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Keynote speakers, session presenters, product/service purveyors, and attendees from across the U.S. and from Bermuda came to the World Congress & Exposition on Disabilities seeking useful material. They weren’t disappointed at the Washington (DC) Convention Center, Nov. 15-17, 2007.

Keynoters Joyce A. Bender, Dr. Glenn Roswal, and John Gonsalves, aided by American Sign interpreters Nicole Pack and Donna McCole, covered disabled employment, inclusive recreation, and helping the disabled military. Plenary sessions were held in six tracks: Assistive Technology, Adapted Physical Activity, Healthcare, Family, Education, and Career. They assisted attendees in going home a considerably better-informed disabled person, caregiver, or healthcare professional

Bender, CEO/president of Bender Consulting Services Inc. with offices in Pittsburgh and Canada, believes disabled Americans “still face an extremely high” jobless rate due to “attitudinal barriers.” Her firm focuses on creating jobs for the disabled in information technology, engineering, finance/accounting, human resources, and general business.

‘No pity’ philosophy
In 1985 she survived a life-threatening misdiagnosis of epilepsy and lives with epilepsy and a hearing deficit. She claims the disabled must “build relationships, look where others don’t look for employment, be independent, embrace a ‘no pity’ philosophy, and be active in the disability and business communities.”