Hi all,

Speechless, a sitcom debuting tonight on ABC in the US, will be the first TV show to feature a disabled lead character who uses an augmentative and alternative communication system instead of oral speech to express themselves. 

In advance of the premiere, I've written an op-ed for VICE Motherboard on the show's potential to generate conversation about the complex intersections of voice, agency, and technology -- particularly in today's political environment:

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/what-abcs-new-tv-series-speechless-can-tell-us-about-voice

The commentary is based on my book Giving Voice: Mobile Communication, Disability, and Inequality (MIT Press, forthcoming 2017):

https://merylalper.com/giving-voice/

Feel free to pass the article along!  Also happy to hear any and all feedback.

Best,