Compaq Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

HOUSTON, Oct. 8, 2001 -- October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the U.S., and the Compaq Accessibility Program Office is gearing up to help employees, customers and students learn more about accessibility. Not only is Compaq is a national sponsor of Disability Employee Mentoring Day, but Compaq employees across the country are learning more about accessibility and mentoring students with disabilities. An estimated that 54 million Americans live and work with a visual, hearing, mobility, speech or cognitive disability.

“Our employees take pride in the fact that Compaq has assumed a leading role in using technological innovation to make information and technology accessible to all people,” said Michael Takemura, Compaq’s Director of the Office of Accessibility. “Compaq is committed to making accessible technology and information a priority—providing access anytime, anywhere, to anyone.”

Compaq is holding a special event today -- Accessibility Awareness Day -- to emphasize the importance of using the power of technology to increase accessibility. Featured speakers include:

• Yvonne Jackson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Organization and Environment



• Gary Moulton, Product Manager of the Microsoft Accessible Technology Group. Earlier this year, Compaq announced it is working with Microsoft to improve the accessibility and interoperability of the companies’ joint products.



• Randy Marsden, President of Madentec, a manufacturer of products for hands-free computer access. Marsden is also Vice President of ATIA, the Assistive Technology Industry Association. Compaq is a member of ATIA, and Compaq’s Takemura serves as a board member in the organization.

“I am thrilled to see Compaq put together this program for its employees to commemorate National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said Marsden. “This is the first time a computer hardware manufacturer has ever put together a program like this, and it is both a ground-breaking and industry-leading effort on behalf of Compaq to give American workers a better chance to learn about accessibility, and to put accessible practices into place.”

A number of assistive technology vendors are demonstrating products on the Compaq Houston campus today, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, alternative pointing devices and accessibility kiosks. These vendors include AiSquared (producers of ZoomText, a screen magnifier and reader), Freedom Scientific (producer of JAWS, a screen reader), Interactive Solutions, Inc. (manufacturer of iCommunicator, speech to text to sign language software), Madentec Limited (manufacturer of Tracker 2000, a head tracking device), Microsoft (improving the lives of people with disabilities by making computers a positive force in employment, education and recreation) and Quadmedia (a producer of accessible kiosks).

Compaq is committed to designing products, services, and programs with improved usability and accessibility for all customers. Compaq products with Microsoft Windows XP pre-installed or XP-ready are designed for accessibility. These products are tested with industry-leading Assistive Technology products to ensure equal access. More information about Microsoft’s accessibility technology can be found at www.microsoft.com/enable/.

“Economic empowerment is at the heart of disability rights,” says Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of AAPD. “Millions of talented and qualified people with disabilities face unemployment. Until they gain access to meaningful career opportunities they cannot truly become full participating members of our society. Nor can they live the American dream. Disability Mentoring Day provides an excellent opportunity for students with disabilities to make connections that can provide a competitive edge about how to successfully join the workforce and contribute to our nation’s economic growth. We are grateful for companies like Compaq -- one of our National Corporate Sponsors -- who are making Disability Mentoring Day a reality by hosting students at worksites across the country.”

National Disability Mentoring Day
Wednesday, October 24, 2001 is National Disability Mentoring Day, and many Compaq sites will participate by mentoring local college students with disabilities. Students spend the day shadowing an assigned mentor, and mentors in all businesses and functions are needed to support this national effort. Students who would like more information about being matched with a Compaq employee should refer to accessibility@compaq.com.

Compaq Accessibility Background
In March, Compaq announced the creation of an Accessibility Program Office to address the computing needs of people with disabilities, a community that has grown to more than 750 million worldwide. The Program Office guides the integration of accessibility in Compaq product design, engineering, product development, documentation, information on Compaq websites, and services and support.

Compaq uses technology to expand accessibility and enable all people to take full advantage of their experience, talents and skills. Customers can view the Compaq Accessibility Video at http://www.compaq.com/accessibility/downloads/accessibility.wmv.

Company Background
Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation (“Compaq”) is a leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at www.compaq.com.

SOURCE Compaq