For any group with a special interest, gathering with others who share that interest can be both informative and enlightening.

        Whether you are a person new to the experience of a disability, an employer wishing to broaden your experience, or someone with or without a disability hungry for information on technology or work site accommodations, fall 2001 is a smorgasbord of happenings around the Tristate and the country.

        Here are just a few of the conferences of interest to people with disabilities and professionals interested in disability issuesin the weeks ahead.

For employers

        Work site accommodations: A symposium for employers, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Monday at the Holiday Inn, Rosslyn, in Key Bridge, Va. Sponsored by the International Center for Disability Information, this symposium features presentations by the Job Accommodations Network staff, and luncheon address by Dinah Cohen, director of Computer Electronics Accommodation Program, Department of Defense. For information, contact ICDI (304) 293-5313.

Bioethics

        Genetics: Ethical Concerns of the Disability Community, 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.Friday at Courtyard Marriott, Concord, N.H. Sponsored by the New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability, this seminar brings together experts in bioethics, genetics, health care and disability to examine genetics issues of interest to the disability community. Presenters include Dr. Peter Singer, professor of bioethics at the University Center for Human Values, Princeton University; Dr. Adrienne Asch, professor of biology, ethics, and politics of human reproduction, Wellesley College, and others. Registration is $30 and includes lunch. For information, contact the New Hampshire governor's Commission at (603) 271-2774.

Mental health

        A National Summit on Best Practices for Mental Health in the Workplace, titled “Hand in Hand: It's Worth the Investment,” will be Oct. 9 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C. The event will bring together business, government, consumers, trade associations and health-care professionals to discuss hiring and retaining workers with psychiatric disabilities. Cost is $20 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and breaks. For information, contact Scientific Consulting Group, (301) 670-0020; via e-mail at summit@scgcorp.com; or visit www.mentalhealth.org/employmentsummit.

For parents

        Through the Looking Glass: Second International Conference on parenting with a disability will bring together experts on adaptive equipment for parents with physical disabilities, custody issues for parents with developmental disabilities and other information relevant to grown-ups with disabilities who are raising children. The event will be Oct. 11-14, at the Oakland Marriot in Oakland, Ca. For information, contact Darlene Bubis (510) 848-1112. Or (800) 644-2666 (voice), (800) 804-1616 (tty).

Technology

        The 19th annual Closing the Gap Computer Technology conference is one of the largest worldwide gatherings of education and rehabilitation specialists working with all types of disabilities. The conference runs Oct. 18-20, at the Radison south and Sofitel Hotels, Bloomington, Minn. The three day event features 150 one- and two-hour workshops on assistive technology, as well as an extensive exhibit hall.

        Because of the size of the conference, several off-site hotels are also involved. Registration is $360 before Thursday and $410 after that date. For information, visit www.closingthegap.com, or write Closing the Gap, Inc., P.O. Box 68, 526 Main Street, Henderson, MN 56044; Phone: (507) 248-3294.

Vision loss

        The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio's annual convention features a special seminar for people who are over 55 and losing vision. Held at the Holiday Inn, Zanesville, the seminar will focus on adapting to vision loss, acquiring blindness techniques and products and services that can help in making necessary adjustments. The seminar will be Nov. 1, just before the official convention, Nov. 2-4, which includes a seminar for parents of blind children, a technology exhibit and other events. For information, call (800) 396-6326.

        Contact Deborah Kendrick by phone: 673-4474; fax: 321-6430; e-mail: dkkendrick@earthlink.net.

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