by the individual.
• Communicate over the telephone using their preferred method of communication and/or negotiate alternatives such as email, fax, texting and face-to-face meetings.
• Be provided with requested accommodations to communicate effectively in face-to-face meetings, video or web conferencing, public events and other group situations.
• Be provided with text, print and electronic information in ways they can access and understand such as alternate formats or human assistance.
• Be given requested accommodations to complete forms, surveys, vote, take notes, sign documents and engage in other writing activities that are related to accessing an organization's goods and services.

In addition to the above, people who have speech and/or language disabilities may have other accessibility needs in specific contexts. The following are sample contexts.

Within Educational Settings:

• Be given accessible texts and curricula, and when appropriate, qualified teachers, educational assistants and other personnel who are trained to work with students who have speech and/or language disabilities that impact on their ability to access the curriculum.

Within Health / Law Enforcement, Legal and Justice Services:

• Expect that organizations have access to and engage appropriately trained internal or external personnel, such as a Speech Language Pathologist to assist them to communicate effectively when required.

Within Emergency Services:

• Expect that emergency response personnel have appropriate communication tools and are adequately trained to communicate with people who have speech and/or language disabilities either prior to or as a result of an emergency situation.