For AAC users, life can seem like a bunch of sour lemons. One can get caught up in what they can do rather than realizing all the great things we can accomplish. We may not have the ability to speak clearly with our natural voices, however, AAC devices allow us to communicate in ways most [...]
On Saturday October 16, 2010 I had a chance to travel to the Napa Valley for a bike ride fundraiser titled the BORP Revolution for the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP), which provides different sports activities for people with disabilities in the bay area. I have been involved in BORP’s power soccer programs [...]
In today’s economic times, it’s hard for anyone to just live life to their full potential, whether or not they have a disability. However, this is especially true for me and my fellow AAC users. After realizing that I would not be hired on permanently as an ASSET Assistive Technology Navigator I’ve been trying to [...]
I had the opportunity to interview Bob Williams for a project I am doing for the World Institute on Disability and I am honored that I was granted that experience. For those of you who do not now about Bob Williams, he is the special assistant to the director at the Washington, DC Department on [...]
Building a good support team is another strategy towards making an AAC user a success. Mastering a sophisticated device comes when the support team and the augmentative communicator work together to overcome the inevitable challenges. The question that should be asked is, “How can I best advocate for an AAC user to bring out his/her [...]
I honestly never thought of myself as having a severe disability. I am able to go just about anywhere I want to go with my wheelchair. I am able to say anything I want to say with my DynaVox Vmax. I have people who help me with things like eating and getting dressed. I am [...]
As a young professional I feel like I always have a million and one things to do. I have three official job titles and as a result I must manage my time wisely so that I can fulfill my obligations in a reasonable time. In all three of my jobs I have to write articles [...]
Today it struck me on how dependent I am with my DynaVox Vmax to communicate. I am lost without it. For instance, when my caregiver takes me to the bathroom, I think about many things that I want to tell her. Without my device, however, I can’t express my thoughts. I try hard to remember [...]
Two days after I graduated college, I had the chance to go back to my high school to give two presentations. It was opening day for the entire faculty in the school district, and they not only asked me to be the keynote speaker, but they also wanted me to do a breakout session to [...]
On Thursday, September 9, 2010 I was invited to consult on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) at United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate by their President Barry Gardin. I was expecting to converse with him for an hour about my knowledge of AAC. I figured that since I was a Consumer Representative with DynaVox [...]
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