About the presenters:

Thanh Diep is a Vietnamese American woman with Cerebral Palsy. She interacts with people with the assistance of her AAC device, an Accent 1400. She is a Bridge School alumnus and graduated from San Francisco State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. She is a mentor to many, an artist, film maker and writer. She lives in San Francisco.

Tracy Rackensperger Ph.D. is a Public Service Assistant within the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia. Dr. Rackensperger has conducted a number of research studies, including published scholarly works regarding augmentative communication and people with disabilities. She has personally used AAC for over 35 years. She is a Project Co-Leader for Training and Dissemination with the RERC on AAC.

Patrick Regan is the Coordinator of Activities and Events for Bridging Communities Through Alternative Communication, an adult outreach program of the Bridge School. He is also the Senior Media Tech Coordinator for St. John Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska. Patrick has been using AAC since the age of two-and-a-half. He uses an Eyegaze Edge device, as well as other low tech communication strategies including spelling, partner assisted scanning and a trackball for computer access. Patrick has Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Tyson Renze works as a mentor to students who use AAC at The Bridge School where he also teaches a class on self-determination. He has used AAC since the age of three. He communicates using a Tobii Dynavox device accessed with eye gaze, a laptop with scanning that he accesses with a switch at his foot or knee and various low-tech tools.

Seminar description:

During this lively discussion about employment, four panelists will share their own unique experiences with conducting job searches, the interview process, securing supports in the work environment, relationships with coworkers and, yes, communication. These presenters all use AAC as their primary mode of communication and will detail the many ways they express themselves while working. Throughout this session they will highlight the importance of harnessing relationships at the outset with the job search while securing needed supports to ensure optimal work performance and building important partnerships with coworkers, supervisors and customers.

Webinar objectives: 

Participants will:
1. Identify three resources or tools designed to help people who use AAC in searching for employment.
2. Identify three strategies people who use AAC can use when preparing for a job interview.
3. Name three supports that individuals who use AAC can use at work to ensure success in fulfilling job expectations.
4. Describe the important role coworkers play in the work environment.