I am LJ Seiff. I have cerebral palsy resulting from a birth complication. Because my speaking ability, vision and motor skills are impaired, I have been an AAC user since I was 5 years old. I use an Accent 1000 supported by the Unity language system mounted to a power wheelchair. I am a teenager who is deeply dedicated to advocating for other students like me with disabilities. I have spoken at school board meetings, national conferences including the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference in Orlando in 2022 and 2023, presented to CVI Now: Perkins School for the Blind, been on the Talking with Tech podcast, and presented on several panels promoting equality, inclusion, and accessibility. I am fully included in the general education setting and pursuing my high school diploma. I love culinary adventures- both making and enjoying them. Some would say I’m a beast with my dad when I ride on long distance runs in Virginia or downtown DC, with a fantastic play list of curated tunes & especially when there are sweet ramps for some vertical involved or races with lots of cheering spectators. I am active on the Challengers baseball team, love adaptive skiing, swimming, and all things computer science.
I wanted to become a PRC-Saltillo Ambassador to make a difference in the world for other AAC communicators. I believe more of us can share the importance of representation. AAC users bring unique perspectives, insights, and lived experiences that are invaluable in shaping the development of AAC technology, practices, and social norms. By being out there as an ambassador we can help create more inclusive spaces and take down some of the accessibility barriers. I don’t want to be a passive participant but rather I want to be an active contributor surrounding AAC.
