Date: Thursday, April 20, 2017
Category: Conference News

RESNA is planning a great conference that means more to attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors - more educational sessions, more topics, more networking, and more engagement.

RESNA’s 2017 Annual Conference event list includes: 

• Interactive exhibits
• Workshops on best practices in assistive technology
• Research platforms, moderated debates, and poster sessions
• Capitol Hill visits and briefings
• Pre-conference instructional courses, including RESNA’s Fundamentals in Assistive Technology Course
• Networking events, student competitions, the Developer’s Forum, and more 

Pre-Conference Sessions: June 26 & 27

A separate fee is required for all pre-conference education sessions. The sessions are: 

• RESNA’s Fundamentals in Assistive Technology (Two-day course, June 26 & 27): RESNA’s Fundamentals course is for those new to the industry, as well as professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge base. This course provides an overview of numerous areas of assistive technology, using multiple case studies to illustrate principles of assistive technology provision. (1.4 CEUs)
   
• IC#1 Full Day: Workflow automation: creating efficiencies for computer users with disabilities  (0.75 CEUs): During this hands-on course, you will create software shortcuts to automate repetitive tasks. These shortcuts significantly increase productivity for anybody — but particularly for people with physical, sensory, motor, and learning disabilities. Topics: - Fundamentals of keyboard access to Windows. (Essential skills for computer access specialists.) - Macro Express and AutoHotkey. - Keyboard remapping, e.g., add a "Tab" key to the right side of the keyboard, or "Backspace" to the left side. - Software customization, e.g., add hotkeys and clickable objects to standard applications. - Super shortcuts: Workflow automation using all the techniques introduced in this course.
   
• IC#2 Full Day: Becoming An Assistive Technology “Maker” – A Hands-on Fabrication Workshop*  (0.75 CEUs): The “Makers Movement” continues to gain moment nationally. Local, state and regional “maker spaces” are popping up across the country in order to fabricate device and products in a timely fashion. This workshop embraces rapid fabrication techniques using an assortments of sustainable and reusable materials for creation of assistive technology devices that can be used in multiple ways to maximize independence at home, work, school, and play. This hands-on fabrication workshop will discuss, demonstrate and provide participants with new tools, materials, and techniques for fabricating hundreds of assistive technology devices in minutes. In addition, participants will fabricate six different multiuse devices.
  *Required: Essential Supplies Fee $30
   
• IC#3 Full Day: The essence of the WHO Wheelchair Service Training Package- Basic Level  (0.75 CEUs): The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals developed a combined online and in-person training, the Hybrid Course, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Wheelchair Service Training Package - Basic Level. The purpose of the Hybrid is to decrease the cost of training and increase the number of people trained worldwide. The Hybrid was piloted in India, Mexico, Colombia, and the USA and proved to be an effective approach in increasing knowledge on basic wheelchair provision. This instructional course was designed to be suitable for pre-conferences and reach participants interested in updating their skills and knowledge according to the WHO guidelines.
   
• IC#4 Full Day: An Advanced IC on Seating and Mobility TBA  (0.75 CEUs): TBA
   
• IC#5 Half Day Morning: The EADL Experience (0.375 CEUs): Electronic Aids to Daily Living (EADL) offer Patients  enhanced independence, quality of life, and safety. Unfortunately these systems can be expensive, involve a complex installation, and are not covered by insurance. For these reasons it can be difficult to trial and recommend the most appropriate EADL systems for Patients. This Instructional course will provide a detailed overview of traditional EADL systems and consumer electronic solutions. Additionally, participants will be given the opportunity for hands on setup and usage of various EADL systems related to specific case studies.
   
• IC#6 Half Day Morning: Speech Recognition as AT for Writing: A Guide for K12 Education (0.375 CEUs): While the technological challenges of speech recognition (SR) have been overcome in the last ten years through the power of cloud computing, the pedagogical challenge of teaching K-12 students to use SR for writing has not been adequately addressed. A scaffolded teaching approach is needed. This intensive course unpacks SR through the lens of the AT process. Our motto is “You don’t know until you try it!” Consideration leads directly to 8 scaffolded steps for teaching SR to children. Assessment strategies are  embedded in each teaching step to document effectiveness. Implementation and progress monitoring strategies round out the AT process.
   
• IC#7 Half Day Afternoon: Measurement Approaches and Tools for the Accessibility of the Built Environment (0.375 CEUs): Numerous assessments exist to measure accessibility of built environments, both residential and public. Comprehensive assessment is a complex process integrating how space is used along with design elements for optimal function. This instructional course provides a history of accessibility assessment, a review of current and developing assessments, and hands-on opportunities to trial current tools and preview state-of-the-science products designed for mobile devices. A group of experts in accessibility and universal design assessment will lead discussions around practical implications of inter-professional teams and collaborations with different stakeholders. Take home materials specifically designed for this course will be provided.
   
• IC#8 Half Day Afternoon: Hands-On With 3D Design and Printing for Assistive Technology: Learn From 4 Expert Users in The Field (0.375 CEUs): This instructional course provides a hands-on introduction to 3D design & printing with examples from AT for ADLs, seating, toys and prosthetics. Low cost options for design software, 3D scanning and 3D printing will be discussed and  a large hands-on period will allow trialing of this technology. Attendees will be able to describe how 3D printing works, list use cases in ADL tech, seating, adaptive toys & prosthetics, justifications for using 3D printing and low cost ways to access 3D design & printing.

General Conference: Workshops

RESNA’s 2017 Conference, AT Innovations Across the Lifespan, will offer over 50 workshop presentations on best practices in assistive technology over three days, June 28, 29, and 30. Workshop topics include:

• Cognitive and Sensory Impairments 
• Computer Applications and Communications
• Emerging Technology 
• International Appropriate Technology 
• Job & Environmental Accommodations, including Ergonomics 
• Public Policy and Advocacy 
• Seating and Mobility, including Complex Rehab Technology 
• Service Delivery and Outcomes  

In keeping with the multidisciplinary nature of assistive technology practice, many workshop presentations overlap topic areas. For example, the topic area of “Emerging Technology” includes workshops that could also fit under “Seating and Mobility, including Complex Rehab Technology,” as well as other topics. A workshop search tool on the conference website allows users to search workshops by topic and keywords, to find the presentations of most interest to them. 

Beginning the evening of Monday, July 1, login into our Conference Evaluation and CEU Tracking system: www.resna.org/conference-evaluation

Favorite RESNA Annual Conference Elements

The conference will also offer popular RESNA Annual Conference elements, including: 

• Minute Madness
• Scientific research platforms and poster sessions 
• The Developer’s Forum, a very popular event that allows developers to get critical feedback from the AT community about new products or enhancements on existing products
• Student Design Competition and Student Scientific Paper Competition  
• Networking opportunities, including Special Interest Group and Professional Specialty Group meetings

Other Conference Events

TBA

Registration

Early-bird registration is available until May 12, 2017. Registration is open for the full conference, including a discount for students. A One-day registration is also available. Pre-conference educational sessions require a separate fee. For more information, visit the registration webpage.

Hotel and Transportation Information 

Early-bird registration is available until June 3, 2017. RESNA has negotiated rates for single rooms, double rooms, and executive suites available in our block at the Hilton New Orleans
Riverside Hotel.  

Reserve your room in one of three ways:

1. Visit RESNA's personal Hilton Riverside link
2. Visit  the Hotel's website  and enter Group Code “RSN” 
3. Call the hotel at (504) 584-3999 for reservations

The conference venue is the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel in New Orleans, LA. The hotel overlooks the Mississippi River and features views of the city of New Orleans. The Hilton is committed to ensuring that they meet and exceed all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for an enjoyable and accessible stay. RESNA will provide interested parties with contact information for ADA-UFAS-compliant vehicles.

Beginning the evening of Monday, July 1, login into our Conference Evaluation and CEU Tracking system: www.resna.org/conference-evaluation