Presentation at the United Nations in NY

I spoke today at the United Nations.

I spoke for communication rights for all.

I spoke for those who cannot speak up.

I spoke for children and adults with
speech, language and communication needs
(including my parents).

I fulfilled a dream. What an honour.

[Link to the transcript of my speech]

Link to the UN TV recording

Presenters and representatives from Speech Pathology Australia and the International Communication Project

• Link to the UN TV recording  (My presentation commences at 19:30)
• Link to the transcript of my presentation to the United Nations

• Link to the International Communication Project information about the event 

Media releases

• Link to the Charles Sturt University media release
• Link to Speech Pathology Australia media release
• Link to International Communication Project media release

• Link to the special issue of International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology on communication rights 

According to the ASHA Director of Public Relations, the ICP media release was picked up by 160 outlets worldwide and had an audience reach of 73 million.

Preparation for the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons

It is not long until we will be attending the United Nations 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons (CRPD) on 10-13 June 2019 at the UN Headquarters, New York.

The International Communication Project will be presenting a side event during the Conference. Our presentation is titled: "People with Communication Disability Speak Up for Inclusion and Participation: How the Implementation of the CRPD and the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) can Support this Right". Our side event will be held on Wednesday 12th June 8:15 am - 9:30 am and live streamed throughout the world. The speakers are: Gail Mulcair (CEO, Speech Pathology AUstralia), Sharynne McLeod (Charles Sturt University), Meredith Allan, and Miles Forma, chaired by Derek Munn (RCSLT) (see concept note). The event will be sponsored by the Australian Government.

We have been working towards this event for a long time.

• In 2016 I approached Prof Kirrie Ballard, the Editor of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology about publishing a special issue of the journal to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2018. 
• In 2017 Gail Mulcair and I met with the International Communication Project in Los Angeles to discuss the possibility of presenting at the UN.
• In 2018, the special issue of IJSLP was published to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (table of contents) and events were held around Australia and the world to promote the event (Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Bathurst, Albury, Malta, USA) and special webpages were set up to focus on the event:
• SPA - https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SpeakUp
• ICP - https://internationalcommunicationproject.com/70th-anniversary-universal-declaration-human-rights/
• ASHA - https://blog.asha.org/2018/08/27/speak-up-for-communication-rights-speakup4commrights/
• In 2018, Speech Pathology Australia and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists gained NGO  accreditation status with the United Nations, allowing them to attend the Conference of States Parties and apply to present a side event in 2019.
• We are having regular meetings with the International Communication Project and Australian Government (DFAT, DSS) and the Australian Human Rights Commission to prepare for the event.

Planning for our presentation to the United Nations Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons

This morning the International Communication Project met via teleconference (Australia, UK, US) to prepare our presentation to the United Nations 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons (CRPD) on 10-13 June 2019 at the UN Headquarters, New York. Our presentation is titled: "People with Communication Disability Speak Up for Inclusion and Participation: How the Implementation of the CRPD and the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) can Support this Right" and will be held on Wednesday 12th June 8:15 am - 9:30 am.
Details are here: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp12.html

Planning to attend the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) at the United Nations

In June I will be attending the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations in New York. Last Wednesday I attended the Pre-CoSP event at the Australian Human Rights Commission in Sydney to gain an understanding of the roles of government, civil society and National Human Rights Institutes at CoSP. We also began planning logistics and activities for CoSP. It was great to meet others from Australia who will be attending this important meeting in New York.

Attendees at the Pre-CoSP event

Robert Strike from CID created an Easy Read guide for attending CoSP

United Nations NGO Accreditation Status for Speech Pathology Australia

Following on from our work to celebrate communication rights and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Speech Pathology Australia has just been granted NGO Accreditation Status by the United Nations.

Here is the announcement on Facebook by Speech Pathology Australia:

Speech Pathology Australia has just been granted NGO (Non-Government Organisation) Accreditation Status by the United Nations! The Association’s application for new NGO accreditation to the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability) was recently approved by consensus at the first meeting at the CoSP 11th session on 12 June in New York.
What this means is that Speech Pathology Australia can send delegations to the CRPD Conference of State Parties and participate in UN meetings and the Civil Society forum concerning the implementation of the Convention. The Association can now also host a side event at future CRPD Conferences of States Parties. Such a proposition has been under active consideration by the International Communication Project, as well as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
It is pleasing that the RCSLT has also just been granted accreditation status, providing further support for possible future ICP activities to promote communication as a human right. Additionally, the Association is aiming to apply for Consultative Status with United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which will provide further opportunities for consultation at this global level.
Gail Mulcair Chief Executive Officer

Meeting with the International Communication Project

Yesterday I was invited to present to the International Communication Project members about our work on the special issue of IJSLP to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and future plans. Members of the ICP are the presidents, CEOs and other office holders of:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Speech Pathology Australia
• New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Speech-Language and Audiology Canada
• Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

Professor Pam Enderby, the incoming president of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics also was present. It was a productive meeting.

IALP supports the International Communication Project

The board members of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics took time during our 2-day board meeting to discuss our involvement with the International Communication Project. As part of the discussion we each wrote a speech bubble about the importance of communication. They were written in a range of languages including Dutch, Italian, Arabic, Maltese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Swedish.
Some speech bubbles (and translations) read:

• "Silence is not always golden. Communication is not a luxury"
• "CommUnication involves You and I"
• "We come together when we communicate"
• "Communication is a privilege that everyone should enjoy"
• "I could not think of a more meaningful job"
• "I love to help people with communication disorders"
• "Communication facilitates access to the soul"
• "Communication is a human right"

Launch of the International Communication Project

Across the world, the International Communication Project was launched today http://www.communication2014.com/

Speaking at the launch were representatives from Speech Pathology Australia, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, New Zealand Speech and Language Therapists Association, Irish Association of Speech Therapy, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy, and the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology via a Google Hangout site https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cscgp2st70qjse8kmd2omljo92c

Suzanne Hopf's work in Fiji has been highlighted on the site http://www.communication2014.com/profile/suzanne-c-hopf/ Congratulations Suzanne.

Here is Speech Pathology Australia's site about this project http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/spa-news-a-events/icp2014

International Communication Project

Today I attended the first meeting of Speech Pathology Australia's  Australian Strategic Advisory Group on the International Communication Project. The aim of the international group is to foreground communication and people with communication disability. To date 5 international professional organizations are involved in the discussions, with a focus on hosting events in 2014 and beyond.