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Conference Program

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
8:00 am	Registration and Morning Refreshments Exhibitor showcase (10:00am - 6:30pm) Selected companies and organizations working in the emergency communications, preparedness and accessibility space will showcase products to enhance access to emergency services, educate individuals and communities on personal preparedness and share public safety and emergency management best practices for providing assistance to people with disabilities during emergencies.
9:00 am	Welcome Remarks Speaker: Helena Mitchell, Wireless RERC, Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), Georgia Institute of Technology
9:05 am	KEYNOTE ADDRESS A critical role of the Federal Communications Commission is to ensure that the national communications networks serve the public safety needs of its citizens. The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) is responsible for developing, advancing and administering the agency's policies and initiatives regarding the security and reliability of this infrastructure, including taking the lead on emergency issues. Deputy Chief David Furth has been with the Bureau since its formation in 2006 and prior to that served in leadership roles in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Mr. Furth will discuss national activities and goals for emergency communications highlighting recent Commission rulemakings that effect emergency access to information and alerts by people with disabilities. Introduction by: The Honorable Bob Smith, Georgia State Representative Speaker: David Furth, Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission
10:00 am	MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE Mobile wireless technologies have emerged as an integral part of daily life. In response to this trend, wireless emergency communications are supplementing, and in some cases replacing, traditional methods for transmitting and receiving emergency communications. This panel will discuss the intersecting and diverging perspectives of the disability community, emergency management, and government in addressing their specific concerns and agendas. Will the topographical layout reveal roadblocks and one-ways, or can it be mapped to accommodate multiple avenues toward progress? Moderator: Marcia Brooks, The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH Speakers: Government Perspective Regarding Addressing the Accessibility of Wireless Alerting Marcie Roth, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security Policy Recommendations Pat Pound, National Council on Disability Issues in Deploying Wireless Technologies in Emergency Management Zachary Goldfarb, Incident Management Systems, Inc.
11:15 am	WIRELESS ALERT ACCESSIBILITY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Advances in wireless technology have created an opportunity to integrate universal design elements into devices receiving emergency communications. This panel will provide perspectives on the technical challenges and legislative/policy barriers of providing accessible alerts; and will also explore ideas on solutions to ensure accessibility. Can opportunity be found within the challenge? Moderator: Judy Harkins , Technology Access Program, Gallaudet University Speakers: Technical Challenges and Opportunities Richard Ray, California Public Utilities Commission Legal and Legislative Challenges and Opportunities Karen Peltz Strauss, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telecommunications Access International Research Findings, Sichuan Earthquake King-wa Fu, Journalism and Media Studies Centre, Hong Kong University
12:30 pm	WORKING LUNCH BREAKOUTS CONCURRENT SESSIONS (2) Panel 1: Human Factors: the end user experience (end-user track) Moderator: Angela Devlen, Mahila Partnership Speakers: Community Preparedness Neil McDevitt, Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network Business Preparedness Evan Koch, Preparis, Inc. Individual Experiences David A. Ross, Department of Veterans Affairs Panel 2: Delivering Accessible Wireless Emergency Alerts (technical track) Moderator: Paul Klein, CellCast Technologies Speakers: Subscription Services Kay Chiodo, Deaf Link, Inc. Campus Environment Markku T. Hakkinen, Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyvaskyla and The Paciello Group Protocols and Standards Art Botterell, Incident.com
2:00 pm	INDUSTRY EFFORTS IN ACCESSIBLE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS Some of the leading providers of mainstream wireless technologies and services will offer insights on where they see technology and devices merging on the topic of accessible alerts. The panelists will share with the audience how their companies are developing technologies that incorporate emergency communications features for customers across age, ability and location. You be the judge – keep the old, buy the new or wait? Moderator: Mike Jones, Wireless RERC and the Shepherd Center Speakers: David Dougall, Research In Motion Brian, Daly, AT&T K. Dane Snowden, CTIA - The Wireless Association Patrick Weikle, Microsoft
3:15 pm	THE WEC Experience Results from twelve field tests and two focus groups conducted with over 100 people who are blind, low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, indicated overwhelming support and need for accessible emergency alert/notification features. This session will discuss the Wireless RERC’s Wireless Emergency Communications (WEC) project’s method of sending accessible emergency alerts to mobile devices. Summative findings of the specific features tested will be shared, as well as, field test and focus group participants’ and field test site hosts’ first-hand experiences and observations. Moderator: Jim Mueller, Wireless RERC Speakers: Technical Director for WEC Ed Price, Interactive Media Technology Center, Georgia Institute of Technology Field Test Site Hosts Tom Ditt, NC Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing John Weatherford, Public Broadcasting Atlanta Field Test Observer Bettye Harris, Georgia Radio Reading Service Field Test Participant Rita Harrison, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Focus Group Participant Brenda Flanagan, Atlanta Area School for the Deaf
4:30 pm	ROUNDTABLES: YOU HAVE MET THE SPEAKERS, NOW MEET THE AUTHORS Introduction: Paul M.A. Baker, CACP, Georgia Institute of Technology Conference registrants will have the opportunity to meet authors of selected peer reviewed papers in a roundtable format. Come prepared to learn about their work and take advantage of possible collaborative opportunities while exploring with the roundtable participants and the authors mutual areas of interest. Presenting Authors: Ethan W. Adler, Georgia Tech Research Institute Intelligent Access Mobile Captioning System: Emergency Notification DeeDee Bennett, Georgia Electronic Design Center, Georgia Institute of Technology A Comparative Analysis of State Emergency Plans: Improving Communications and Response to Vulnerable Populations Diane N. Bryen, PhD Emergency Communications 4All Helen T. Sullivan, PhD, Rider University Communicating Critical Information Using Mobile Phones Jeremy Johnson, Interactive Media Technology Center, Georgia Institute of Technology Mobile Emergency Alerting Made Accessible Pat Langdon, PhD, Cambridge University Inclusive Wireless Technology for Emergency Communications in the UK John Morris, PhD, Wireless RERC The Consumer Advisory Network on the Importance of Emergency Communications Kenneth Putkovich, The Bettken Group, LLC Emergency Warning for People with Disabilities
5:30 pm	STATE OF TECHNOLOGY RECEPTION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
8:00 am 8:30 am	Morning Refreshments Exhibitor showcase (closes at 4:30pm)
9:00 am	KEYNOTE ADDRESS W. David Stephenson is a strategist and theorist in e-Government and Emergency Management. His remarks will focus on creative solutions for communicating with (two-way) and to (one-way) the masses and how to best use networks of people and technology to enhance collaboration, and ultimately homeland security. Introduction by: Elizabeth Davis, EAD & Associates Keynote Speaker: W. David Stephenson, Homeland Security, E-Government and Crisis Management Strategist and Theorist
10:00 am	TURNING THE CORNER: REGULATORY AND POLICY DIRECTIONS Legislation, rules and regulations play an important role in determining how policies are created, implemented and revised. This panel will highlight domestic and international activity regarding progress in accessible emergency communications, inclusive emergency preparedness plans and what is on the horizon. Does it hold the promise of a new day? Moderator: Buzz Weiss, Public Affairs, Georgia Emergency Management Agency Speakers: Policy Claudia Gordon, Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security Disability Rights Jenifer Simpson, Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology and the American Association of People with Disabilities Regulatory Douglas Miller, Field Office, South Central Region, Federal Communications Commission European Model John Lamb, Ability Magazine, UK
11:15 am	CONCURRENT SESSIONS (2) Panel 1: Planning, Connections and Engaging the Community (end-user track) Moderator: Diane N. Bryen, Institute on Disabilities, Temple University Speakers: Planning for Emergency Egress Jon Sanford, Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access, Georgia Institute of Technology Grassroots Outreach Bruce A. McFarlane, Sr., Emergency Preparedness Initiative, National Organization on Disability Virtual Collaborations and Social Networks John Bricout, School of Social Work, University of Central Florida Panel 2: Applications: The Alert and Beyond (technical track) Moderator: Jeanie Ericson, LENS on Atlanta, Public Broadcasting Atlanta Speakers: Deaf 911 Thad Starner, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology Ensuring Access to Emergency Assistance Donna Platt, Accessibility Committee, National Emergency Number Association Technology Enabled Egress William F Crandall, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
12:15 pm	LUNCH
1:15 pm	MOVING FORWARD Emergency communications is a critical part of our national telecommunications infrastructure. Yet, research reveals that people are still anxious about their personal safety and ability to receive accurate, timely information. This panel will discuss domestic and international activity regarding best practices in emergency communications. How can we translate best practices into communications systems that are accessible to all? Moderator: Arthur Yancey, Emory University School of Medicine and the Fulton County Fire Department Panelists: International Model Guido Gybels, Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), UK Human Factor Brenda Phillips, Center for the Study of Disasters and Extreme Events, Oklahoma State University Applications for Large Environments Daver Malik, Information Services, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Government Initiatives Ronald C. Jones, Office of the Chief Information Officer, National Weather Service
2:30pm	TYING IT ALL TOGETHER After two days of dialog between presenters and attendees on current and future developments of accessible emergency communications, a panel of experts will engage in an interactive forecasting session. Provocative questions will be asked, inviting our experts to challenge traditional assumptions and formulate future scenarios on promoting interoperability across multiple platforms. Can the future break with the past? Moderator: Brian Fontes, National Emergency Number Association Panelists: Claude Stout, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Richard Rarey, National Public Radio (NPR) Labs Tom Axtell, Vegas PBS Milton Clipper, Public Broadcasting Atlanta - PBA (TV) - WABE (Radio) - APS (Cable)
4:00 pm	Closing Remarks Speakers: Helena Mitchell, PhD, Wireless RERC, CACP, Georgia Institute of Technology Salimah LaForce, Wireless RERC, CACP, Georgia Institute of Technology

The following is A SPECIAL SESSION with limited capacity. Please sign-up in advance. See registration table for details.

4:15 pm

TABLETOP EXERCISE (90 MINUTES)

Designed and facilitated by Booz Allen Hamilton

A tabletop exercise (TTX) is designed to be a scenario-driven drill of a natural disaster impacting several states. Participants will get to reenact in a “safe space” what their roles and responsibilities would be in an actual critical incident. Carefully designed scenarios run by a master facilitator will allow real-time to be collapsed, restored, or accelerated. The TTX will be used to capture any outcomes, interesting solutions, or information on accessible wireless emergency communications for incorporation into the final SOT proceedings report to stakeholders.

SOT

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