CONTACT: http://www.nist.gov/ITaccess2001 This is to announce the IT Accessibility 2001 Conference. "IT Accessibility 2001: Ensuring Information Technology Access for People With Disabilities" -- A two-day industry conference -- May 22-23, 2001 National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, Maryland For more information about this conference, please see our website at http://www.nist.gov/ITaccess2001 You are invited to attend this new conference focusing on technology, as well as industry and government goals, challenges, and strategies for creating an environment with easy accessibility to Information Technology (IT) by people with disabilities, moving towards the ultimate goal of Universal Design and Accessibility. Leaders in information-technology accessibility from industry, academia and government will make presentations about their long-term strategies, goals, approaches, products, and projects, and how they plan to help improve IT accessibility. Featured conference speakers include executives, researchers, accessibility experts, and managers from Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, TRACE R&D Center, National Media Access Center (WGBH), Information Technology Assoc. of America (ITAA), National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Dept. of Education, GA Tech Center for Rehabilitation Research, Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), Highway 1, Inclusive Technologies, Association of Tech Act Projects, Dept. of Justice, FCC, and The Benetech Initiative, and others. Planned Topics: - What are the Challenges and Motivations to the Industry? - Industry Perspectives - Long-range & Short-term - Legislative Trends - Section 508 Regulations - What Industry and Agencies are doing with respect to Accessibility - "I Have a Dream" - an Accessible IT Environment for the Future - Standards & Guidelines (including Digital Talking Books) - Educational Resources Available - Case Studies - Missteps (or "What's Gone Wrong in the Past?) - Exhibits on IT Assistive Technology Why You Should Attend: - To hear about the regulations and legislative trends - To learn from IT leaders and accessibility experts about: -- improved IT accessibility -- technical successes and problems -- current research in IT accessibility -- identifying future needs, markets, and capabilities -- the importance of accessibility in design - To gain an understanding of the issues and concerns of industry and users - To understand what is being done and what still needs to be done in IT accessibility - To communicate your needs and issues so they may be addressed - To establish valuable industry contacts To Register: Kimberly Snouffer, Phone: (301) 975-2776, Fax: (301) 948-2067 Email to: [log in to unmask] Online: http://www.nist.gov/ITaccess2001 Technical Contact: Leslie Collica, Phone: (301) 975-8516, Fax: (301) 975- 5287 Email to: [log in to unmask] For more information, see the conference website at http://www.nist.gov/ITaccess2001 Patricia Flanagan [log in to unmask] (301)975-4495 NIST Bldg. 225, Room B254 Stop 8940 Gaithersburg, MD 20899