Using the Internet to enable access to medical conferences

The goal of expanding access to individuals with disabilities to scientific and medical conferences is supported by both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the National Institutes of Health.

Live-streaming video broadcast over the internet is widely available, although it has been used only in a limited fashion by the medical community. A consumer-oriented medical and rehabilitation conference concerning the rare disabling disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, was broadcast via the world wide web. The address of a web page was announced before the conference to three computer users' groups that were considered likely to have an interest in the conference. The web page presented a live-streaming video broadcast of the conference. A phone line was installed, thereby allowing viewers to ask questions of the presenters during the question and answer periods.

Sixteen users logged in 83 times to view the conference over a 2-day period. Five (23%) of 22 members of a fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva internet users' group tuned in from distant places as The Netherlands and Israel.

The internet is a viable tool to expand access to and increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in scientific and medical conferences. This technology should be used routinely in conferences of interest.