TED Ed talks are often known for their ability to inspire, promote new ways of thinking or offer insights into worlds unfamiliar to our own. For me, the TED Ed talk, What losing my vision taught me about accessibility, did all of the above. Luis Pérez delivered this TED ed talk at the 2018 ISTE Conference in Chicago and has been a major topic of conversation since then. It brings to the surface the ever important discussion of accessibility and being able to view the world outside of our lens. Through Luis' own personal experiences lives between two worlds he was able to understand the important of accessibility and how to "be the spark and light the path" for those students we work alongside.
A little background about Luis Pérez, as stated on CAST.org, "As a technical assistance specialist for the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials, Luis promotes the creation, delivery and use of high quality accessible educational materials and technologies to support equitable learning opportunities for all students.
Prior to joining the AEM Center, Luis was an independent consultant focusing on mobile learning, UDL and assistive technology. He was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) in 2009 and as a Google in Education Certified Educator in 2014. Luis is President-Elect of the Inclusive Learning Network of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which named him its 2016 Outstanding Inclusive Educator. He also serves on the board of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)."
