A new exposition in Chicago next summer will feature information and products specifically designed to improve safety for people with disabilities.
The inaugural “Accessibility Expo: Beyond the ADA” will collocate with the annual National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference & Expo at Chicago’s McCormick Place, from June 10-12, 2013. The three-day event will inform building designers, builders, managers and safety executives, and promote the idea of moving beyond the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“With each passing day I marvel at new innovations and advancements, particularly those that improve access to information, communications and the ability of people with disabilities to be more empowered with respect to their own safety,” said Allan Fraser, NFPA’s senior building code specialist. “It’s time to shine a light on innovations so that building designers, suppliers, facility and safety managers, and first responders can connect and interact.”
Conference sessions will address life safety in five categories of disability, including mobility, vision, hearing, speech and cognitive, as well as creative and common sense best-practices and solutions. The exhibition will feature enhanced alarm systems, directional sound devices, voice-to-text/text-to -voice devices, video phones for American Sign Language users, power wheelchairs, accessibility training and employer preparedness programs.
The NFPA Conference & Expo is the premier industry event for fire protection and life safety and attracts more than 5,000 professionals whose work involves code compliance, fire, building and life safety. The event is co-produced by NFPA and ROC Exhibitions, Inc., Lisle, Ill.
NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building and life safety to the public, since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education. ROC Exhibitions, celebrating 18 years in business in 2012, produces seven trade events annually in the United States and Mexico.
Suppliers interested in exhibiting at Accessibility Expo or presenting a conference session should contact ROC-NFPA, LLC at 630-271-8210. To learn more, visit www.nfpa.org/conference
