For the American Expert Speaker Program of the U.S. Department of State, I will give 3 presentations and participate in roundtable discussions in Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Beppu, Japan, from September 7 through September 23, 2019.
For two of them, I will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowerment and fairness for people with disabilities, especially how AI empowers companies to hire a more diverse workforce. This will include the work of my colleague, Frances West, author of Authentic InclusionTM: Drives Disruptive Innovation.
For one of them, I will focus on the functions and activities of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and its INDEX Program, which I direct, as part of a larger discussion about independent living, the Internet of Things, and AI for people with disabilities. This will include my EasyText.AI research.
These activities are arranged and sponsored by the:
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan
- NPO Center for Independent Living Support Oita
- Fukuoka Mirai Hospital & SOUSEIKAI Medical Group
I am greatly honored that my presentations will be introduced by and/or the discussions will be moderated by the esteemed:
- Ms. Kelsey De Rinaldis, Program Development Officer, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Tokyo
- Audience: 5 to 10 NPO representatives, chief staff members of business entities, and researchers who work promoting using AI for accessibility.
- Dr. Ken’ichiro Takashiba, Director of the Joint Surgery Center, Fukuoka Mirai Hospital / Vice-Chairperson, Fukuoka Triathlon 2019
- Audience: about 60 rehabilitation and medical staff and doctors.
- Mr. Hidekazu Goto, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, NPO Center for Independent Living Support Oita / International Visitor Leadership Program in 2018 on Accessibility and Inclusion
- Audience: about 30 support staff, persons with disabilities, local government officials and the general public.
I am indebted to the following people for arranging all of this for me, and/or who will be assisting me.
- Aaron Steers-Smith, Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State
- Kelsey De Rinaldis, Program Development Officer, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Tokyo
- Yuki Kondo-Shah, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate Fukuoka
- Kenji Miyaishi, Public Affairs Program Assistant
- Kana (Miyamoto) Mori, Public Affairs Program Assistant
- Mayumi Abiko, Public Affairs Program Assistant
- Japanese interpreters
I am excited to learn from Japanese experts including people with disabilities living independently in Japan.