Tony Cahill and I would like to introduce ourselves as the new co-chairs of the Disability Section's Accessibility Committee. Tony is the director of the Division of Disability and Health Policy at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and has an extensive history of accessible conference planning. I'm a rehabilitation engineer at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and have worked in the ADA/assistive technology field for over 15 years. 

According to everything we have heard, despite a few glitches, accessibility in San Diego was quite good.  As we move forward in anticipation of the conference in Philadelphia in 2009 we will continue the great efforts of the previous Accessibility Committee to improve overall accessibility at APHA. A great working relationship has been established with the conference planners at APHA, and we hope to build even stronger bridges.  Tony and I will be looking to revise and update the Accessibility Survey so as to receive the most accurate accessibility information and to understand the needs from conference participants.  Not only does the Accessibility  Committee utilize the data results from this survey, but APHA staff does as well to constantly improve.  We will also be working with APHA to find ways to further increase participants’ access to sign language interpreters and assistive listening devices.

So, as we look forward in our planning for Philadelphia, Tony and I both welcome any comments, suggestions or issues that you would like for us to address regarding the San Diego Annual Meeting along with any other general or specific accessibility issues that you think are important to APHA as a whole.