Chase Steffen

Products Editor

What is your role with the CLL | UCEDD?

I am currently working as a products editor on the CLL team.  I collaborate with members of the team to edit various educational resources, including pamphlets, guides, and reference works.  The ultimate goal being to deliver accurate, current, accessible information for consumption by a very diverse reader set.

Why did you decide to work in the field of Disability?

My stepson has autism. Over the course of the years, I have witnessed the impact programs and resources have had on his life and some of his friends, as well as mine and the rest of the family. I know how important it can be to give a voice, be a voice, and support a voice for and with people with disabilities.

How does your perspective inform your work?

My stepson doesn’t write, but he types. He reads his best when language is clear, and sentences are short. Accommodations and support are key in his communication success. I believe what is most important to me in my current role is to make information accessible to people with IDD, families, professionals, and allies in a widely digestible way. 

When you are not working, how do you relax and practice self-care?

When I have the time to break away from work and family responsibilities, I practice two forms of mediation, make impossibly delicious food with my (always totally enthusiastic about it) children, and unashamedly indulge myself in the occasional romcom over ice cream and eyerolls.

What is a motto or saying that motivates or inspires you?

"Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship." - Brené Brown

I like the sentiment of this, and how it conveys that when we work with others and allow for authentic, open communication, we often gain something back from the interaction.