NIDRR Announcement - January 13, 1999

Dr. Katherine D. Seelman, Director of the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), participated in the White House
announcement of a major new multi-faceted initiative to improve economic
opportunities for people with disabilities. As a part of the event NIDRR set
up displays in the Grand Foyer of the White House highlighting examples of
assistive/adaptive technologies and universal design for people with
disabilities. The announcement included a technology initiative for people
with disabilities that will be presented by the President to the Congress.  

NIDRR has a long history of work to support assistive technology and
universal design for people with disabilities through its Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Center (RERC) Program. NIDRR manages the State
Technology Assistance Program funded through the Assistive Technology Act of
1998 and NIDRR has funded special projects to heighten awareness of
assistive/adaptive technologies through efforts such as ABLEDATA. Despite
these efforts, new technologies often remain difficult to access by some
people with disabilities. A part of the President's new initiative announced
today is designed to increase access to needed technologies. The President's
Initiative accelerates the development and adoption of new information and
communications technologies that can improve the quality of life for people
with disabilities and enhance their ability to participate in the workplace.  

Further information will be available from NIDRR following the President's FY
2000 Budget announcement.