News Release

Contact: Taylor Oldroyd, (202) 720-1019

USDA MIDWEST TARGET CENTER TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE

     WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2002--The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the USDA Midwest TARGET Center in St. Louis, Mo., will hold an open house on July 22, 2002, to showcase its array of assistive technology and ergonomic solutions for the workplace.

     "USDA's TARGET Centers are important. They help to support this Administration's ongoing commitment to the successful employment of people with disabilities at USDA," said USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Mike Neruda. "I am pleased that our Midwest TARGET Center is holding this open house to demonstrate the workplace technologies and solutions available here at USDA."

     USDA's Midwest TARGET Center in St. Louis, Mo., and its companion TARGET Center in Washington, D.C., were created to support the Department through assistive technology and ergonomic solutions. Both TARGET Centers feature workstations equipped with a variety of hardware and software that provide accessibility to USDA employees who are visually, hearing, speech, mobility or dexterity impaired. USDA's TARGET Centers also conduct outreach with outside federal, state and local agencies to educate others about how assistive technology and ergonomic solutions can benefit people with disabilities in any workplace.

     The open house will be held July 22, 2002, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (CST). The location will be the Midwest TARGET Center, 1520 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Those interested in attending the open house may contact Betty Gahn of the Midwest TARGET Center at (314) 539-3800 (Voice/TTY) or betty.gahn@stl.rural.usda.gov for more information or assistance with accommodations.

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