Esther Klang

Esther Klang is a CPACC-certified accessibility contractor, disability advocate, writer, and assistive technology user whose work is deeply rooted in lived experience. Following the removal of a brain stem tumor in 2006, Esther became a quadriplegic and has spent the past two decades navigating the world through a wide range of assistive technologies. Today, she uses head tracking, on-screen keyboards, AAC tools, and other adaptive technologies to communicate, work, learn, and participate in her community. Her personal experience with disability and technology has shaped both her professional interests and her advocacy efforts. Esther provides accessibility testing and feedback for websites and digital products, helping organizations better understand how their content and services work for people with disabilities. She approaches accessibility from the perspective of someone who depends on accessible technology every day, offering practical insights into the barriers users may encounter and the impact they can have on independence and participation. In addition to her accessibility work, Esther is actively involved in the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) community. She serves as Conference Coordinator for the Northwest Augmentative Communication Society (NWACS), supporting educational and community-building opportunities for AAC users, families, professionals, and allies. Through this role, she helps organize events, coordinate speakers, and promote conversations that center the voices and experiences of AAC users. Esther also serves in an advisory role with the Center for Inclusive Technology and Education (CITES), where she contributes the perspective of a person who relies on assistive technology and AAC in daily life. Her involvement helps ensure that discussions about accessibility, technology, and inclusion are informed by the experiences of people who use these tools to communicate, work, and participate in their communities. Esther is passionate about making information more accessible and understandable. She regularly writes plain-language summaries of AAC-related research and educational content to help bridge the gap between academic information and the people who can benefit most from it. Her goal is to make complex topics easier to understand for AAC users, family members, caregivers, and others who may not have a research background. Her writings have appeared in several disability and accessibility-focused publications. She co-authored an article in Closing The Gap Solutions that explored real-world digital solutions for people with mobility and speech disabilities. She also creates content for Accessible Community, where she writes about disability, accessibility, assistive technology, and lived experience. Through these contributions, she seeks to increase awareness, share practical knowledge, and amplify the perspectives of disabled individuals. Esther also documents her own journey with disability, accessibility, and assistive technology through her website, Esther’s Walking Journey. There, she shares personal stories, product experiences, accessibility insights, and updates about her use of the Atalante X exoskeleton. Her writing reflects both the challenges and opportunities of living and working as a disabled person in an increasingly inaccessible digital world. As a daily AAC and assistive technology user, Esther brings a perspective grounded in real-world experience. Rather than speaking solely from theory or research, she shares insights drawn from the realities of communicating, working, and navigating technology with a disability. Her goal is to help others better understand accessibility, recognize the importance of inclusive design, and appreciate the role of assistive technology and AAC in supporting independence, connection, and participation.

ASHA Financial Disclosures:
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ASHA Non-Financial Disclosures:
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