Call For Participation Call For Participation Call For Participation International Conference on Assistive Technology ========------========------========------========------======== 1996 Pacific Northwest Technology Conference & Expo Fourth Annual Conference On Assistive Technology in Education, Business & Everyday Living ========--------========--------======== April 24th - 27th, 1996 Washington Convention & Trade Center Seattle, WA ========--------========--------======== This correspondence has come to you as an invitation to Participate in a Major, International Conference. Building on the success of the program for the previous years authors, researchers, developers, manufacturers, and others are encouraged to share applications of hardware and software, adaptive devices, training programs, and results of research, development and applied applications to the "real" world. The conference site will be the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle WA. The annual conference is a growing comprehensive conference showcasing innovative developments in computer and assistive technology where all ages, disabilities, and levels of business education and training in this country and international countries are covered. Their is a heavy consumer orientation to the conference, therefore papers of interest to these target groups is highly encouraged. Through a wide range of presentations & exhibits the conference brings a balanced interchange showcasing national and international innovative developments in Computer Assisted & Adaptive Technology, VR & 3-D Interactive Computer Generated Worlds, and the Electronic Information Highway for persons with special needs and those whose work supports them in Business, Education and Everyday Life. Come learn new information and help generate new ideas in these explosive fields through hands-on workshops, seminars and national and international exhibitor displays. WHO WILL ATTEND: These are the individuals that your presentation should be targeted towards. These individuals will be your audience whom you will share as to experience and insights on how technology is assisting participation for everyone. * Persons with special needs * HR managers * Business owners, and employer's * Researchers * Parents and family members * Industrial builders * K-12 Educators & administrators * Speech pathologists * OT/PT therapists * Workplace trainers * Rehabilitation engineers * Architects designers * Rehabilitation counselors * Community agencies * Hardware & software developers * Robotic R&D Technology * Service/care providers * Affirmative action managers * Voice R&D Technology * College & University programs * Department of defense employee's * Voice R&D Technology * Internet/WWW content developer * Employer personnel directors * Hypermedia & Animation developers * Sheltered & supported work * 3D interactive world developers * Virtual Reality developers * Government administrators/managers * Assistive technology developers * Home school educators & administrators SCOPE OF THE CONFERENCE: This is a comprehensive, international conference on technology, where all ages, disabilities, and levels of education and training in this country and abroad are covered. The Pacific Northwest Technology Conference & Expo will offer two days of Preconference workshops on April 24th & 25th, and two days of conference sessions, product demonstrations by vendors, and "hands-on" adaptive computer training sessions on April 26th - 27th. Workshops and seminars should be focused towards beginning, intermediate and advanced level users, to accommodate all conference participants. Here you must decide the content of your presentation, its length, and if you which to present during the Preconference, or Regular Conference segment of the conference. You may present more that one day, and on more that one topic. PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS: The Preconference Presentations are generally one, two, three, or up to 6 hours in length hands-on training workshops examining results of current applications, research, development of computer hardware, software and adaptive/assistive devices used by and for persons with special needs. REGULAR CONFERENCE SESSIONS: Regular Conference Presentations are generally one, two, and three hours sessions in length describing and/or demonstrating current ideas, trends, and practical applications of computer hardware, software and adaptive/assistive technology. Sessions may be "hands-on" workshops, product demonstrations, group problem solving sessions, presentations/lectures or roundtable discussions. PROPOSALS: Proposals will be considered for one-hour and multiple-hour sessions that examine current applications, research and development of Computers, Software, Multimedia, the Information Superhighway, and Assistive Computer Technology used by and for persons with special needs (where the term "special needs" includes physical, learning, attention, sensory, cognitive and communicative impairment that a person might experience at any age). Successful applicants will have demonstrated enriched content for either the employment, educational or daily life environments. Please allow time for questions and answers. Proposals are invited that share results of current applications, research and development of computer hardware, software or adaptive devices, model programs, or procedures used by and for persons with special needs in education, business or everyday living. Proposals for sessions that demonstrate the use of software programs, adaptive technology, or the innovative use of standard computer and software technology are highly encouraged. Presentations should focus on practical applications rather than theoretical discussion. It is encouraged that proposals be directed to both individuals who are new to computer technology and those who are actively using computers. Successful presentations will represent a diverse range of content in order to present a balanced interchange between those with special needs and those who work with them. ========--------========--------======== CONDITIONS OF PRESENTATION: Conditions apply to each and every author, presenter, or panelist, including exhibitors who are also presenting papers. * The title of the presentation must be descriptive of the content of the actual presentation. * Each authors should submit an abstract not exceeding more than 250 words covering the scope of your presentation which must accompany the Call for Participation Proposal form. The abstract will be reviewed by a conference selection committee and may be edited for the conference directory. Abstracts must be submitted both as an original hardcopy and on a 3.5" Macintosh, or IBM disk. * Authors submit a 1-2 sentence summary (not to exceed 25 words) that will be used to promote the conference workshops and sessions. This must be descriptive of the content of the presentation as the title and this brief summary is all that is printed and all that participants have to go on as they consider which sessions to attend. This summary should be included with the 250 word abstract and submitted both an original hardcopy and on a 3.5" Macintosh or IBM disk. * If more than one presenter a lead presenter must be designated and complete contact information provided for each presenter. * Presenters are expected to provide all handouts at the conference. A standard microphone, lectern (table or free-standing), easel, flip charts, and white board with markers will be provided. * Participation by teams is encouraged. Teams of three or more individuals, made up of at least two users of technology (or their parents) and support professionals, should submit their applications together. Only the lead presenter will be given a free registration to the conference. Team colleagues planning to attend other sessions will be required to purchase a conference registration. * The Call for Participation Proposal form must be completely filled out and returned on or before DECEMBER 4th, 1995. Incomplete forms will not be accepted and returned. * Confirmation of proposal acceptance along with specific date, time and room location will be mailed by the second week in January, 1996. This will be your official notification to participate. * All conference content will be added to WTAC's World Wide Web Front Page Information Resource one week after the conference. This is to include all accepted proposals. Successful author(s) will be required to submit an original hard copy manuscript of not more that 8 pages (including all references, charts, diagrams, video, slides, etc) by March 1st. These materials to be submitted both as an original hardcopy and on a 3.5" Macintosh, or IBM disk. All pertinent photographs, video, diagrams, and multimedia content should be included. ========--------========--------======== WTA Center for Information Transfer was established in 1978, provides training, management and consulting services in assistive technology through it's Information Transformation Group. In addition the company develops hands-on computer and assistive technology resource training centers. It's annual Pacific Northwest Technology Conference & Expo held each spring attracts attendee's, presenters, and exhibitors from as far away as Europe, Australia, Japan and China. ========--------========--------======== FOR CALL TO PRESENT: To request a Call to Present, or Call to Exhibit packet contact WTAC, % Convention Services Northwest and request a Call to Present, or Call to Exhibit packet. WTAC % Convention Services Northwest Conference Management Company Tower Building 1809 Seventh Ave., Suite 1414 Seattle, WA 98101 206/292-0559 (F) AOL: PNWCONEXPO Internet: PNWCONEXPO@AOL.COM