2008 conference speakers
Let us introduce the speakers for the 2008 conferences:
Ron Stewart
Ron Stewart currently works in our community in a variety of voluntary capacities; Technology Advisor to AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability), Chairs the AHEAD E-Text Solutions Group and is the Postsecondary Educational representative on the NIMAS Development Committee. In 2003 Ron was the driving force in the founding of the Access Technologist Higher Education Network (athenpro.org), and serves as the organizations President. Ron left Oregon State University in 2006 to take the position of VP for Operations for Dolphin Computer Access (yourdolphin.com) and in that capacity is leading a variety of efforts on an international level on curricular access for students with print related disabilities including the Altformat.com effort to establish an international clearing house for information related to Alt Format and DAISY materials production.
Ron Stewart was the founding Director of the Northwest Center for Technology Access at Oregon State University. Ron has worked in the field of Educational Technology for over 20 years, and for the last ten years was the Director of the Technology Access Program at Oregon State University. Ron established at OSU a program focused on access to educational technology for at-risk learners that quickly become a national model. Ron's expertise is in the area of educational technology access and distance education program development, with an emphasis on the implementation of emerging technologies and the development of inclusive educational environment. Ron consults extensively with regional and national educational systems on the development of fully accessible technology environments, systemic and institutional culture change, and universally accessible building and program design.
Steven O'Brien
Steven O’Brien is a leading expert in the field of advocacy for adults with dyslexia. He has lectured both national and internationally on the subject. Steven is the chief executive of Adult Dyslexia Access based in the North West of England, which many believe is the most innovative adult dyslexia charity in the UK. Steve has acted as a consultant to the government and various other national organisations in both commercial and voluntary sectors in the field of dyslexia and disabilities. Besides having a specific interest in disadvantaged and marginalised dyslexic adults and completing a PHD in Dyslexia and Welfare, Steve is also involved in the development of technologies that aid the identification of dyslexia in children and adults. See: www.dyslexia-check.com (external link)
David Mann
David is Team Leader of Campaigns for RNIB in Northern Ireland.
Noel Duffy
Noel Duffy is a regular supporter of the AltFormat campaign and understand the genuine needs of all readers with a print impairment. Passionate about the cause, Noel is keen to make a difference and has plenty if ideas what to do next.
Doug Blane
Doug Blane is from an Engineering background having specialised in Computer Aided Design. He has many years of third party IT support knowledge & experience having researched, developed & implemented a corporate portal with integrated taxonomy base search engine for The Open University Business School.
Doug is currently working part time as IT Coordinator for The Open University's Digital Audio Project looking at mainstreaming text based work flow systems into automatically producing DAISY Digital Talking Books. He produced the first DAISY Digital Talking Book within The Open University that was distributed to its students.
Doug is also a certified specialist accessibility software trainer.
Rory Cobb
Bio coming soon!
Miriam Waller
Miriam is Resource Technician for blind and partially sighted secondary school students in Bedfordshire. With direct experience in the creation and provision of alternative format materials, Miriam can give practical tips and advice to others.
Adrian Farnsworth
Bio coming soon!