G3ict is the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs

25th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities - "Indipendent Living"

Honolulu, Hawai'i May 4-5, 2009 Hawai'i Convention Center

The Independent Living topic area will focus on the following seven questions:

1. What do we want independent living to be in the 21st century?
2. What does independent living mean?
3. Who defines an individual's independence?
4. How are perceptions of choice about independent living defined?
5. How does independent living change across and within cultures, space, time, disability experiences?
6. How has independent living evolved since the 1970s?
7. How does independent living relate to educational settings?

The invited, featured speaker for this topic area is disability civil rights singer, songwriter, and activist, Johnny Crescendo, who coined the phrase, "Piss on Pity," in 1990.  Originally from England, in 1993 Johnny founded the Direct Action Network (DAN), an organization that uses public demonstrations and non-violent civil disobedience to increase the awareness and liberation of disabled people. DAN became instrumental in getting the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 passed in the United Kingdom (UK) and for getting commitments from the UK government to make all transport accessible.  Johnny moved to the United States in 2004 and is now based at the Liberty Resources, the Philadelphia Center for Independent Living, Johnny will discuss his work as the founder of ALFIE, (Alliance for Inclusive Education), bringing disability issues and disability culture into schools as part of developing inclusive practice. His most recent CD, "Rollover," features "The Ballad of Roy and Julie," which highlights the issues of women with learning difficulties being forced to give their children up for adoption.

In addition to Johnny Crescendo, the Independent Living topic area will highlight other presenters in breakout and topical sessions who will discuss various issues relating to emergency preparedness, international Independent Living activities, art, identity, diversity, disability culture and more.

For additional information, please visit www.pacrim.hawaii.edu
Call for Papers: http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/submissions/
For further information about the Independent Living topic area, please contact Steve Brown at sebrown@hawaii.edu