United Cerebral Palsy Conference
September 17 , 2008
United Cerebral Palsy affiliates, members of the disability community and business and community leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to focus on what the future holds for people with disabilities. Discussions at the Believable Hope conference centered on the belief that, in the future, disability will transition into capabilities through better technology and a redefined health care system.
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and founder of the Center for Health Transformation, addressed the conference as keynote speaker. “In the next 25 years there is going to be four to seven times an advancement on science, the equivalent of someone in the 1880s planning for the lives of today,” said Gingrich. He said there is a great need to view the future of health care in the next 25 years as an investment and not an expense.
Social Networking Platforms Advance the United Cerebral Palsy Mission
The development of social networking platforms to extend the reach of the United Cerebral Palsy mission was a highlight of the conference. Centered on The Future of Care-Giving Virtual Game - an online simulation for people to experience lives as caregivers over the next decade and beyond - conference participants had the opportunity to share their personal experiences about being a caregiver. Participant experiences will be used to create the scenarios that will be presented to players when the game officially launches.
United Cerebral Palsy and AARP are partnering on the game, with the anticipated result that virtual players will envision solutions to health care issues that are beyond the scope of current programs and services.
“The essence of the United Cerebral Palsy mission is to eliminate all barriers so people with disabilities can live life without limits,” said Stephen Bennett, president & CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “We are all part of that process, and focusing on trends in health care and care giving, which affect everyone, will help our society become fully inclusive for people with disabilities.”
(Source: United Cerebral Palsy)
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