The Service to America Medal has been awarded to Dinah F. B. Cohen for leading the world’s largest assistive technology program. Cohen is Director of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) for the US Department of Defense (DoD). Recipients of the award are considered outstanding members of the US federal workforce “whose innovative and dedicated efforts make significant contributions addressing national needs.”

CAP is an assistive technology program that buys and delivers to injured members of the military the hardware, software, and services they need to function in the workplace. The technology makes the electronic environment accessible to individuals with hearing, visual, dexterity, cognitive, and communications disabilities.

According to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. S. Ward Casscells, “The CAP program provides wounded and disabled servicemembers and other federal employees a wonderful opportunity to live and work better with assistive technology.”

Since 2004, the CAP program has assessed needs of injured servicemembers returning from service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other assignments, and has assisted the DoD in integrating assistive technologies into occupational therapy and rehabilitation services, housing facilities, and employment training centers to support transition back to reemployment. Since its inception in 1990, CAP has provided service to more than 57,000 injured members of the US military.

For more information about CAP, visit: http://www.tricare.mil/cap/