Kaili Webster, a ninth-grade Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) user at Wilson Memorial High School, served as an international speaker at a virtual conference on October 28, 2025. We wanted to share her recent collaboration and success with this exciting opportunity.
As a Youth Leader with I’m Determined (IMD), a VDOE-funded center, Kaili was a speaker at the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) 2025 Virtual Conference on Innovation, Inclusion, and Advocacy in AAC. This global event highlights advances in AAC through cutting-edge research, technology, and inclusive practices. Kaili participated in a presentation titled Shifting Gears: Using AAC to Drive Self-Determination.
Before the presentation, she created 23 professional videos at James Madison University’s media center, focusing on Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness—the CAR framework from the I’m Determined Center—and the 4Ps of AAC Self-Advocacy: Present, Personalized, Persistent, and Patient. During the conference, Kaili presented alongside IMD staff virtually, and her videos were used to share the perspective of an AAC user, enriching the experience for attendees.
What is I’m Determined (IMD)?
I’m Determined began as a state project in 2006 and became a dedicated Center in May 2025. Funded by the VDOE and based at James Madison University, IMD’s mission is to teach and model self-determined behavior skills. We empower youth, especially those with disabilities, to take charge of their lives—moving from passengers to leaders of their own journey. Our research-based approach focuses on Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness (CAR) to boost self-determination and well-being. The I’m Determined Elements develop skills and beliefs nurtured both at school and at home.