Conference2008
From ATLM
Organised and supported by
Contents |
Assistive Technologies and the Labour Market
Thinking beyond access: the benefits and limits of AT for people with disabilities
Prague, October 23 & 24
Aim
The organisers are pleased to invite you to our Prague conference on the topic of "Assistive Technologies and the Labour Market", where we would like to take a look "beyond access", and discuss the benefits and limits of assistive technologoies for people with disabilities.
In the conference we want to explore the technological, political, socio-economic and psychological dimensions of successful labour market integration based on assistive technologies.
In recent years, assistive technologies have contributed enormously to bridging the gap between individual needs and environmental factors. They have become indispensable in achieving a better quality of life and active participation in economy and society for many. Although great advances have been made in the past, still much needs to be done in order to avoid situations of disablement in the workplace: from finding the "right device", via adequate funding, providing incentives and appropriate legal frameworks to barrier-free infrastructure and much more. One of the difficulties concerns the flow of information and opportunity for exchange for those concerned on diverse levels of society and across regions in Europe. This is why Diakonie in its development partnership with ERSTE Foundation initiated a networking conference.
We especially invite participants from Central and Eastern Europe. We welcome stakeholders from various levels of society, be it government bodies, civil society, interest groups, companies or researchers. It is our excplict aim to facilitate networking on diverse levels. Together we want to share our knowledge and experience, and develop initiatives for moving forward.
Open Space
The programme includes plenary lectures and discussions on the morning of the 23rd, followed by open space type interactive sessions. During the interactive sessions, participants are invited to propose topics for discussion and projects for elaboration: be it discussions on pertinent topics, the elaboration of political demands, or the development of supra-regional project ideas. In our final plenary session, results of the workshop sessions shall be presented. The best supra-regional project ideas will receive a small award.
Programme
Thursday, October 23
08:00-09:00 Registration
09:00-13:00 Welcome, Key-note, Panel Discussion
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-18:30 Workshops
20:00 Conference Banquet (& "LifeTool turns 10" Celebration)
Friday, October 24
09:00-12:00 Workshops
12:15-13:30 Presentation of Workshops, Conclusion
13:30-15:00 Lunch
15:00 End
Key-Note
Prof. Marcia Scherer, PhD, MPH
Director of the Institute for Matching Person and Technology, Professor of Physical Medecine and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester, USA.
Panel
- Tamara Blagojevic, MA
Coordinator of EHO Resource Centre for People with Disabilities, Serbia
- Dr. Nikos Katevas
AT expert, Consultant with EU institutions, Founder of Ideasis Ltd., Greece
- Vaclav Krasa
Chairman of the Czech National Council of the Disabled, Czech Republic
- a.Univ. Prof. Dr. Klaus Miesenberger
Institut Integriert Studieren, University of Linz, Austria
- Laila Onu
Executive Director, Pentru Voi Foundation, Romania
- Alfred Wurmbrand
General Manager, Würth Handelsges.m.b.H., Austria
Cost & Registration
Attendance is free of charge, registration required. Please, register at conference@diakonie.at
You are welcome to attend the Conference Banquet on Thursday, October 23rd. The Banquet booking fee is 10 EUR. It is to be paid upon arrival on Thursday 23rd at registration.
Please register for the Banquet at conference@diakonie.at
Venue
TOP Hotel Prague
Blazimska 1781/4
149 00 Praha 4 - Chodov
Czech Republic
Directions to TOP Hotel, Praha & Congress Centre:
Standard rooms are at € 100,- including breakfast. Reservation is with Petra POKORNA at TOP Hotel (keyword: ATLM): pokorna@tophotel.cz, phone: +420 267 284 550.
There is a limited number of rooms available free of charge. They are reserved for those who would otherwise face severe difficulties in participating (members of non-profit organisations, people with disabilities, participants especially from Eastern Europe). Please, note that there is max. 2 rooms available free of charge per organisation. You may apply for rooms with a short explanation at conference@diakonie.at.
Language
Conference language is English. Key-note lecture and panel discussions are translated into Czech. English and Czech sign language interpreting is provided.
Organisers
The conference is jointly organised by the NGOs Diakonie in Austria and the Czech Republic, and the not for profit AT developer LifeTool, as well as ERSTE Foundation, and is co-funded by EU. Media:Example.ogg
