The release of the Communication Access and Inclusion Terminology Report (the Report) represents a milestone in our ongoing commitment to championing the communication rights of Australians.
The Report provides clarity regarding preferred terms used to refer to people with communication difficulty and the processes and environments to address communication barriers.
The project team who developed the Report, aimed to facilitate shared understanding and consistency of use across all stakeholder groups and find the most acceptable term/s to refer to people with communication disability.
The Report concluded that 'people with communication support needs' was the most acceptable term to refer to people with communication disability or difficulty. The most acceptable term to refer to processes and environments to support communication and minimise barriers was 'inclusive communication'. Further recommendations were made when referring to individual people and groups. Sponsored by Speech Pathology Australia, the report is firmly rooted in the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (2006) and aligns with our vision, values, and key objectives as detailed in SPA's Strategic Plan 2020-2022 and Speech Pathology 2030: Making futures happen.
View the full report