Co-Investigator Paraquad President

Background: Max J. Starkloff is the founder and president of Paraquad, since it's establishment in 1970. Mr. Starkloff was co-founder and elected president of the National Council of Independent Living in 1983-1985. President Clinton appointed him to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships in 1993. Since 1991, Mr. Starkloff has served as chairman of the St. Louis County Commission on Disability. In 1988, he participated in the Leadership St. Louis Program.

Mr. Starkloff has received acclaim from several humanitarian groups, including: The Distinguished Service Award, which was presented by George Bush in 1991; The 1990 Community Leadership Award, presented by Leadership St. Louis; The St. Louis Award; The Human Rights Award, which was presented by the Human Development Corporation; The Missourian Award; The St. Louis Ambassador’s Arch Award; The Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award, from the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration; The Distinguished Community Service Award presented by St. Louis Community College, a commendation from the National Council on the Handicapped; and Doctorates of Human Letters from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Webster University. Mr. Starkloff is a member of the following boards, commissions and committees: World Institute on Disability (WID); Gazette International Networking Institute (GINI); SSM Rehabilitation Institute Advisory Board (St. Louis, MO); Co-Director, Institute for Disability Studies at St. Louis University; President’s Commission on White House Fellowships; Chairman, St. Louis County Commission on Disability; Democratic National Committee Disability Advisory Committee; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Long Range Planning Committee; and St. Louis Community College Career Program Advisory Committee.

Contributions to Project: As co-investigator for this proposed project, Max Starkloff is the chairman of the Advisory Board, ensuring their input. He will request that vendors and developers provide assistive technology equipment and information. Mr. Starkloff will direct the addition of an assistive technology demonstration center at Paraquad’s site. He will oversee the implementation of the Educational Conferences and Assistive Technology Consumers’ Fairs as vehicles for distribution of the research findings.