KEYNOTE ADDRESS PROGRAM

Mark your calendars and join us to kick off the 38th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. This year's conference will open with an exciting live-streamed Keynote Address and awards presentation.

We look forward to gathering together as a community on Tuesday, March 14th at 8:00 am in the Platinum 6 Ballroom and starting a dynamic week of conference events!

Keynote Speaker

We are pleased to announce Mike Paciello as the Keynote Speaker for the 2023 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference.

Mr. Paciello has been a pioneer and influential figure in the accessibility industry for more than three decades and is the founder of WebABLE.com and co-founder of WebABLE.TV.

Among his many notable milestones, Mr. Paciello served as co-chair of the United States Federal Access Board's Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC) and is also the co-founder of the International Committee for Accessible Document Design (ICADD). Among his other notable achievements, he was recognized by President Bill Clinton for his contribution to the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and was the recipient of the 2016 Knowbility Lifetime Achievement and the 2020 ICT Accessibility Testing Symposium Social Impact awards. He also wrote the first book on web accessibility and usability, Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities, which has undoubtedly provided keen insight and a platform of knowledge for the community.

Don't miss this year's Keynote Address as Mike Paciello kicks off the 2023 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference with an inspiring talk about digital accessibility and the critical components needed to ensure an optimal user experience for people with disabilities.

Strache Leadership Award

The Center on Disabilities annually recognizes a leader who has made a significant impact in education and research. This year we are pleased to honor Keith Christian, a teacher of students with visual impairments for the past twenty-six years. Mr. Christian is a teacher at Clara Barton Elementary in Anaheim and has served as a mentor to his students and students in the Visual Impairments program at Cal State Los Angeles (where he guest lectures on technology). He was instrumental in advocating for the establishment of an Alternate Media Production Center for students with disabilities at Cal State LA.

Keith is a tireless advocate for early and widespread technology access and an inspiration to colleagues, students and parents. His leadership in his field has inspired many other teachers of the visually impaired to join him in putting technology in the hands of very young students, which makes him a worthy recipient of the 2023 Strache Leadership Award.

About Dr. Fred Strache

Dr. Fred Strache held many positions, including CSUN's VP for Student Affairs. He was a very active and progressive administrator, but his primary emphasis was always on students. Regardless of the type of project discussed with him, he would be supportive but always ask about the benefits to our students.

Dr. Arthur I. Karshmer Award for Assistive Technology Research

Each year, the Journal Track submission with the highest marks is recognized with the Dr. Arthur Karshmer Award for Assistive Technology Research. Award winners are honored for their exemplary submission and excellence in research and the advancement of assistive technology.

The 2023 Dr. Arthur I. Karshmer Award for Assistive Technology Research is awarded to ASL Consent in the Digital Informed Consent Process by Ben Kosa, Ai Minakawa, Patrick Boudreau, Raja Kushalnagar, and Poorna Kushalnagar.