AND WELCOME TO INFORAMPS 96.
MY NAME IS BETSY AND I'M THE ACTING
DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY
POLICY AT THE WORLD INSTITUTE ON
DISABILITY.
WHICH IS A RESEARCH TRAINING AND POLICY
CENTER.
DEDICATED TO INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND WORK THAT FURTHERS INDEPENDENT
LIVING AND THE MOVEMENT.
IT HAS BECOME A CLEAR THAT IN THE LAST
FEW YEAR THAT IS INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISBILL {250E}S.
A ROLE THAT WILL ONLY INCREASE IN
IMPORTANCE IN THE COMING YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS AT THIS
CONFERENCE.
WE HAVE A SESSION OF PANELS TODAY AND
MORE DE{THALD} AND FOCUSED WORKSHOPS
TOMORROW THAT YOU WILL BE HEARING ABOUT
MORE AS WE INTRODUCE THE PROGRAM TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE PARTNERS
OF THIS -- THAT HAVE WORKED TO HELP MAKE
THIS PROGRAM A SUCCESS.
WITNESS HAS TAKEN.
W IT HAS TAKEN LEAD BUT WE HAVE HAD
TREMENDOUS HELP AND I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THEM NOW.
IF THEY ARE HERE AND PRESENTS, I WOULD
LIKE YOU TO COME DOWN, {TAND} AT THE
FRONT OF THE ROOM OR AT LEAST ALLOW
PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
GREGG VANDERHEIDEN FROM THE TRACE
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
HE IS BACK HERE.
JIM FROM INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
JIM IS NOT HERE.
RUTH HOLDER FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC
TECHNOLOGY.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE QUEEN OF CONFERENCE
ORGANIZING.
LARRY GOLDBERG FROM W G B H MAT CENTER
FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDIA.
KAREN WOLF FROM THE INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY GROUP.
ALL OF THESE FOLKS HAVE DONE A
TREMENDOUS JOB WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS
CONFERENCE.
I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR YOUR
HELP.
I PERSONAL HE ARE THRILLED WE ARE HAVING
THIS CONFERENCE HERE TODAY AT GALLAUDET
UNIVERSITY.
AS A PERSON WITH A HEARING IMPAIRMENT,
THIS IS PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL TO ME.
GALLAUDET HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN MY OWN
CONSCIOUSNESS AROUND DEAF {KUL} THEIR
AND RIGHTS AND SELF DETERMINATION.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL WELCOME TODAY FROM
JACK GANNON.
HE IS A SPECIAL ASSITANCE TO THE
PRESIDENT AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY.
HE WILL COME UP AND GIVE US SOME
WELCOMING REMARKS.