Introduction to the Forum by the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities (NJC) was established in 1986 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and what was then The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (now, TASH).The two organizations brought together representatives from related fields of speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education to form an interdisciplinary group to focus on research, policy, and practice, leading to improved educational opportunities for persons with severe disabilities.The NJC continues to be made up of interdisciplinary members from eight member organizations in order to advocate for individuals with significant communication support needs resulting from intellectual disability, which may coexist with autism and sensory and/or motor limitatio ns.
Authors: Andrea Barton-Hulsey, Rose A. Sevcik
Institutions: Florida State University, Georgia State University
Language: English
Subfield: Occupational Therapy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7118876096