Disability meet gets underway

Youth, indigenous peoples, poverty and education will top the agenda this week as hundreds of people from across the globe gather in Winnipeg for the Disabled Peoples' International World Summit 2004, reports The Winnipeg Sun.

"The summit brings together more than 1,100 participants, exhibitors and speakers from 107 countries, featuring workshops and lectures. John McKenna, who made the trip all the way from Australia. McKenna, who uses a wheelchair, will focus on how mobile technology has changed the world for people with disabilities.

For example, deaf people can now call for a taxi using text messaging or teleconference using sign language and video phones.

McKenna works for Telstra Corp., the largest telecommunications company in Australia, but he also has a nationally broadcast TV show called "No Limits", in which he plays a character called Macca who displays gadgets for people with disabilities. He also works as a TV producer, going to towns to perform "access audits" on facilities for people with disabilities".

emily | 1:04 PM | SMS for Deaf/Disabilities |
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