The five-day conference, which will take place from March 15-20 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport and Los Angeles Airport Marriott hotels, is expected to attract participants from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. It will explore how cutting-edge technology can help people with disabilities.

Organizers point out that discussions at prior conferences have led to revolutionary developments in technology that have made life easier for the disabled.

"Solutions that we were only dreaming about during the first conference in 1984 have become reality and have been improved upon many times," said Harry "Bud" Rizer, director of CSUN's Center on Disabilities, which puts on the conference. "The dynamic nature of the technology involved in the field of disability and assistive technology assures that there will be constant improvement and expansion in this field, creating the new goal of assuring that this information and the available resources are made available to everyone who needs them."

The conference's keynote speaker is Vinton G. Cerf, widely known as one of the fathers of the Internet. Cerf, senior vice president of architecture and technology for MCI, will talk about the progress made in assistive technology for the disabled and where the future of technology is heading.

"Dr. Cerf is a person with a hearing disability who realized early on in the process that the Internet could be a tremendous tool for persons with disabilities, himself included," Rizer said. "He is a nationally known scientist who understands disability and can help us look into the future."

Cerf is expected to speak at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17, in the International Ballroom of Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles.

The conference kicks off on March 15 with two days of 20 "preconference" workshops that cover such topics as computer access for people with disabilities, literacy, learning disabilities, job accommodation, developing accessible campuses, and assistive technology and autism.

The formal portions of the conference begin March 17 with dozens of workshops and about 375 speakers on such subjects as assistive technology services to people who have learning disabilities, services for people who have low vision or are blind, or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Other topics include how assistive technology can make employment, the Internet, K-12 education and postsecondary education more accessible to people with disabilities.

Throughout the five days, representatives from 175 national and international organizations--including technology developers, service providers and educational institutions--will display the latest in services for the disabled.

Among the exhibitors will be Tool Factory Inc., which will operate ongoing hands-on computer labs with a wide variety of assistive technology devices. The conference will be fully accessible to persons with disabilities, including the provision of alternative media such as Braille and enlarged print and the availability of sign language interpreters and real-time text transcriptionists.

The general sessions conference package is $449.

Information and registration details are available at www.csun.edu/cod or at (818) 677-2578 V/TTY.

CSUN's Center on Disabilities, founded in 1993, provides assistive technology services and other forms of academic accommodations to Cal State Northridge students, offers seminars throughout the country and hosts the annual conference.