United Nations - Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (9CSP CRPD)

Panel: Tec Talk: Brilliant New Designs in Assistive Technology, Ease of Use & Multi-media

Canon (USA), OrCam (Israel), Hackaday (USA), ABILITY Magazine, ABILITY Corps

(L to R) Lia Martirosyan, Rowee Benbenishty, Paul Albano, Chet Cooper, Sophi Kravitz and Dr. Bryan Wolynski

The panel focused on innovations in assistive technology, ease of use and multi-media; Discussions aimed toward increasing inclusivity in community and work environments. Speakers presented current and future products and ideas that contribute to leaving no one behind. The session promoted open interaction with attendees.

Paul Albano - Paul is a Senior Manager at Canon USA in their Business Imaging Solutions Group.   Mr. Albano has responsibility for marketing Canon’s accessibility solutions, and offers insights on the role of office equipment and making technology accessible to the workforce. 

Sophi Kravitz - Sophi is the Director of Product at Supplyframe. One of the things she works on is the Hackaday Prize, which is a technology competition for social good. Now in its third year, the Hackaday Prize has motivated thousands of contestants to challenge themselves, and previous winners have been Assistive Technology projects. A former engineer, Sophi enjoys helping to motivate Assistive Technology projects reach their full potential.

Rowee Benbenishty - Rowee joined Sesame as COO following 16 years of management in various fields, during which he gained experience and accreditation as a leading manager of complex systems and versatile teams. Rowee has extensive experience in multidisciplinary management and problem solving and has created methods for technology-oriented team management based on empowerment of individuals and teamwork. Rowee holds a Bsc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from Tel Aviv University, where he also co-founded a start-up hub for students.

Dr. Bryan Wolynski - Bryan has been in the eye care field for over 25 years and practices low vision. He consults on behalf of OrCam Technologies, providing training to low vision patients and other professionals, facilitating clinical research, and providing continuing education on wearable assistive technology. Dr. Wolynski currently maintains a private practice in New York City.

Lia Martirosyan - Lia is a business person by study and creative by nature. Her ventures include writing, music and awareness building through projects of ABILITY Corps and ABILITY Magazine.

Chet Cooper (Moderator) - Chet is the Editor-in-Chief of ABILITY Magazine. Chet leads this diverse panel of social media experts, users and developers. Chet's background includes building the first job board for job seekers with disabilities, the first volunteer home builders with disabilities program and the creation of one of the top 50 on-line magazines in the world.

 

PREVIOUS EVENTS

United Nations - Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (5CSP CRPD) Sept, 2012

While we started late due to Lenin Moreno, Vice President of Ecuador, running over on his panel (he had a lot to say—all good), our panel therefore had much less time, but was well received. The audience ranged from those just getting into social media to those who are encouraging reticent team members to use it. Discussion topics included incorporating high-tech and low-tech solutions; examining the power of organizational and individual storytelling; trying social media; and considering it not only as a means to acquire large numbers, but also its ability to offer immediate, one-on-one communication.

In addition, one of the audience participants, Hala, from Egypt, who was present during her country’s revolution, talked about using social media as a tool and writing new Egyptian laws to implement the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities on Facebook. Here is a short video of some of the panel discussion: 

Panel Members:

Justin Stockton - Application Developer for Development InfoStructure, Inc. (Devis). Justin builds accessible Web applications. Working mostly on US government projects to create Web sites that remove the barriers to information and provide people with disabilities access to the information, including several versions of Disability.gov. (Devis is a leading provider of IT consulting services and solutions to the US Government, as well as the international development community)

Marcel Bucsescu - Manager of The Conference Board Governance Center. Marcel oversees all Center programs and leads several key center efforts, including the introduction of social media and worked in the Diversity & Inclusion Councils. (TCB is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest, since 1916. Providing the world's leading organizations with knowledge to improve performance and better serve society—and produce the Consumer Confidence Index®)

Paula Pearlman - Executive Director of the Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC). Ms. Pearlman is a Visiting Associate Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, teaching Disability Rights and Special Education law as well as litigation skills. She also oversees social media including their eNewsletter, Community Outreach Programs and the Cancer Legal Resource Center—which has served over 310,000 people through it's numerous activities. (The mission of the DRLC is to champion the rights of people with disabilities through education, advocacy and litigation)

John McMahon - Multi-media production manager of Cause Related Media. John writes and produced Public Service Announcements, short documentaries, corporate and non-profit marketing-communication programs, publicity and education videos using new media technologies—including YouTube. (Cause Related Media works strategically on creating a fit between company and cause—transforming compassion and charitable endeavours into a branding strategy, building positive corporate identity and arriving with a win-win-win outcome—for Company, Cause and Consumer)

Jessica Devaney - Communications and Production Manager at Just Vision. Jessica is a digital communications strategist and an award-winning producer with a decade of experience in technology and social change advocacy. She oversees online communications strategy, including web development and new media engagement. (Just Vision is an organization that creates multimedia tools, including documentary films and educational materials, profiling Palestinian and Israeli civilians working nonviolently to end the occupation and bring freedom, justice, security and peace to the region)

Salma Hasan Ali - Self described as a novice and non-tech person, Salma shares her experience and ease to tiptoe into blogging. She has traveled in the remote regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan and throughout the middle east bringing a fresh view to her personal blog. Through her writing she shares personal stories as a way to connect people across divides—whether it's faith or culture or disability. 

Chet Cooper - Moderator. Chet leads this diverse panel of social media experts, users and developers. Chet's background includes building the first job board for job seekers with disabilities, the first volunteer home builders with disabilities program and the creation of one of the top 10 on-line magazines in the world.

Top L to R: Justin Stockton, Chet Cooper, Marcel Bucsescu and John McMahon
Bottom L to R: Paula Pearlman, Maya Sabatello (ABILITY Awareness Board Member), Jessica Devaney and Salma Hasan Ali

 

United Nations Partners with ABILITY to Raise Awareness

ABILITY Awareness in conjunction with the United Nations' Department of Public Information hosted a panel discussion: The Art of Engagement, on Friday July 19th as part of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The panel described as, an entertaining approach to building awareness through music, theater, humor and various visual arts stimulates attention to an otherwise resistant society. Panelists included:

• Comedian and Emmy Award nominated actress Geri Jewell, featured on screen as the first person with a disability to have a regular role on primetime television, starring in multiple shows from The Facts of Life to Deadwood participated in this event.
• Artist Dan Keplinger, was featured in the Oscar-winning documentary film King Gimp on HBO. Keplinger who has Cerebral Palsy creates his art with a paint brush attached to head-gear.
• Yevgen Borodin, PhD, research professor of Computer Science at Stony Brook University, is working on innovative ways to make the web accessible to people who are blind. His iPhone and desktop apps bring greater web browsing assistant to everyone.
• Charles Limb, MD, is a musician and surgeon at Johns Hopkins -- studying the relationship between music and scientific research. He presented the connection between creativity and brain activity.
• Jeff Brez, Chief of Advocacy & Special Events for the United Nations. Brez spoke about UN related issues and reaching large audiences through the entertainment industry. Showcasing George Clooney and Stevie Wonders' efforts.
• Lia Martirosyan, is a classical singer, actress and writer for ABILITY Magazine. She spoke about presumptions versus reality and sang Pietà Signore, acapella.
• Chet Cooper, Editor-in-Chief of ABILITY Magazine moderated. Consistently ranked among top 50 magazines in the world, ABILITY Magazine, profiles celebrities and features articles on the most recent innovations and studies in health, disability and human potential.

Comments by; Vladimir Cuk, International Disability Alliance; Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, RespectAbility USA; Marcie Roth, Office of Disability Integration FEMA; Stig Langvad, Disabled People's Organizations- Demark and Alex Lebois, G3ict

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