White House / VA Conference 
Emerging Technologies in Support of the New Freedom Initiative: 
Promoting Opportunities for People with Disabilities October 13-14, 2004

The Department of Veterans Affairs hosted the White House Office of Science
and Technology Policy the Emerging Technologies conference in Support of the
Presidentīs New Freedom Initiative on October 13-14, 2004, in Washington,
D.C. The focus of the conference was to highlight the technological advances
that improve the lives of Americans with disabilities, enhance the
cooperation among stakeholders including government agencies, the industry,
and consumers, and explore barriers to the availability and accessibility of
emerging technologies to individuals with disabilities.  

President Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative in February 2001, a
program to promote the full participation of people with disabilities by
increasing access to universally designed technologies, expand their
educational and employment opportunities, and to support increased access
into daily community life. 

Read the conference agenda, welcoming addresses, opening presentations, and
  outcomes at: 
http://www.vard.org/whc2004/index.html

The full printed proceedings can be found at:
http://www.vard.org/whc2004/print/contents.pdf
http://www.vard.org/whc2004/print/printed.pdf