By CJ Tabor, AT Champion
To the next generation of AT Champions
Welcome. You are stepping into a role that will challenge how you think, not just about technology, but about language, people, and what it truly means to support someone’s independence.
One of the most memorable moments of my experience was a conversation about the very term assistive technology. I walked away from that discussion with a new perspective — and a new vocabulary. Think about it: a car is, in many ways, assistive technology for able-bodied people. So why do we reserve that label only for tools used by people with disabilities? I prefer the term enabling technology, because that’s what it really is — technology that enables people to live fully on their own terms. I encourage you to question the language around you. Words shape how we see people, and in this field, that matters deeply.
I also came in thinking I had a solid understanding of AT. What surprised me was discovering that enabling technology doesn’t have to be expensive or complex. You can transform everyday objects into powerful tools, and you can even create solutions from home. That realization changed how I approach problem-solving entirely — creativity is just as important as technical knowledge.
If there’s one piece of practical advice I’d leave you with, it’s this: communicate with your Project Lead. Don’t wait until something goes wrong. Check in early, ask questions, and be open about what you’re learning and where you need support. That relationship will shape your entire experience.
Go in with curiosity, stay open to changing your mind, and remember that the people you serve are at the center of everything you do.
Good luck — you’ve got this.
CJ Tabor
Find out more at the AT Champions website.
CJ wrote this post as part of his participation in AT Champions – a program that hires and supports disabled students as interns to develop content related to assistive technology, including social media videos and flyers. The IMAGE Center of Maryland is proud to support two AT Champions for the 2025-2026 cohort. IMAGE Center AT Champions also work with AT Champions from other states in the mid-Atlantic region.
This project was funded by the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, operated by TransCen, Inc., which provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) within the Mid-Atlantic region (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV). The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center is funded under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR, grant #90DPAD0008). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The information, guidance, and/or materials provided are intended solely as informal guidance and do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.