Paralympian Anjali Forber-Pratt Joins Prestigious Massachusetts Speaker Panel with Notable Experts, Politicians and Activists- " My story is powerful in that it shows the power of overcoming obstacles and that we all have potential to achieve ... even in the face of adversity. Advances in technology for my daily life, as well as my sport have been instrumental in a better quality of life for me."
BOSTON, Sept. 19, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerging Technologies aimed to help disabled and aging populations - Anjali Forber-Pratt is someone who knows first-hand how much they can make a difference in peoples' lives. At four months old, Forber-Pratt contracted Transverse Myelitis leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. But what some people might view as a tragedy, Anjali has come to view as a positive life altering event.
A member of the 2011 USA Paralympic Team, Anjali Forber-Pratt is currently training for the London Paralympic Games. Forber-Pratt is one of the featured speakers at the Products & Technologies that Change People's Lives Conference held Friday, September 23 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center located at the address 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02115.
Those scheduled to talk at the conference are a variable who's who list of Massachusetts power brokers. Besides leading business advocates and industry experts, both Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray are attending as well as Judy Ann Bigby, Secretary of Health & Human Services, who is also a featured speaker.
"I am truly honored that I am a part of this important conference. My focus is from the point-of-view that I have grown up with my physical disability for my entire life," Forber-Pratt explains. "Universal design,access and inclusion for people with disabilities in fitness, recreation and sport means a lot to me, and it's so exciting to come together with these key leaders and share my experiences.
"My story is powerful in that it shows the power of overcoming obstacles and that we all have potential to achieve ... even in the face of adversity," said Forber-Pratt. "Advances in technology for my daily life, as well as my sport has been instrumental in a better quality of life for me."
The conference hopes to through thought provoking conference sessions, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions and a summit of thought leaders, this conference aims to elevate the awareness to the urgency and opportunities for using Universal Design and Assistive Technology (AT) in products and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as drivers for innovation, development and access.
Forber-Pratt hopes so too. She developed an innate drive and determination that she has utilized in every facet of her life and is pleased to share this true grit with others.
About Anjali Forber-Pratt
Anjali Forber-Pratt was introduced to the world of disabled sports at the young age of 5. She quickly excelled and by the age of 9 she was competing at the national level in track and field.
Currently she is the world record holder in the 200m and ranked among the top three fastest T53 women in the world for her other events, the 100 meter and 400 meter events. She was named to the United States Paralympic Track and Field Team and selected to represent the United States at the ParaPan American Games in Rio de Janeiro—where she came home with two gold medals in the 100m and 200m and a bronze in the 400m.
Anjali's current focus is to prepare for London 2012. She juggles a six-day-a-week training regiment along with the full-time study toward her doctoral degree in Human Resource Education. Anjali is a graduate teaching assistant for the University of Illinois College of Education.
Anjali enjoys traveling for speaking engagements around the country and volunteering with local organizations for kids with disabilities. She is in the midst of launching a Color, Learn and Play book aimed at educating young aspiring Paralympians on the variety of sports they can play and to teach young children that disabled people can play sports too!
About Products & Technologies that Change People's Lives – Conference
Packed into this one-day conference is information and stories about the current state-of-the-art of products and technologies that work for everyone at Home, at Work, in Learning and in Fitness, Recreation and Sport. There are opportunities throughout the day to share ideas. We hope to build excitement not only about what's possible now but about the potential that working together will generate even better solutions that make it easier for everyone to live life to its fullest. Conference sessions will be video-recorded and made available later through a podcast.
This conference will convene on Friday, September 23 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center located at the address 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02115.
Conference convenes individuals, educators, health professionals, businesses, non-profit organizations and the public sector in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond for one day of knowledge sharing about emerging technologies and products for people with disabilities and older people, for consumers, employers, educators, and others to demonstrate how emerging and advanced technology can improve the ability to work, live, learn and play across the spectrum of ability and age.
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The following files are available for download:
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| [Image] | On the Medal Stand with Anjali |