12-year-old TD I-Series user lights up the main stage at Women in Tech event

Tobii Dynavox Solutions Consultant Griet Vanhee brought a big question to the main stage at the Women In Tech conference in Stockholm on April 22.  

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" she asked her 12-year-old co-speaker, Linnéa Selling, who has cerebral palsy. The condition has affected her since birth, making it difficult for her to speak and control her movements. 

Using her TD I-Series, a speech generating device she controls with her eyes, Linnéa was able to answer Griet with confidence and clarity.  

"I want to be a lecturer. I want to talk to people about AAC, not only here in Sweden, but I want to travel the world to do this.”  

Linnéa wants to pursue acting as well, and become a role model to people with and without disabilities. Beyond the spotlight, Linnéa dreams of being a mom.  

She told the audience these ambitions would not be possible without assistive communication. 

Learn more about the technology that made Linnéa’s participation possible. 

Griet pointed out that kids with disabilities are asked what they want to be less often than their peers. She emphasized that it's the responsibility of tech industry leaders to create a future where children like Linnéa can dream big and pursue those dreams in a world that creates space for them. 

“Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident,” Griet said. “It happens by design.” 

Linnéa reminded the audience that inclusion also requires people to have patience for those who communicate differently.  

“People like me don’t want to be left out just because we have a disability,” said Linnéa in a final statement. “We want to be seen. And we want to be heard.” 

Many in the audience were moved to tears.  

In reaction to Women In Tech’s LinkedIn post about the event, attendees commented that the talk was “heart-warming and inspiring,” “thoughtful, impactful, and genuinely touching,” and “so special and powerful.” One commenter called Linnéa “a rock star.” 

We're proud to have sponsored this event, which brings together women working in technology to network and learn. We're so grateful to Griet and Linnéa for sending the message that the future belongs to everyone, including the ~10 million children around the world with cerebral palsy. 

“Linnéa’s story is not about technology doing something extraordinary,” said Griet. “It’s about technology doing what it should do.” 

Watch Linnéa and Griet’s presentation on YouTube.