Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

Conference Explores How Technology Can Help
Break Through the Limitations of a Disability
Ted Kennedy Jr. Will Give Keynote Address

These are just some examples of the state-of-the-art equipment that will be on display March 15 to 20 at Cal State Northridge's international conference "Technology and Persons with Disabilities" at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport and Los Angeles Airport Marriott hotels near the Los Angeles International Airport.

More than 3,000 people from around the world are expected to attend the conference, which explores the different ways that technology can help break through the limitations of a disability.

"The CSUN conference works because it is in some ways, an 'organized mess,'" said Harry J. Murphy, founder and director of CSUN's Center on Disabilities. "By design, we try to bring as many different constituent groups together as possible. We consider it a success when consumers, parents, teachers, government officials, and vendors meet at the coffeepot and then move to the lobby to discuss common interests."

The conference's keynote speaker is Ted Kennedy Jr., who will talk about how technology can improve the lives of the disabled on Wednesday, March 17, at 7:30 a.m. in the International Ballroom of the Los Angeles Airport Hilton Hotel.

Since losing one of his legs to bone cancer in 1973 at the age of 12, Kennedy has devoted much of his professional and personal energy to working as an advocate for the civil rights of people with disabilities.

He has served as executive director of Facing the Challenge, a non-profit advocacy and public policy office on disability-related issues, and as a teaching fellow on disability policy at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also has worked extensively with both policy makers and the corporate world in the areas of expanding job opportunities for people with disabilities and other issues pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The "Technologies and Persons with Disabilities" conference is in its 14th year. Last year, the event attracted more than 3,000 people from 35 different countries.

The conference will feature some 275 information sessions on such diverse topics as web page design, promoting literacy for individuals with severe to moderate disabilities, teaching math to people with severe disabilities using the World Wide Web and planning for the future of your special needs child.

In addition, vendors representing more than 200 companies -including Microsoft, IBM Special Needs Systems, Pacific Bell, The Learning Studio and Voice Diary Ltd. - will display cutting-edge technology they have developed to make life easier for the disabled.

The exhibits are spread over four rooms in the two hotels. Exhibit hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18 and 19, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 20. The exhibits are free and open to the public, but a pass is needed. To obtain a pass, visit the conference web site at http://www.csun.edu/cod/ or call (818) 677-2578.

Fees for the overall conference vary. For more information about the conference, visit its web site at http://www.csun.edu/cod/ or call (818) 677-2578.