Keynote Speaker Announced for HLAA Convention
2008
Ollie Cantos VII
Hearing Loss Association of America
Convention 2008, June 12-15, in Reno, Nevada, will hold
its Opening Session on Thursday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. Olegario “Ollie” D.
Cantos, VII, special counsel to the acting assistant attorney
general for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Justice
will be the keynote speaker. His engaging
personal style and ability to convey thoughts have solidly
established him as a national leader who is known throughout
the world.
Mr. Cantos is well known in Washington, D.C., as one of
the highest-placed persons with a disability in the federal
government today. He began his work at the Justice Department
in August 2004 when he was commissioned by Attorney General
John D. Ashcroft. Mr. Cantos recently returned to this
post after having served two consecutive terms as associate
director for Domestic Policy at the White House, where
he led the implementation of the President’s New
Freedom Initiative, the agenda for advancing equality of
opportunity for people with all types of disabilities in
information and assistive technology, education, employment,
and every aspect of community living.
Blind since birth, Mr. Cantos is known well beyond the
Nation’s Capital boundaries for his ability to network
and bring stakeholders together for a common purpose. He
also collaborates with national leaders of disability rights
organizations and high-ranking officials from the White
House and various federal departments to provide consumer
perspective on policies affecting the disability community.
Mr. Cantos is a sought-after speaker who is an example
of how people with disabilities can reach the highest levels
of success in every area of life by exercising both the
rights and responsibilities of citizenship. He has appeared
on radio, television, and in newspapers and magazines.
Audiences have included business entrepreneurs, disability
rights activists, attorneys and other legal professionals,
school children of all ages, college and university students,
press representatives at the National Press Club, meetings
of the Congressional Black Caucus, gatherings of government
officials, and civil rights leaders at national conferences.
His vitae list numerous honors for his work and contributions,
both within and outside the field of disability.
On the personal side, Mr. Cantos is an assistant scoutmaster
in Troop 1780 of the National Capital Area Council of Boy
Scouts of America, a three-time finisher of the 26.2-mile
Los Angeles Marathon, and his hobbies include rollerblading,
ice skating, and horseback riding. Mr. Cantos is also a
science fiction fan and loves being involved with his church
and community.
In the words of one who has spoken of him:
“Ollie is a truly remarkable individual for what
he has managed to achieve, the obstacles he has overcome
during the course of his life and career as an attorney,
his work here at the Domestic Policy Council, and the
contagious enthusiasm that he has.” -- Gregory
F. Jacob, Esq., Special Assistant to the President for
Domestic Policy; Indian Treaty Room, the White House,
March 26, 2007.
Join people with hearing loss from across the United States
to meet Ollie Cantos and participate in Convention 2008.
The four-day event includes workshops, Exhibit Hall and tradeshow,
Research Symposium, and social events.
