Ladies & Gentlemen, Failte Roimhe a Eire (Welcome to Ireland)
On behalf of the Association for the Advancement
of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) we are delighted to invite
you to the 7th European Conference for the Advancement of Assistive
Technology, “Shaping the Future”, Dublin,
Ireland, August 31st – 3rd September 2003. The conference is
timely, coinciding with the European Year of People with
Disabilities. Consequently, it is appropriate that the
focus is unambiguously placed on the users of assistive technology.
Under the theme “New technologies” ,
we will explore the significant advances in technology research
& development and how these can be harnessed to benefit people
with disabilities. This will include an exhibition on evolving technologies,
affording interesting insights into the future.
The theme “User Centred Approach” will
look at fundamental ways in which the EU advocate a philosophy of
citizenship and governance and how this philosophy can be advanced
to ensure that people with disabilities become central to the assistive
technology process. We will explore “Interdisciplinary
Approaches” which can be developed within assistive
technology and the provision of services to people with disabilities.
Finally, the conference will examine ways in which practitioners
and users, working together within assistive technology, can achieve
best practice in the development and implementation of “Guidelines
and Standards” across a broad spectrum.
The conference will provide a valuable opportunity for everyone
involved in the field of assistive technologies – including
users, researchers, service providers and equipment manufacturers
– to exchange information, to update their knowledge in a rapidly
developing field and to meet old friends and hopefully make some
new ones.
The Conference is being organised on a collaborative basis by the
Central Remedial
Clinic (CRC), University College Dublin and Media Lab
Europe.
We look forward to welcoming you to this conference. Assistive Technology
has opened up new opportunities for people with disabilities throughout
Europe and it is hoped this conference will play an important role
in broadening these horizons of opportunity even further.
On behalf of the Organising Committee
Ger Craddock
Dr. Bob Allen
Co-chairpersons
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