AAPD Announces First Telerehabilitation Conference

University of Pittsburgh Researchers, Consumers, Clinicians, and Policymakers Focus on New Approaches that Advance Independent Living for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce it will sponsor the first telerehabilitation conference to be held in Washington, D.C., on April 1.

The one day policy conference will educate, generate advocacy for and disseminate knowledge about issues in telerehabilitation. The event will be held at Room 333, Hall of States, 444 North Capitol Street, NW, near Union Station and pre-registration is required.

"Telerehabilitation is a vital resource to people in our community who may not be able to access traditional rehabilitation programs and services," said Helena Berger, AAPD's Acting President & CEO. "We're delighted to collaborate with the University of Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telerehabilitation to showcase their research work and start the policy discussions that will enhance independent living and community integration for people with disabilities."

The program will include keynote speakers such as Lynnae Ruttledge, the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services at the U.S. Department of Education, and Jonathan Linkous, Chief Executive Officer, American Telemedicine Association.  Distinguished private and public sector panelists will discuss applications in employment, health and wellness, innovations for community living, and comparative effectiveness research, among other topics.

"The health care ecosystem is changing as a result of new technologies," said Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director for Government Affairs at AAPD. "It's important our community learns how rehabilitation services can be delivered using high-speed wireless, broadband and other new technologies."

For more on the conference, and to register, visit the website at http://www.rerctr.pitt.edu/PolicyConf.html or contact Jenifer Simpson at 202-521-4310 or [email protected]

About AAPD: The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful force for change – politically, economically, and socially.  AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more, visit the AAPD website:  www.aapd.com.

SOURCE American Association of People With Disabilities