Speakup Blog

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 1^st to 6^th 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.