State of the Science Conference - Archive

Workplace Accommodations:
State of the Science Conference
September 15-16, 2005
Georgia Tech. Conference Center, Technology Square
Atlanta, GA

This conference will establish a national dialogue on the current state and future directions of workplace accommodations. The conference format will include plenary sessions, paper presentations in breakout sessions, and extensive opportunity for networking and discussion. A goal of the conference will be to develop an agenda for future directions in research, service delivery, and product development based on user needs for workplace accommodations.

The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners (i.e., rehabilitation engineers, rehabilitation counselors, occupational therapists), policy makers, product designers, employers, and employees with disabilities who are interested in improving access to the workplace for people with disabilities.

Conference Information

• Schedule
• Registration
• Continuing Education
• Location
• Hotel Accommodations
• Airport Transportation
• Conference Parking
• Acknowledgements
• Contact Information

Schedule

Click here for detailed presentation schedule

Thursday, September 15

9:00 Introductory Plenary Sessions:

• Accommodation Benefits -- Peter Blanck, Law, Health Policy & Disability Center, University of Iowa
• Universal Design / AT in the Built Environment -- Jon Sanford, Work RERC, Georgia Tech.
• IT Accessibility: Implications for People with Disabilities -- Susanne M. Bruyere, Employment and Disability Institute, Cornell University
• Safety in an Aging Population -- David Goldojarb, The Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power Co.
• Aging in the Workplace -- Ken Mitchell, UnumProvident Corporation

12:00 Keynote Speaker and Lunch (included): Sharon Rennert, EEOC

1:30 Concurrent Presentations / Development of Agenda for Future R&D:

• Evidence-Based Practice: What accommodations are effective and for whom? What accommodations are reasonable? What accommodation gaps exist?
• Universal Design (UD) & AT: How are new UD products changing the need for assistive devices, particularly in the built environment? What are the benefits and drawbacks of UD?
• UD & Information Technology: How are new UD products changing the need for assistive devices, specifically related to telecommunications and computer access? What are the benefits and drawbacks of UD?
• Safety in the Workplace: What are the unique safety risks for people with disabilities in the workplace? Do accommodations compromise safety or compensate for safety risks?

5:15 Breakout Group Reports

6:00 Reception - Sponsored by NISH

Friday, September 16

9:00 Consumer Panel

10:00 Concurrent Presentations / Development of Agenda for Future R&D:

• Aging Workers: What problems do aging workers face? What accommodations will an aging workforce need and are these accommodations reasonable?
• Telework: Is telework a reasonable accommodation? What accommodations do teleworkers need?
• VR Services: How is the provision of vocational rehabilitation services changing? What gaps still exist?

11:30 Working Lunch with Breakout Groups (included)

1:45 Breakout Group Reports

2:30 Adjourn

Registration

• Registration deadline extended to August 29, 2005.
• Registration cost is $125.
• Registration will cover breakfasts, lunches, reception, and parking.

Please register via Georgia Tech's Professional Education web site: http://www.pe.gatech.edu/conted/servlet/edu.gatech.conted.course.ViewCourseDetails?COURSE_ID=702

If you have problems accessing the registration form, contact us by email at or call 800-726-9119 (V/TTY).

Continuing Education

CEUs (1.0 credits / 10 hours) will be offered through Georgia Tech's Professional Education.

Location

The two-day conference will be held at the Global Learning and Conference Center / Georgia Tech Hotel in Atlanta, GA. It is located at 84 Fifth Street between the intersections of Spring Street and Fifth Street and Williams St. and Fifth Street. For more information and directions to the Global Learning & Conference Center, visit http://www.glcc.gatech.edu/directions/ or call 404-385-3500.

Hotel / Lodging

Hotel reservations can be made by contacting the conference-site and off-site hotels directly. We still have a couple of accessible rooms available at the conference hotel. If an accessible room is required, you must contact the Work RERC to make arrangements.

The conference hotel:
Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center
Phone 800-706-2899
Fax 404-838-2099
800 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Rates: $132 (ask for "Workplace Accommodations" conference)
The conference hotel is now supposedly full, however, you may want to check back for cancellations.

The conference off-site hotels (approximately 0.7 mile walk):

Wyndham Midtown Atlanta
Phone 404-873-4800
Fax 404-870-1530
125 10th St., NE
Atlanta, GA 30309-4006
Closest MARTA station: Midtown (1 block)
Rates: $159/169 regular

Renaissance Hotel
Phone 404-881-6000
Fax 404-815-5010
590 West Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Closest MARTA station: North Avenue (1 block)
Rates: $169+

For information on Atlanta, visit Atlanta.net at http://www.atlanta.net/visitors/

Airport Transportation

The Atlanta Metropolitan area offers several convenient and cost-effective travel options between the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the conference site and hotels. Below is a list of several options:

• Airport Shuttle
  The Atlanta Link is the exclusive shuttle service to and from the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to the downtown area. You may purchase your shuttle ticket at the customer service booth in the Ground Transportation area at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The shuttle fare is $16 one way and $28 round trip. Wheelchair accessible shuttles are available, however advance reservations are required. Please visit http://www.theatlantalink.com for more information or to make a reservation, please call 404-524-3400.
   
  
• MARTA
  MARTA is Atlanta�s public rail and bus system. From the rail station at the Hartsfield airport, you can travel to the Midtown and North Avenue stops which are within walking distance to the hotel and conference center. The MARTA Airport Station is located inside the main terminal building near the baggage claim areas. Single trip fares are $1.75. MARTA website: http://www.itsmarta.com
   
  
• Taxi
  Taxi fares to and from the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are approximately $26 for one or two people, $30 for three people.
   
  

Conference Parking

Parking will be available at the conference site parking garage and will be included in the registration fee. Remember to ask for a parking voucher at the conference registration table.

Acknowledgements

Key Sponsors:

• Work RERC
• Georgia Tech's CATEA and the College of Architecture
• NIDRR

We would also like to thank NISH for sponsoring our reception on Thursday evening.

Contact Information

For more information or if you have problems accessing the registration form, contact us by email at or call 800-726-9119 (V/TTY).