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THE NORTHEAST'S PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
CONFERENCE RETURNS TO NEW JERSEY WAYNE, N.J. (January, 18, 2001) William Paterson University and the New Jersey Consortium to Access Abilities (NJCAA), will again sponsor the Northeast's leading conference on state-of-the-art advances in assistive technology for students with disabilities. AccessAbilities 2001, the 2nd Annual Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication Conference, will be held on March 13-15, 2001. The conference will bring together nationally prominent speakers and locally active special-education professionals in dynamic seminars, panel discussions and hands-on computer labs. Over 600 participants are expected to attend this popular event, which drew 450 people last year. "We developed the AccessAbilities conference as a way to help bridge the very real information gap that exists about assistive technology in special education," said Denise Stone, Ed.D., an NJCAA board member and assistant professor at William Paterson University. "Our goal was to create a world-class forum in the Northeast by bringing together professionals on both the national and local fronts. Judging from the positive response our first conference received, we have succeeded." Designed for education professionals and researchers, as well as parents and friends of students with disabilities, AccessAbilities 2001 will offer in-depth sessions on assistive technology (AT) and augmentative communication (AAC) as critical tools for curriculum access. Key topics include:
In addition, a series of nationally renowned speakers will host pre-conference workshops on March 13. These sessions will address Augmentative Communication in the Early Childhood Classroom, Decision-Making Processes for Team Members and AT Leaders, Learning Disabilities and Technology, and more. Attendees can also get a first-hand look at state-of-the-art technology in the conference's vendor area, which will feature exhibits from leading manufacturers such as Apple Computer, Arkenstone, Dynavox and IntelliTools. Kicking off the conference on March 14 will be keynote speaker Norman Kunc, co-founder of Axis Consultation and Training Inc. Internationally recognized for his work in inclusive education, employment equity, conflict resolution and other disability rights, Kunc, who has cerebral palsy, provides in-service and training to school districts, human service agencies, employers and advocacy groups. Conference attendees are eligible to receive CEU credits to fulfill the New Jersey Department of Education Continuing Education requirement; approval for American Speech Language Hearing Association CEUs is pending. Registration is due March 1, 2001. For additional information, please call William Paterson University's Center for Continuing Education and Distance Learning at 973-720-2354, or visit the conference Web site at www.accessabilities-2001.com
Fred Tchang Barbara E. Martin
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