BENDER CONSULTING SERVICES:
Providing consulting in technology and creating employment opportunities for
all people with abilities

Contact: Lee Hassinger, (412) 787-8567

January 12, 2004

President and CEO of American Association of People with Disabilities to be
featured on "Disability Matters" with Joyce Bender

PITTSBURGH, PA- On January 13, 2004, Andy Imparato, President and CEO of the
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), will be featured on
"Disability Matters" with Joyce Bender.  The Internet-based radio show will
air on www.voiceamerica.com from 2 to 3 PM eastern time.

During the program, Mr. Imparato will discuss his role in the AAPD, a
national non-profit, non-partisan membership organization of people with
disabilities, their families and supporters. Founded in 1995, this
organization promotes the economic and political empowerment of people with
disabilities in the United States.  Also discussed will be his vital role in
the civil rights movement of people with disabilities.

Through the AAPD's Leadership Awards Program, future and current leaders
within the disability community receive recognition and support.  AAPD is
national host of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD).  DMD pairs students with
disabilities and volunteer mentors working in the private and public
sectors.  The day is scheduled in the month of October, Disability
Employment Awareness Month.  In 2001, the AAPD began the National Disability
Vote Project to encourage voting-age citizens with disabilities to
participate in the election process.

Imparato has held other posts prior to joining the AAPD.  He served as
general counsel and director of policy for the National Council on
Disability (NCD).  His other work history includes working as attorney
advisor to Commissioner Paul Steven Miller of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC); as counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on
Disability Policy, Chaired by Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; and at the
Disability Law Center in Boston Massachusetts.  Imparato is a person with
bipolar disorder, and knows first-hand what it is like to have a disability.
As a result, he is frequently asked to write, speak or testify about
disability issues.  He has been featured on CNN, CBS News, CBS News Radio,
Fox Sports, BBC Radio, National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting
System and various other broadcast and print media.

Joyce A. Bender, owner of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. (BCS), has
epilepsy and a hearing loss.  In 1985, she had a life-threatening accident
due to epilepsy, which caused an intra-cranial hemorrhage that required
subsequent brain surgery.  Against all odds, Joyce recovered from this
accident that left her with a 60 percent hearing loss in one ear and a
realization that she had epilepsy.  As a result of her personal experience,
she developed a passion for helping people with disabilities.  Out of that
passion, she founded BCS.

BCS is a firm that provides technology consulting services to its customers
and competitive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities
who are trained in the information technology, engineering,
finance/accounting, human resources, and general business fields.  In
October 2001, Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. (BCSC) was
established.  BCS does business nationally within the United States, while
BCSC works in both Ontario and Quebec.


For more information on Andy Imparato and the AAPD, visit
http://www.aapd.com.  For further information on "Disability Matters", visit
www.voiceamerica.com.  For details on Joyce Bender and Bender Consulting
Services, Inc., visit www.benderconsult.com.

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