Inclusive education – with Jordyn Zimmerman, nonspeaking autistic advocate

Jordyn Zimmerman earned her bachelor's degree in Education Policy from Ohio University and her Masters of Education at Boston College. As a nonspeaking autistic student who was denied access to effective augmentative communication until she was 18, Jordyn has personal experience challenging the educational status quo. Her experience is featured in the 2021 documentary, “This Is Not About Me.” 

Technology helped open Jordyn's world, and she began advocating for students. She has keynoted and presented at conferences around the world, is on the board of CommunicationFIRST, works as Director of Professional Development at The Nora Project, and has been featured by prominent media outlets. Recently, Jordyn was appointed to serve on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Jordyn is passionate and determined to make a difference in the world of education — making sure every student can access effective communication and exercise their right to a truly inclusive education.

During this episode, Jordyn shares:

• What life was like before she could communicate by typing – and how it changed when she finally got access to effective communication technology at the age of 18
• The poor treatment and substandard education she received in school, from people who denied her access to communication technology and refused to recognize her intelligence – and how her experiences fuel her advocacy for inclusive education
• What was it like going to college away from home – and why she started a college cheerleading team that includes disabled and nondisabled students 
• Her advocacy with the nonprofit organization CommunicationFIRST for people with communication disabilities
• How she got the opportunity to be featured in the documentary “This Is Not About Me”
• Her advice for nonspeakers and their allies 

To find out more about Jordyn and her work, visit her website at JordynZimmerman.com and connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

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Read the episode transcript.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*