By: Margaret Moore, PRC-Saltillo Blogger
Happy New Year! As we embark on 2024, many goals are on my agenda. Being a new author with a debut disability memoir Bold, Brave, and Breathless: Reveling in Childhood’s Splendiferous Glories While Facing Disability and Loss, my biggest goal is to go on a book tour. Since the book was released in the fall, I have done a few author talks and book signings in Connecticut, and I am looking to continue to travel around my state to do so. I’m already scheduled for events for January and the early spring in Connecticut as well as one in Massachusetts. Along with the local events, I am hoping to do a tour in other parts of the country.
Before my first book launch event in the fall, I created a page in my Accent 1000 communication device specifically for author events. I programmed keys with phrases to introduce myself, my book, and to start conversations with readers. I also have an explanation ready to share about how it will take me a moment to type a response into my Accent. So far, I have been turning on my speech so that people can hear each word typed as I compose my sentences during conversations and Q & A sessions. This has worked very well as it allows others to see that a reply is in the works. It also lets those who are interested in assistive technology to experience how I build my sentences. Of course I strive to streamline my communication a little more for each event. I make a mental note of aspects that I think could use improvement, and I try to implement changes before my next author talk and book signing.
I hope you, too, continue to seek ways to optimize efficiency and enable yourself to prosper as much as possible in 2024!
Communicators In Action - goals, new year, aac, 2024