Richard Ellenson

Richard Ellenson is the CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF). Under his leadership, CPF has created a multi-site initiative to lower the age of detection for Cerebral Palsy. He has partnered with the NYC School System to build an innovative framework for inclusion, and has collaborated with Microsoft to enhance access to gaming for people with disabilities. Prior to joining CPF, Richard was founder and CEO of two assistive technology companies -- Panther and Blink Twice -- which helped transform the field of assistive technology. As the father of a 19-year-old son with Cerebral Palsy, Richard has worked tirelessly to create awareness about people with disabilities. He and his son have been featured as ABC World News People of the Year, a cover story in New York Times' Sunday Magazine, and as a feature segment on ESPN’s E: 60. Richard has been honored with the Visionary Leadership Award from Resources for Children with Special Needs, the Caregiver of the Year award by United Cerebral Palsy of NYC, and by many other accolades from organizations within the world of disabilities. Richard has served on the Advisory Council of the NIH’s National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders, and on the boards of the Center on Disabilities at California State University at Northridge, the United States Society for Alternative and Augmentative Communication, and the Assistive Technology Industry Association

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]