February 2010 Newsletter
Greetings from the Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge!
Our latest edition of the Conference Newsletter is packed with announcements, reminders, and exciting information that highlights the action you'll find at this year's 25th anniversary event.
REGISTRATION REMINDERS
The Early Bird Conference Registration Deadline is February 10th. Please register by this date for the early bird discounted conference registration fee of $450.
The Speaker Registration Deadline is February 15th. Please register as soon as possible; your cooperation with this deadline provides attendees with the most accurate conference schedule for general sessions and ensures your information will be listed in the Conference Program.
The deadline to request Alternative Format Conference Materials is February 19th. Please indicate this request in your conference registration by this date to ensure you receive the materials you need for the conference.
NOTE: Space is filling quickly at the conference hotel! Please call the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel at (619) 232-1234 and reserve for "CSUN Conference" room as soon as possible to get the discounted conference rate.
PROGRAM NEWS
We are proud to present an impressive roster of Pre-Conference Workshop Speakers who will be offering their expertise on a variety of topics. For the latest information, trends, and updates in the fields of technology and disabilities, we encourage you to register now as space is limited.
The Center on Disabilities' acclaimed Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program will also be offered during the pre-conference days. For newcomers to the field of AT and disabilities, or practitioners looking for a "refresh", the ATACP is the training for you.
Don't forget to "Save a Seat" for the General Sessions you want to attend and then create your own Notebook with your personalized schedule for the conference. As always, we are proud that our program of educational sessions represents the most comprehensive topics of interest for our attendees.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Mark your calendars for Tuesday night, March 23rd at 5:30 pm for the "official" kick-off of the 2010 Conference. Your host for the evening's program is none other than our Conference Chair, Dr. Harry J. Murphy. Some of you may know Harry...he founded CSUN's Center on Disabilities and started a small campus event back in 1985...welcome to the 25th anniversary for that event which has evolved into the largest and longest-running conference recognized as the best in the field of disabilities and technology.
Our 2010 Keynote Speaker is Captain Ivan Castro who holds the distinction of being the only blind officer serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces and just one of the three blind active-duty officers in the army. Captain Castro's experiences - acquiring a disability, rehabilitation, learning about assistive technology and overcoming challenges - will surely inspire everyone in the audience. We are honored to welcome Captain Castro as our Keynote Speaker and looking forward to hearing about his amazing journey.
Following the keynote presentation, we are proud to announce that Klaus Miesenberger will receive the 2010 Strache Leadership Award. Dr. Miesenberger truly exemplifies the standards of a leader in the fields of disabilities and technology and we are honored to recognize his contributions and dedication at this year's event.
The evening will conclude with a Welcome Reception where we invite you to mix and mingle with old acquaintances, meet new ones and help us celebrate another milestone in addition to our 25th anniversary. Congratulations to one of our long-time exhibitors and conference friends, the Department of Defense on marking 20 years of providing services through their Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP).
EXHIBIT HALL OPENING
Join us on Wednesday, March 24 when we open the doors to the Exhibit Hall! With so many innovative products and services on display, you'll want to get your preview at the opening from 4:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday. This year's Exhibit Hall is conveniently located in one central site on the lobby level of the hotel. We invite you to review the list of exhibitors on the conference web site. You'll want to come back throughout the week to explore the offerings in the Exhibit Hall.
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
It goes without saying...but we'll say it anyway...thank you to all of our valuable Conference Sponsors! Many of the services and events at the conference are provided through the commitments of:
ABILITY MAGAZINE
ADOBE
AOL
APPLE
CAMBIUM LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES
CANON USA, INC.
EP GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
GW MICRO
IBM
MICROSOFT
OLYMPUS AMERICA
PERKINS PRODUCTS
SUN MICROSYSTEMS
There's always time to add you to our list! Contact Sandy Plotin to discover the benefits of sponsorship.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Here are some quick calendar items for conference attendees - more information will be provided soon on our web site and in up-coming emails...
Thursday, March 25, 9-11 am: U.S. Access Board Public Hearing on 508
Friday, March 26, 12-1:30 pm: Featured Speaker Kathleen Martinez
Saturday, March 27, 9-11 am: Student Poster Sessions from Project:Possibility
And keep visiting http://www.csunconference.org for the latest news and information on the 2010 CSUN Conference...
AND ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT...
The CSUN Conference is Social!
The Center on Disabilities at CSUN is now on Facebook and Twitter. Become a fan of the Center on Disabilities at CSUN on Facebook and follow CSUNCOD on Twitter for news from the Center on Disabilities about the CSUN Conference.You can also "RSVP" on the CSUN Conference event page on Facebook, so everyone can know you are coming. Finally, don't forget to use #csun10 when you tweet about the CSUN Conference.
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