Our first edition for 2011 of the Conference Newsletter is packed with announcements, reminders, and exciting information that highlights the action you’ll find at this year’s event.
In an effort to assist newcomers to the conference’s location, we will, once again, provide an opportunity to help you navigate the venue with an expert guide. The Orientation Tour is scheduled for Wednesday morning, March 16 from 6:30-7:30 am. We encourage you to “save a seat” for the tour as space is limited. The tour is listed in the Conference Schedule as BLV-1089.
We encourage you to check-out the selection of Pre-Conference Workshops offered this year, so that you can come early and learn more!
We will be offering the Center on Disabilities’ renowned Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP) 2-day FastTrax session on Monday and Tuesday. This is the perfect opportunity to attend ATACP on-site at the conference.
Please be sure to join us in the Randle Ballroom on Tuesday evening, March 15 at 5:30 pm for the official opening of the 2011 Conference, hosted by Conference Chair, Dr. Arthur I. Karshmer.
Our Keynote Address this year is a special panel discussion with Axel Leblois, Mohammed Al-Tarawneh and Paul P. Schafer with 2011 Program Chair, Michael Paciello, serving as our Moderator. This enlightening topic will address the global assistive technology divide from an international perspective.
The Strache Award presentation to Alan D. Muir will follow the keynote address and then special announcements and conference highlights will be provided by Dr. Karshmer to start off your busy conference week.
We are honored to announce that Kareem A. Dale will be the Featured Speaker at this year’s Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. Kareem A. Dale is the Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. Appointed by President Obama in February, 2009, his position is the highest ranking position on disability ever created by a President.
Mr. Dale will be addressing the administration’s work on Technology and Accessibility at his talk which will include time for questions from the audience. The Featured Speaker Presentation will be held on Thursday, March 17 from 12:45-1:30 pm in the Manchester Ballroom and is open to both conference attendees and the general public.
Mark your calendars for the Opening of the 2011 Exhibit Halls on Wednesday, March 16 from 4-7:00 pm! We’ve got more for you to see this year with exhibits in the Douglas Pavilion and the Manchester Ballroom…and don’t forget – there are no general sessions on Saturday so you’ll have even more time to check-out the extensive offerings of products and services. As always, the Exhibit Halls are free and open to the public.
The CSUN social network event of the conference is back! This year’s event will be held in the Randle Ballroom on Thursday, March 17 at 6 pm and you won’t want to miss the action (before and after!). We advise everyone to visit the web site, http://csuntweetup.com/ to RSVP and make sure you’re connected to the other plans and participation options the tweet-up sponsors have in store for you!
A special feature of this year’s Tweet-Up is a live, Tweet-up Band featuring mega CSUN Conference stars Victor Tsaran, Tom Wlodkowski, Ken Salaets, Paul Schroeder, and Mark Richert. Although this group performed last year, we thought it was time to build-up their fan-base and make them official, so…Come on down and play “Name the Tweet-Up Band”! Please send your suggestions for the official band’s name to conference@csun.edu with a subject of “band name contest”. The winner of the contest will be announced at this year’s Tweet-Up and will receive a complimentary registration for the 2012 CSUN Conference! The only requirement is you must be present to win.
Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), will host a presentation on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strategies to Implement President Obama's Call for Change. Participants will learn about ODEP's priorities and engage in a dialogue on disability employment policy. Ms. Martinez’s session will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 12-12:30 pm in the Randle Ballroom “A”.
We are very proud to announce that the CSUN Conference will be the site for two very important sessions highlighting the administration’s legislations and plans involving technology, accessibility and people with disabilities.
The FCC will be holding a public hearing on the 21st CCVAA which was signed by President Obama in October, 2010. It is the most significant disability accessibility legislation since the passage of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. We invite you to attend this session to learn what the Act will mean for people with disabilities. The Public Hearing is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, March 17 in the Manchester Ballroom from 8:00 am to 11:40 pm.
The members of the Chief Information Officers Council and the U.S. Access Board will be addressing ways to promote access to information technology (IT) in the Federal sector under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Explore the issues of emerging technologies in use by the government and other associated topics in this very vital arena. The Listening Session is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, March 17 in the Manchester Ballroom from 1:50 pm to 5:20 pm.
We are excited to announce that the Final Competition for Project:Possibility’s SS12 Code for a Cause will be held at this year’s conference. Sponsored by Microsoft, this exciting event will host the innovative open source projects the top teams from CSUN, UCLA and USC have created. Mark your calendars for this premiere occasion where the First Place team will be announced following the presentations and judging portions on Saturday, March 19 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM in the Microsoft Showcase Suite.
The CSUN Cyber Café, sponsored by Google,is located on the 2nd floor adjacent to Registration. The perfect place to check your email, follow us on Facebook, update your Conference Notebook…or just surf to see what else is happening at the Conference!
It goes without saying…but we’ll say it anyway…thank you to all of our valuable Conference Sponsors! Many of the services and events at the conference are provided through the commitments of:
CSUN Center on Disabilities
Wayne Fernandes - conference@csun.edu
18111 Nordhoff St.
BH-110, Center on Disabilities
Northridge, CA
91330-8340
Phone: (818) 677-2578
Fax: (818) 677-4929
