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Ways to Get Involved

RESNA is a member-driven organization. While it has a small and dedicated office staff, we would not exist without the volunteer efforts of our members, who initiate and help implement a wide variety of projects and help chart our future. Although RESNA is formally led by an elected Board of Directors, the real “leadership” comes from the ground up—practitioners, researchers, policy advocates, and others who offer their opinions and contribute their time and efforts to improving their organization and the field of assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering. Here are some things you can do to support RESNA's efforts:

Join RESNA
Support the organization that supports and promotes your profession and the field of AT.

Role Up Your Sleeves
Besides serving on the Board of Directors, RESNA members contribute through three key structures. These provide a range of opportunities to share your skills, get to know how RESNA works, and develop leadership capacity.

  • Committees RESNA has numerous volunteer Committees that work on a range of issues from Government Affairs and Ethics to Conferences, Education, and Research.
  • Special Interest Groups (SIGs) These are the core structure for the general membership. Each SIG provides a forum for exchanging information relating to a specialty area within AT, while promoting a cross-fertilization of ideas among the various disciplines.
  • Professional Specialty Groups (PSGs) RESNA recognizes the need of those with a common background to share information, discuss issues, and inform organizational policies related to their profession.

Support the RESNA Conference: Attend, Submit Papers, Offer Trainings, and Exhibit
The annual RESNA Conference relies on the efforts of numerous member volunteers and is a key way to experience the organization, while meeting new people, soaking up information, and having fun. Its content is determined by people like you submitting proposals for papers, workshops, and instructional courses. Institutional and Manufacturer members: Offer trainings; obtain exhibit space to demonstrate you projects and products.

Submit papers for the Assistive Technology Journal
Assistive Technology, published by RESNA, is a leading scientific publication in the field of technology for people with disabilities.

Volunteer to be a Mentor
The RESNA Membership Committee and SIGs work on linking students and new members with Mentors to help them navigate the conference, develop papers and workshops, and generally find their way within their new professional home. Interested? Send a note to membership@resna.org

Participate in the RESNA AT Forum Listserve
This discussion group enables RESNA members to share their knowledge and expertise with a larger audience, including non-members. It is a great example of our spirit of mutual assistance and encouragement of others to “get things right” using the latest technologies and best practices.

Build the RESNA Family and Encourage Others to Join

  • Organize an informal gathering of RESNA members and those interested in RESNA at other conferences you attend.
  • Request copies or download the Membership Brochure to distribute to contacts and at meetings and conferences.
  • Include a slide on RESNA and upcoming conferences in your PowerPoint presentations (contact the RESNA Office).