As an AmeriCorps AT ASSET and a DynaVox Consumer Representative, I have had the pleasure of mentoring several future ACC users. Due to my years of experience as an AAC user, I must say that I could not have chosen a better career path. 

Working at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston has truly opened up a multitude of opportunities to mentor clients on, not only DynaVox devices, but other assistive technology devices, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, Jaws, Magic,  Discovery Desktop, portable CCTV, REACH, and other speech devices. I have been able to speak to the client and collaborate on which assistive technology would best suit their disability and needs. For example, I had a client who wanted to return to college and could not type. We decided that Dragon Naturally Speaking would best suit her need to write the many papers she will no doubt have to complete during here college career.   

I have enjoyed being a DynaVox consumer representative for eight years and have had the opportunity to mentor several AAC users during this time. One example is being a mentor at a summer camp for kids with AAC devices called Camp Chit Chat. The campers were split into three tribes and it was my job to go from tribe to tribe to tell them about my AAC story and answer any question they had. I will never forget that experience. 

I’ve achieved a lot in my life.  But one of my greatest achievements has been helping others achieve their own goals by using my experiences and knowledge.   It’s not everyone who ends each day knowing that they’ve made a difference in the life of someone else.