September 25, 2000 Department of Defense Official to Deliver National Disability Employment Awareness Month Keynote

Public Contact: (202) 707-7544
Contact: Audrey Fischer (202) 707-0022

Claiborne D. Haughton, Jr., Principal Director and Director for Civilian Equal Opportunity Program, Department of Defense, will deliver the keynote address for the Library of Congress 2000 National Disability Awareness Month celebration. The program will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11, in the Mumford Room, sixth floor, of the James Madison Memorial Building. The lecture is free and open to the public.

"The Library is honored to have such a distinguished and sought after speaker as Mr. Haughton to deliver our keynote address for this year's Disability Awareness Month program," said William Haig, the Library's Disability Employment Program Manager. "This year's theme is 'Ability You Can Count On.'"

A recognized expert on disability rights, Mr. Haughton received a bachelor's degree in biology from Dillard University and a master's degree in public administration from American University. He is also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. A native of Thibidaux, LA, Mr. Haughton was mainstreamed into the public schools of Baton Rouge as an example of the principle of full inclusion for people with disabilities.

Mr. Haughton began his federal career in 1967 as a trainee with the Defense Logistics Agency, rising to the level of senior manager within 12 years, and subsequently to Senior Executive Service. He hired the first department-wide manager for the Defense Department's program for people with disabilities, and established the Defense Department's Disability Program in the four military services and 18 Defense Agencies. He is the key architect behind the creation and implementation of the award-winning DOD Computer Accommodations Program, which provides assistive technology for employees with disabilities.

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PR 00-149
2000-09-25
ISSN 0731-3527