Dr. S. Ward Casscells presents the Service to America
Medal to Dinah F.B. Cohen.
Falls Church, VA – The Department of Defense (DoD) Director of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) Dinah F.B. Cohen received the Service to America Medal (SAMMIES) for leading the world's largest assistive technology program recently.
The Service to America Medals award program recognizes outstanding members of the federal workforce whose innovative and dedicated efforts result in significant contributions addressing national needs.
CAP is a centrally-funded assistive technology program that buys and delivers the hardware, software, and services that people with disabilities need to function in the workplace. The technology makes the electronic environment accessible to and usable by individuals with hearing, visual, dexterity, cognitive, and communications disabilities.
"At a time when our uniformed medical professionals are saving more lives than ever before in the Global War on Terror, the CAP program provides wounded and disabled servicemembers and other federal employees a wonderful opportunity to live and work better with assistive technology," said Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
Since 2004, Cohen's program has been instrumental in assessing needs to accommodate severely injured servicemembers returning home from the Global War on Terror. She has provided guidance for over 2,400 accommodations to wounded servicemembers and she has partnered with DoD Military Treatment Facilities to integrate assistive technologies into occupational therapy and rehabilitation services, housing facilities, and employment training centers to support the transition back to reemployment.
Since its inception in 1990, the CAP has filled more than 57,000 requests for accommodations. In addition to serving military departments and defense agencies, CAP partners with 64 other federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release |