Wireless RERC to host accessibility forum at CTIA Wireless 2009 conference

The Wireless RERC will host the Accessibility Forum on wireless accessibility at the CTIA Wireless 2009 Conference in Las Vegas on April 2, 2009.

The title of the Accessibility Forum is: "Wireless for All? Yes, We Can."

Below are additional details of the forum:

Description

Millions of aging and disabled customers use wireless products and services everyday, but millions of others are searching for a device or service that meets their needs. Market conditions for 2009 are beginning to look challenging and inclusion of customers with disabilities will be vital to gaining and maintaining market share.

The Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) presents a discussion with representatives from the wireless industry, policymakers and consumer advocates about the ways to gain and retain customers of diverse ages and abilities by increasing consumer involvement in the development of wireless products and services.

This session is intended for wireless industry engineers and designers, disability and consumer advocates, and state and federal policymakers.

Session Highlights

• Wireless industry approaches to design process and integration of accessibility into testing procedures;
• The Wireless RERC’s Consumer Advisory Network as a model of integrating user needs to industry design processes;
• Disability advocacy for universally designed accessible technologies and increasing wireless industry awareness of accessible wireless opportunities;
• Current and proposed rules and regulations that address accessibility in the wireless industry; and
• The future of accessible technologies and exciting software applications that increase wireless technology accessibility.

Panelists

Jerome Arnaud, CEO & President, Doro 

David Dougall, Accessibility Program Manager, RIM

Michael Jacobs, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Front Office Legal Affairs, FCC

Jim Mueller, Project Director,  Wireless RERC

Ed Price, Research Director, Interactive Media Technology Center, Georgia Tech

Jenifer Simpson, Executive Director, Telecommunications and Policy, American Association of People with Disabilities