LCI Inc. | News

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

White House policy advisor to speak
at local conference on disabilities

SANFORD — Olegario "Ollie" Cantos VII, associate director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and the highest-ranking federal employee with a disability, will be the keynote speaker at a conference in Sanford on using technology to overcome disabilities.

"Step Into the Future: Technology's Role in Education and Employment" is a day-long conference scheduled for Apr. 19 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. The event begins at 9 a.m. and is sponsored by LCI Inc., Central Carolina Community College and the Central Carolina Society for Human Resources Management.

Cantos, who will give the keynote address, has been blind since birth, but has overcome his disability, rising to his position in the Executive Office of the President. He came to the White House from the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as Special Council to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

In his current role, Cantos is responsible, among other things, for reviewing pending federal regulations and coordinating the development and implementation of national disability policy. The attorney has received many awards for his professional accomplishments, as well as his advocacy for people with disabilities, and has spoken to crowds ranging in size from a few people to more than 6,000.

The keynote speech is just one component of a broader agenda focusing on how technology can be used to improve educational and employment opportunity for people with disabilities.

Conference sessions will show participants how to use the federal Americans With Disabilities Act to hire and maintain quality employees, how classrooms can be enhanced with assistive technology, and how employers can use technology to reduce compensation rates.

Others focus on topics in health and safety, disability and diversity, and literacy education.

Julie Dutchess, coordinator for LCI's Assistive Technology Center, says the conference is designed with two different tracks, making it appealing to teachers, employers and people with disabilities. But both share the same goal.

"The technology and methods discussed in the conference will help people gain more control over their lives," she says. "For employers, they'll have a new source of quality employees and for teachers, they'll find new ways to serve their students.

"We're thrilled to be able to offer something like this in Sanford."

Founded in 1967, LCI primarily serves residents of Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties. The nonprofit organization provides manufacturing assistance and trained employees for business and industry, helps people with disabilities enjoy their greatest possible independence, and produces a full range of trophies, awards and engraving.