​​​​​​​​​​​​​“I have aphasia after a stroke. It affects how I speak and sometimes I have difficulty processing what people are saying. For me, access is having people show me what they are talking about and giving me time to communicate using my device or communication book.”

​Bill Scott – Retired

When using a business or organization, people who have speech and language disabilities have the right to expect to:

• be treated with respect
• understand what the person is saying to them
• have their messages understood by the other person
• use the communication method(s) that work best for them
• use a communication assistant if they want
• have someone follow their instructions on how to communicate with them
• get enough time to communicate their messages
• ask questions and express their opinions
• be taken seriously
• connect with the organization using the telephone or another way that works better for them
• get communication supports that they may need to communicate effectively at meetings
• get supports they may need to read or understand the organization’s written materials
• get supports they may need to complete an organization’s forms, take notes and sign documents

Credits: Adapted from Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC)​