Across the Table - Strategies and Solutions for Living in a Collective Community

Knowledge has power and controls access to opportunity and advancement. Liz Persaud will explore and share the collective role each of us play in promoting successful independent living beyond the everyday “typical” environments for individuals with disabilities. As a professional in the AT community with personal experiences that have structured and informed everyday living, Liz will spend this time to reflect back, look forward, and share her incredible life journey along with some valuable lessons learned. Diagnosed at the age of 9 months old with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, Liz was not expected to live beyond the age of 2. Medical advice focused on institutionalization and stated that survival would not include access to education, socialization, and employment.

Using hope as a catalyst for survival, Liz has and continues to defy all medical expectations. Liz is sought-after for her influential storytelling, shedding light on the power of assistive technology and its impact on the lives of individuals living with disabilities and their support circles and by educating on self-determination and advocacy. During Liz's time with you she will shed more light on disability culture, share information about attitudinal barriers faced by people living with disabilities, along with helpful tips, strategies, and solutions on how to overcome these barriers using tools like education, understanding and assistive technology. Join Liz as she shares positive outcomes that can occur when thoughtful communication, inclusion and awareness are integrated into the lives of each and every one of us in a collective community.

Presented by: Liz Persaud, Program and Outreach Manager for Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program at the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation at Georgia Tech