Media Alert: Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Microsoft to Present Innovations for a Healthy Workforce Media Forum July 13

NEW YORK — July 5, 2005

What:

Innovations for a Healthy Workforce, a forum presented by the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Microsoft Corp., will examine the workplace issues confronted by people with physical and sensory disabilities that are caused by injury, disease or aging. Medical and technology experts will give brief presentations on health issues facing today’s work force; medical issues pertaining to pain, weakness and the loss or impairment of vision, mobility or dexterity; and demonstrations of accessible technology products that can help mitigate each of those conditions.

In today’s economy, computers are essential for many businesses and are a mainstay of personal and professional life around the world. Among working-age adults in the United States, 78 percent use computers — 68 percent at home and 45 percent at work. With nearly 60 percent of the work force experiencing some level of disability or impairment due to chronic ailments (e.g., vision loss, carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis) or serious injury, * using a computer can be a challenge for many people.

Inability to operate computer technology can put workers of any age at a disadvantage that may lead to unemployment or lack of career advancement. It doesn’t matter whether they are recent college graduates looking for a job, wounded soldiers returning from a tour of duty in Iraq, or aging baby boomers trying to stay competitive in today’s work force. But this challenge can be overcome through the use of accessible technologies designed to help people with disabilities.

Who:

  • Matthew H. M. Lee, M.D., Howard A. Rusk Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Medical Center School of Medicine; medical director, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine

  • Bill Crounse, M.D., Global Healthcare Industry Manager, Microsoft

  • Mark A. Young M.D., MBA, FACP, chairman of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Maryland Rehabilitation Center and the Workforce and Technology Center in Baltimore, Md.

  • Steve Stiens, M.D., Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Washington State Veterans Hospital

  • Valerie Matthews, principal sales engineer, ScanSoft Inc.

  • Stanley F. Wainapel, M.D., MPH. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center

  • Bill Kilroy, regional sales manager, Freedom Scientific

Where:

NYU Medical Center, Conference Room B, Main Lobby Auditorium, 560 1st Avenue, between 31st and 33rd streets

When:

Wednesday, July 13, 9:30 a.m. EDT

Why:

Rehabilitation medicine and the use of innovative technology can help workers and businesses remain competitive and productive, strengthen the economy, and help people stay active in their communities.

Contact:

To R.S.V.P. or for special-needs accommodations at the event, please contact Brenda Timm, (212) 704-4593, [email protected]; Mechal Weiss, (212) 642-7731, [email protected]; or Jennifer Berman, (212) 404-3555, [email protected]

 * According to a study commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Forrester Research Inc. in 2004

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The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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