Assistive Technology Expo for People with Disabilities

The first annual Assistive Technology Expo for People with Disabilities takes place today at the Akerley Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College in Dartmouth from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The expo will feature interactive displays of the latest technology and tools to assist people with disabilities.

"The Assistive Technology Expo demonstrates an on-going commitment to remove the barriers for people with disabilities," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "This expo features tools to access education, employment, recreation and communication, as well as the tools to enable people with disabilities to live as independently as possible."

Assistive technology is any tool or device that allows people with disabilities to use their own abilities to reach their goals.

Sheldon Higdon, 29-year-old pharmacy graduate, aspiring accountant and quadriplegic, said new technologies such as voice recognition software have made a tremendous difference to his life.

"I would never have come as far as I have without being able to use a speech recognition system. It’s allowed me to go to college, write papers, do tests and exams and to keep up with the rest of my class," he said. "Anyone who has a disability should come to this expo just to see what kinds of new technologies are on the market that can help them live more independently and achieve whatever they want to do."

The expo will feature interactive demonstrations including e- books, language-processing technologies, speech-recognition software and ergonomic furniture. Guest speakers are Ray Ivany, president, Nova Scotia Community College, and Howard Green, director general, Human Resources Development Canada-Nova Scotia.

The Assistive Technology Expo for People with Disabilities is presented by the Department of Education, Nova Scotia Community College, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Canadian Paraplegic Association, Saint Mary’s University, Compusult and the Dalhousie School of Human Communication Disorders.

For more information, please call 1-800-285-1197. Admission to the expo is free of charge.