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ATAC Conference

Toward Independence of People with Disability

Conference on Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication

Organized by the Kokoro Resource Book Editorial Board

The life of people with disability is undergoing big changes with the utilization of assistive technology in such areas as communication, writing, tele-communication, mobility, environmental control, learning activities, playing with toys and various others. Many people are becoming aware of the possible benefits assistive technology may bring to their life but are often wanting the information on where and how to find the devices and softwares that would meet their needs. The ATAC Conference is organized as such that the participants can actually use a wide variety of technological products to see if they would meet their needs.

It is our belief that what is crucial for independence is the chance and ability to make decision on one's own and to be able to express it. In this perspective, people can attain independence even without the physical ability to manage activities of daily living on one's own. It may well be called the independence of the mind.

Imagine yourself when you want to dress up for some special occasion or when you are out for a dinner. Which is more important for you, to be able to button your clothes or to be able to choose the clothes you want to wear? Which is more important for you, to be able to use a spoon or to be able to decide what food to come on the spoon?

You may well recognize by now that communication is essential to attaining independence. The ATAC Conference, therefore, places particular emphasis on communication. We have arranged the conference as a learning place for communication technology and engineering assistance as well as the philosophy that lies behind their use for people with disability.

About the sessions (lectures/demonstrations/case study reports) concerning the life and communication of people with various disabilities (learning difficulty, visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical impairment, autism, multiple disability and others) will be offered at the Conference. The lecturers include teachers, engineers and medical personel who have been taking active roles in incorporating assitive technology into their works in respective fields. Researchers from overseas are also invited to make lectures.　There will be an exhibition of assistive technology products, with the support by and cooperation of manufacturers and distributers.　 Consultation service by experts on assistive technology is provided at the same time.

We are trying to make this Conference enjoyable and easy to understand for anyone. Please feel free to attend sessions which may interest you.　We hope that the ATAC Conference will serve to bring out the potentials of people wit h disability.

the ATAC Conference Secretary Office

nakalab@laplace.ed.kagawa-u.ac.jp

Participation to the 2002 ATAC Conference in Kyoto (Japanese)

2001 ATAC Conference Program in Kyoto (Japanese)

2000 ATAC Conference Program in Kyoto (Japanese)

1999 ATAC Conference in Tokyo Program (Japanese)

1998 ATAC Conference in Nagano Program (Japanese)

1997 ATAC Conference in Takamatsu Program (Japanese)

1996 ATAC Conference in Takamatsu

Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication Conference