2008 International Symposium on Realizing a Universal Society

-Lecture Presentation by Ms. Dinah F.B. Cohen, Director of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) for the U.S. Department of Defense

It is our pleasure to inform you that the “2008 International Symposium on Realizing a Universal Society” is jointly held by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s major newspaper with 10 million daily issues, and Prop Station, a social welfare corporation. We hope that this symposium helps promote a universal society where everybody can live with pride.

2/26/2008

Nami Takenaka
Chairperson
Prop Station, Social Welfare Corporation

Shoichi Oikawa
President and Executive editor
The Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo Head Office

2008 International Symposium Keynote Speaker: Dinah F.B. Cohen

Ms. Dinah F.B. Cohen, Director of the Computer/Electronic Accommodation Program (CAP), provides assistive technology and accommodation support to wounded service members to aid in their rehabilitation and recovery process. Ms. Cohen also works closely with senior leadership throughout the Federal sector to ensure employees and members of the public with disabilities have equal access to Federal services and employment. Over 61,000 requests for accommodations have been filled since CAP’s inception in 1990. Recently, the Partnership for Public Service honored Ms. Cohen as the recipient of the 2007 Citizen Services Medal for her team’s impact on employees with disabilities and service members.

About This Forum

Overview: Under a rapidly growing aged society with fewer birthrates in Japan, it is our utmost task to reform our society where everyone shares his/her role as an important and core member of society by supporting each other to bring about coexistence.

"The first step of our nation's defense is to let everyone share his/her role in society so that we can live with pride and confidence." This is the philosophy of Ms. Dinah F. B. Cohen, Director of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) for the U.S. Dept of Defense.

We are inviting her as the keynote speaker for proposing the realization of our universal society (coexistence and mutual support), considering our standpoint and issues on social welfare, disabilities, social security and further studies on the U.S-Japan Alliance.

Date: Monday, March 24, 2008

Place: Ho-oh Hall, Hotel New Otani, Tokyo

Organizer: Co-sponsored by;

Prop Station, Social Welfare Corporation
The Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo Head Office

Supporters: (Including those in negotiation);

Cabinet Office
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Ministry of Education
Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Nippon Keidanren)
U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo

Expected Guests (in alphabetical order):

Mr. John Thomas Schieffer, U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Ms. Mitsuyo Ohira, Lawyer
Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, Defense Minister
Mr. Takashi Kiriku, Senior Managing Director, Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Nippon Keidanren)
Ms. Toshiko Hamayotsu, Deputy Chief of New Komeito and Upper House Member
Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister
Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan and House of Representatives Member
Diet members from Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito, and Democratic Party of Japan
Supporters of Prop Station
Academic, business and industrial leaders including people with disabilities highly-selected by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s major newspaper with 10 million daily issues(some 300 participants are expected)

Others:

Simultaneous interpretation and abbreviated stenographs are in place.

Executive Office:

Prop Station, Social Welfare Corporation

Kobe Head Office

Address: 6E-13, 6-9 Rokko Island,
Koyo-Cho-Naka, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan 658-0032
Phone: +81-78-845-2263
Fax: +81-78-845-2918

Tokyo Office

Address: Misuji 313 bldg. 4F, 3-13-3,
Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 107-0052
Phone: +81-3-3505-7797
Fax: +81-3-3505-7797

Web site: http://www.prop.or.jp
E-mail: prop2017@prop.or.jp

PROGRAM

March 24 (Mon.)

4:30 pm

Doors open

5:00 - 5:10 pm

Inauguration Ceremony

-Inauguration speech by Organizer

-Greetings by the Distinguished Guests;

Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister

Mr. John Thomas Schieffer, U. S. Ambassador to Japan

Ms. Toshiko Hamayotsu, Deputy Chief of New Komeito and Upper House Member

Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan and House of Representatives Member

5:10 pm

First Session

Keynote Speech by Ms Dinah F.B. Cohen, Director of the Computer/Electric Accommodations Program (CAP) for the U.S. Department of Defense

6:00 pm

Second Session

Panel Discussion with Ms. Cohen

Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, Defense Minister

Ms. Toshiko Hamayotsu, Deputy Chief of New Komeito and Upper House Member

Ms. Mitsuyo Ohira, Lawyer

A representative of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Nippon Keidanren)

Navigator: Nami Takenaka, Chairperson of Prop Station and a Committee member of Social Welfare National Council

7:00 pm - 7:40 pm

Communication Party

Go to Nami's Message on this symposium