OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2000

(ATC) Christine Louton (O) 202/208-5481

DOI Accessible Technology Center Opens

The Department of the Interior will open its doors on Thursday to a new Accessible Technology Center (ATC). During the Grand Opening, the AT Center will offer DOI employees, supervisors, and other Federal personnel an opportunity to view and engage in hands-on interaction with this technology. Work stations will showcase accessible adaptions for vision, hearing, cognitive and mobility impairments.

John Berry, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, which will begin at noon on Thursday, October 5. Linda Kontnier of the President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities will give keynote remarks. Demos and tours of the facility will follow the noon ribbon cutting.

During tours, which will be offered until 2:00 p.m., there will be demonstrations of products that provide accommodations for vision, hearing, cognitive and mobility or dexterity impairments. PC-TTYs, Closed circuit television, braille terminals, and speech-to-text and text-to-speech computer adaptions are among the technologies to be highlighted. Work stations will also demonstrate a variety of ergonomic keyboards, seating, monitors and "point and click" devices such as alternative mice, and track balls.

In the future, the Center will provide education and training for the DOI community about assistive technology and the way it can improve accessibility and productivity for people with disabilities.

"With the important new addition of this Center, Interior makes a commitment to create office environments that can be friendly to staff with disabilities," John Berry said. "In making this milestone investment, we hope to encourage greater employment and job opportunities for people with disabilities."Thursday

October 5, 2000
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Room 2071 (E St. entrance)
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street. NW

-DOI-