Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties to Discuss President's Executive Order on Safety of Disabled in Emergencies in Live Free TV Worldwide Webcast on August 31

Assistive Technology Internet TV Channel AT508.com on the TV Worldwide Network Expecting Large On-Line Audience on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 2PM ET  

> The Executive Order President Bush issued on July 22, 2004, “Emergency > Department of Homeland Security press release issued on July 22, 2004, regarding the Executive Order > Statement by President Bush commemorating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 26, 2004
>   Message from Troy Justesen, Department of Education, disseminating the      Executive Order

TVWorldwide.com, a fast-growing web-based global TV network, announced that its AT508.com TV channel for the community of people with disabilities (www.at508.com) and its HomelandDefenseTV channel (www.homelanddefensetv.com) will webcast a free interactive Internet press conference by Daniel Sutherland, Department of Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Mr. Sutherland will announce details of President Bush's July 22nd Executive Order intended to increase the safety of persons with disabilities during emergency situations, including natural disasters or acts of terrorism. The initiative established an interagency council to ensure first responders are cognizant of the particular needs of the disabled in emergency situations and facilitates communication between first responders and persons with disabilities. The order also ensures inclusion of representatives from the community of persons with disabilities in planning the strategies for emergency response. Mr. Dave Gardy, CEO of TV Worldwide, will host the show.

The live online audience will be able to ask questions of Mr. Sutherland via e-mail - - providing a fully interactive forum for sharing of information. It is requested that questions submitted by e-mail be done as far in advance as possible in order to ensure that they can be addressed during the live webcast.

“The Department of Homeland Security is committed to including the disability community in planning for all types of emergencies, both operationally and through citizen preparedness.  People with disabilities have much to offer all Americans because they and their families overcome obstacles and vulnerabilities daily and in times of crisis.  They bring innovation and determination to solving readiness problems,” said Secretary Ridge.

Daniel W. Sutherland, the Department's Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and previously a disability rights lawyer at the Department of Justice, called the President's action “one of the most significant developments in the area of disability policy in several years.”  Mr. Sutherland noted that, “Since 9/11, the disability community, like many in America, has been very focused on preparing for emergencies.  This Council will ensure the coordination of preparedness work being done across the country, maximize the value of past efforts and stimulate new work to address the difficult challenges that face this community.”

"As a long-time developer of streaming media content for the community of people with disabilities, we are excited about producing a webcast on such a vital national issue, both to the community of persons with disabilities and the first responders who will be responsible for their safety.” commented Dave Gardy, Chairman and CEO of TVWorldwide.com.  "We are again honored to be able to host Mr. Daniel Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties, on this important topic.”

The webcast of the event will be available live and archived in fully accessible format using the captioned video streaming of TVWorldwide.com's "webcapting" ^SM process. The event will be simulcast on AT508.com (www.at508.com), TV Worldwide's Internet TV channel for the community of people with disabilities with emphasis on assistive technology. TV Worldwide's well trafficked HomelandDefenseTV channel (www.homelanddefensetv.com) will also webcast the event in fully accessible format.

The live webcast will begin at 2 PM ET. Participants should have the latest version of either Windows Media Player or Real Video Player installed prior to the event and should log on by 1:45 PM (ET) on August 31. The live webcast will be made available as an archived file, shortly thereafter and will be hosted for one full year at HomelandDefenseTV.com and at AT508.com.

Other archived webcast programs of interest to first responders as well as individuals with disabilities include a March 10 announcement by Mr. Sutherland about increased job opportunities for persons with disabilities within the Department of Homeland Security and an April 30 panel discussion on meeting on the needs of the disabled in emergency situations and strategies for protecting such individuals -- including the establishment of a curriculum to train first responders. Both programs are also available on the websites as archived programming.

On April 16, 2003, President Bush appointed Mr. Sutherland to his position at the DHS where he provides legal and policy advice to the Secretary and the Department's senior officers on a full range of civil rights and civil liberties issues.

Mr. Sutherland has been a civil rights attorney throughout his legal career, serving fourteen years with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and nearly two years with the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Sutherland has handled a number of important civil rights lawsuits.  His experience has been primarily in the areas of discrimination against immigrants and discrimination against people with disabilities. His litigation includes cases alleging discrimination by a large urban police department in its dealings with people who are deaf; allegations that a licensing authority would not adequately accommodate test-takers who are blind; and, allegations of discrimination against refugees from Vietnam and the former Soviet Union.

About AT508.com 

TVWorldwide's AT508.com Internet TV channel was launched in October 2002 at the World Congress on Disabilities in Orlando, Florida, featuring world-renowned disability columnist John Williams covering the latest in assistive technology and Section 508 news and since then has webcast the TASH, ATIA, CSUN and CEC events for the community of people with disabilities. AT508.com features articles and videos on the latest in assistive technology products, services and issues. During industry trade shows, AT508.com highlights keynotes, presentations and interviews with exhibitors and speakers. AT508.com events are webcast live and archived in fully accessible format using the captioned video streaming of TVWorldwide.com's "webcapting"^SM process. AT508.com sponsors include The Paciello Group, Keybowl, HP, textHELP!, Kurzweil Educational Systems, Corda, Deque, Audio Eye, Sighted Electronics Freedom Vision, the Council for Exceptional Children and Vcom3D.

About HomelandDefenseTV.com
Homeland Defense TV provides informational programming and e-learning opportunities on homeland defense topics for government and corporate security personnel, first responders and interested citizens. The programs of homelanddefenseTV.com, a venue for interactive streaming media e-learning courses, seminars, conferences and meetings, are sponsored by the University of Findlay School of Environmental and Emergency Management (SEEM), Homeland Defense Journal and Homeland Defense Radio. In addition to streaming video and audio, the site features relevant printed material and links to sites that provide additional information. HomelanddefenseTV.com is a content-rich, comprehensive source of knowledge about homeland defense, safety and security or emergency preparedness and response.

About TV Worldwide
As a leading global Internet broadcasting and streaming media company, TV Worldwide (www.tvworldwide.com) is developing a network of video channels that is an affiliation of community-based Internet television stations, each underwritten by a strategic partner, "aimcasting" ^SM to targeted demographic audiences worldwide. TVWorldwide.com works with strategic partners to develop the latest in live and archived state-of-the art video streaming content applications. TVWorldwide.com was recently named one of the streaming video industry's "Hottest Streaming Companies” by Streaming Magazine, www.streamingmagazine.com, and CEO Dave Gardy was honored by the magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Streaming Media. Mr. Gardy currently serves as the president of the International Webcasting Association (IWA).