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Illustrious Disability Rights' Leaders to Speak at Hong Kong Assistive Technology Conference
Illustrious Disability Rights' Leaders to Speak at Hong Kong Assistive Technology Conference
Published 09-20-06
Submitted by Non Profile
Washington, DC - John H. Hager, Lex Frieden, Michael Paciello and Michael Fox will deliver Keynote Addresses at the Opening Day Ceremonies of an Assistive Technology Conference on October 10th, 2006 in Hong Kong, China. These illustrious leaders will speak on various aspects of the benefits of assistive technology products in the lives of persons with disabilities.
"I am honored to participate in this Conference that expands the awareness of the benefits of assistive technology products to individuals with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific Rim," says Hager, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education.
His insights are echoed by Frieden, Paciello and Fox.
"The world needs more of these conferences that highlight these products' benefits to consumer with disabilities," says Frieden.
Paciello says, "in an era of globalization ,web accessibility is crucial to enhancing future opportunities for people with disabilities."
Fox adds, "assistive technology products can change the lives of users by advancing opportunities in every facet of life."
The marvel of Vemics technology ( www.vemics.com) will bring Hager and Frieden to the attendees. Frieden will appear from Houston, Texas, Hager from Washington, D.C., Paciello from Nashua, NH and Fox from Sydney, Australia.
The Vemics technology is a web-based, audio-video real time communications system that allows up to 90 sites to interact and countless sites to receive the videostreamed content.
Disability Leaders in Hong Kong, October 10th to 12th
Assistant Secretary Hager administers federal special education programs for America's 6.8 million children and youth with disabilities. His office also promotes employment opportunities for adults with disabilities and sponsors research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities of all ages. Hager's public service career has included numerous leadership roles with a number of disability organizations. Prior to his service as assistant secretary for OSERS, Hager was the lieutenant governor of Virginia and later its homeland security director. ( http://www.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/hager.html).
Frieden is Senior Vice President at TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) in Houston, Texas. TIRR is a comprehensive medical rehabilitation center which provides clinical, educational, and research programs pertaining to spinal cord and brain injuries and other disabling conditions. He is also Director of TIRR's Independent Living Research Utilization Program and Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the past Chairman of RI (http://www.rehab-international.org/aboutri/lexbio.html) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (www.aapd.com).
Fox is President of RI (Rehabilitation International) and was the 1996 to 2004 World Chair of the RI International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (ICTA). He is an experienced architect, planner and access consultant with involvement in access and equity since 1972. He is a director of Access Australia and the related Sydney architectural company Michael Fox Architects. He is an accredited member of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA) (http://www.rehab-international.org/aboutri/mfoxbio.html).
The Paciello Group ( http://www.paciellogroup.com/index.php) assists government agencies, technology vendors, e-commerce corporations, and educational institutions make their technology accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. The company offers professional consulting, technology solutions, and monthly monitoring services to ensure that clients reach all audiences effectively and efficiently while meeting governmental and international standards.
"We are honored to have such distinguished speakers for this Conference," said John M. Williams, world-renowned assistive technology writer. He is president and founder of Assistive Technology News (ATN www.atn-ctcf.org) and is an organizer as well as Co-Chair of the conference.
Disability Leaders in Hong Kong, October 10th to 12th
The United Nations estimates there are several hundred million people with disabilities living in the Asia-Pacific Rim. The China Disabled Persons' Federation estimates there are more than 60-million-people with disabilities in China. The conference will examine the ways that assistive technologies address the diverse needs of people with disabilities in every aspect of their life and assist their families as well as professionals involved in their care.
Assistive or Adaptive Technology commonly refers to "..products, devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities...", as found in the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.
These assistive technology (AT) products enable people with disabilities to accomplish daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life.
"These leaders' participation reinforces our Hong Kong Local Partner's, Community Business ( www.communitybusiness.org.hk), conviction that the individuals requiring these products need the information so they can lead richer, more productive and more independent lives," says Howard McClintic, executive director, Concurrent Technologies Corporation Foundation ( www.ctcfoundation.org).
One of the benefits of this Conference will be the distribution of the most recent update of the Directory entitled, Assistive Technologies: Expanding a Universe of Opportunities for People with Disabilities ( www.atn-ctcf.org).
The Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF) awarded the Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) Foundation a $15,000 Quality of Life grant to update the Directory. "The immediate use of this updated Directory will be evident at our first of three international Assistive Technology and Disability Conferences being held in Hong Kong, October 10th to 12th, 2006," said John M. Williams, Author of the Directory and Consultant to the Foundation. "Conference attendees, drawn from Australia, Mainland China, Europe, Japan and the United States, will be exposed to the Directory for the first time. The attendees will receive a CD of it as part of the Conference Registration; the Directory is available in print and online for a fee ( www.atn-ctcf.org)."
The six topics being discussed at the Conference are: Assistive Technology and Aging; Assistive Technology and Education; Assistive Technology and Employment; Information and
Disability Leaders in Hong Kong, October 10th to 12th
Communication Technology; Assistive Technology and Quality of Life; and, Assistive Technology and Web Accessibility.
"To ensure the success of this conference, we are looking for additional financial Sponsors," says McClintic, who can be reached at McClinth@ctcgsc.org.
Assistive Technology manufacturers will exhibit hardware and software, but not during the breakout or plenary sessions. Manufacturers are being invited from the United States, Canada, Europe, Mainland China, and other Asia-Pacific Rim countries. Products benefiting individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities will be displayed. Some of the disabilities benefiting from these products include: mobility, vision, speech, hearing, cognitive and a combination of disabilities.
"Assistive technology products equalize educational, recreational, social and job opportunities for all users," says Hager.
What do these AT products do? They allow blind people to hear and read materials they can't see; they speak for speech-challenged individuals; they allow deaf people to communicate with others; they provide cognitively challenged individuals with tools to learn; and they provide mobility for individuals.
Williams believes there are business benefits to the AT exhibitors. Among the benefits are: partnering with businesses interested in manufacturing in AT products in Asia; expanding markets; employing people with disabilities to build AT products; and, testing and evaluating new AT products.
The attendees are expected to have some knowledge of AT products, but yearning to learn more. The registrants will come from the United States, Hong Kong, Europe, Mainland China, and other Asia-Pacific Rim countries. The attendees will be people with disabilities, their families and caregivers; physicians; nurses; OTs; PTs; SLPs; psychologists; rehab and recreational therapists, medical professionals; special, general and adaptive physical educators, school and facility administrators; direct support providers; association executives and members; advocates and government employees; as well as dealers and distributors.
On the last day of the conference, the public will be given free access to the exhibits.
The 2006 AT conference is the first of three conferences. In 2007 and 2008, the AT conferences will be held in Beijing. The 2008 conference will occur around the time of the Paralympic Games.
One of the goals of the 2007 Conference is establishing an Assistive Technology Center in Beijing. The center is to be used for training purposes and to showcase products.
Disability Leaders in Hong Kong, October 10th to 12th
Founded in the 1980s, Assistive Technology News (ATN) is an editorial and marketing company working in the Assistive Technology area. Its founder John Williams coined the phrase "Assistive Technology."
Founded in 1998, the mission of the CTC Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the general public through unique economic initiatives that involve the private and public sectors, as well as non-profit organizations.
