Leadership

White woman smiling in relaxed pose on couch in front of books.

I'm Rachel Kripke-Ludwig (she/hers), a nonspeaking, college-bound, autistic advocate. I am a transition student at the Open Mind School in Menlo Park, and I am a Community Partner in the AASPIRE Community Based Participatory Research Group. I am working on a five-year study to develop tools to measure outcomes for adult autism services and a research project to develop an intervention to prevent suicide in autistic adults. I am also on the Community Advisory Council of CommunicationFIRST, the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people who cannot rely on speech to communicate.  I am on the Steering Committee of the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and am a frequent speaker on neurodiversity and the rights of nonspeaking autistics. To learn more please see, Rachel Tells It All.

I started The Option because I saw too many Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users having Parent Centered Planning meetings instead of Person Centered Planning. Person Centered Planning meetings for people with disabilities should be focused on our dreams and goals. I believe that that all AAC users can and must direct their own lives.

I am not a “high functioning person.” In fact, I need help with with all of my basic activities of daily living. I am not an independent communicator. I receive the support of a Communication Regulation Partner to help me spell my thoughts on a letterboard. But I am smart, and I do have opinions about my life.

This group is the beginning of a self-advocacy movement for AAC users who want to direct their own lives.

Membership

Two self-advocates bumping hips joyously.

The group members are from the San Francisco Bay Area and are all AAC users who need Communication Regulation Partners. Some have intellectual disabilities. Group members use a variety of AAC methods from picture icons to a yes/no switch, to typing.

Partnership

College student with aide supporting on campus.

I participated in Disability Voices United’s Emerging Leaders program and asked to be mentored by Sheraden Nicolau, the Bay Area Regional Manager of the State Council on Developmental disabilities. I want to thank her not just for helping, but for being patient, and trusting me to deliver a quality program, and for not taking over. Other people who helped include Sally Morris, Matt Jacobs, Eric Kelleberger, Marina Vaserman, Janelle Franco, and Clarissa Kripke.