Otto Lana is a San Diego native, working on his bachelor's degree at University of San Diego.  He is an award-winning poet, writer, consultant, filmmaker, actor, and lyricist. A self-advocate championing the rights of those with communication disabilities, booking speaking engagements all across the country. In 2021 was awarded the inaugural Judy Heumann-Elijah Armstrong Award for Excellence, overcoming ableism in academia.  April 12, 2023 was proclaimed Otto Lana Day in San Diego by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for his leadership, and championing the right to communicate. He is a California State Youth Ambassador for the Center on Youth Voice Youth Choice, informing disabled youth on alternatives to conservatorship. He is an Ambassador for CalABLE, the state-sponsored savings plan for disabled individuals. Disability should not equate to a life in poverty. He is a member of the Disability Voices United Self Advocacy Speakers Bureau. He is currently the face of EasterSeals national campaign, “Disability is Not a Dirty Word”. He is an entrepreneur, designing and selling waterproof letterboards and apparel on his website www.ottosmottos.com  He has been a program manager at Autism Tree Project Foundation since 2020 and co-hosts an online book club, and a collaborator for the Annual Neurodiversity Conference at UCSD. He loves the outdoors, especially the ocean. You can find him traveling the world with his friends and family. His goal is to change the face of Autism and Apraxia. He wishes to lead by example giving parents and disabled individuals hope to fuel their own moonshots. He is the first student at University of San Diego using augmentative and alternative communication tools, he is certain he will not be the last.

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