Speak Up! & AACT: Mateo Moreno on Teaching Kids about AAC

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About the Author

Mateo Moreno has used AAC since the age of 4. Today, he’s a confident young adult eager to talk with new people and spread awareness about AAC.   He enjoys talking with families and professionals about his experiences.  He served as keynote speaker for the #TalkingAAC Conference in 2022.  He presents to undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of education and speech-language pathology nationally to share his story about his AAC journey, recommendations for communication partners, his pet peeves and what it’s like being the only AAC user in the room.  He enjoys talking with students, families and professionals about his experiences. In fact, since January 2023, he’s visited classrooms to present to over 1,000 students ranging from 1st to 6th grade to talk openly about AAC, disability, inclusion and just plain kindness! Mateo tailors his presentations to meet the needs of his audience. He presents virtually and in person.

In addition to presenting, Mateo enjoys mentoring learners to promote communication and help build the confidence of children, adolescents and young adults.  He meets with other AAC users virtually and in person. He’s excited to work as an AAC mentor at Talking with Technology Camp in Empire, CO this summer.

Mateo is a member of the U.S. Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication.  He serves on the AAC Awareness Committee and is a participant in the organization’s Speaker Connection.

Portrait Photograph of Mateo Moreno, author of Speak Up! & AACT post

Introduction

Mateo Moreno shares his experience of sharing his story as a person who uses AAC with children to raise awareness about all the ways people communicate.

Video

Thank you for reading this blog post. The views expressed in this post are that of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of USSAAC members and board members. No endorsement by USSAAC is implied regarding any device, manufacturer, resource or strategy mentioned. We would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts with a comment below or send a message through our contact page.

3 thoughts on “Speak Up! & AACT: Mateo Moreno on Teaching Kids about AAC”

  1. Thank you Mateo. Let’s spread the word that this video is available. I hope many people will watch your video and will consider sharing it with their family, colleagues and friends. Again thank you for your insights and advocacy

  2. Laura Elmer says:

    Mateo,
    It was wonderful to meet you and talk with you at TWT camp in Colorado. Thank you for mentoring students at camp and for sharing your story as an AAC user. You are an amazing educator and advocate. Finally, thank you for being kind and for visiting with Marshall about movies and things that matter to teens. It was a highlight of his summer! You are an incredible role model for AAC users. Keep sharing your story.

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