Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR)
Interagency Subcommittee on Technology (IST)

Technology for Improving Cognitive Function

June 29-30, 2006

The federal Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) and its Subcommittee on Technology (IST) is sponsoring a state of the art workshop on: “Technology for Improving Cognitive Function,” scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday, June 29-30, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C Street, SW, Washington, D.C. The ICDR is authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, to promote coordination among federal departments and agencies conducting rehabilitation research programs. The ICDR and its five subcommittees hold regularly scheduled interagency meetings, as well as sponsor summits and conferences that bring together agency representatives, researchers, policy makers, consumers and advocates. The purpose of these activities is to reveal gaps in current research and determine priorities and future directions for federal disability research.

This two-day event will create a national forum for clinicians, researchers, consumers, providers, advocates and industry to share information and innovative ideas about the state of the science in assistive and accessible technologies that support the needs of people with cognitive disabilities. It is hoped that this workshop will explore and uncover: technology needs for improving cognitive function; trends in research and development; products marketed and consumer response; gaps in the research; technology transfer or product development opportunities; and industry response to the potential market and how to best work with the research community and government to stimulate investment and commercialization.

The format will include presentations and panel discussions on topics such as: “Cognitive Disabilities from Technical and Clinical Perspectives” and a keynote address on “Socio-Technical Environments Supporting People with Cognitive Disabilities.” Breakout groups will facilitate more effective communication among all stakeholder groups and make recommendations for the federal research agenda. The format will be interactive, allowing time for questions and answers. In addition to providing a forum for information sharing, the ICDR will publish conference proceedings to impact the direction of federal disability research.

People with cognitive disabilities include those with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disabilities (e.g., attention deficit disorder), and impaired memory due to aging or other causes (e.g., Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury, and stroke). These conditions affect over 20 million American citizens -- seven percent of the U.S. population. Prevalence rates for cognitive disability are growing rapidly as the nation ages and as advances in the medical and rehabilitative sciences extend the longevity of persons with disabilities.