Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Category: Member News
Hi everyone,
As we enter the busiest season of the year, it's a perfect moment to pause and reflect. With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, I am particularly reminded of the importance of gratitude. I encourage you to do the same—whether it is for family, friends, or the supportive RESNA community we are all part of.
One of the greatest benefits of RESNA membership is the opportunity to share our ideas, innovations, and research within our assistive technology community.
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Colin McLaurin Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Edward Steinfeld, ArchD, FAIA. This year’s McLaurin Lecture was a novel collaboration between RESNA and my employer, the Rehabilitation Science Department at the University at Buffalo (UB), where we held the lecture in front of an in-person audience of about 150 students and faculty, and on-line audience of approximately 90.
Ed’s presentation, “The Evolution of Universal Design,” offered a fascinating look at the emergence of UD from its roots in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when advocates fought for legislation that would meet basic access needs for people with disability. Dr. Steinfeld illustrated this transformation with pictorial examples of inclusive features in recent projects ranging from public buildings to tactile maps to transit buses to playgrounds – many of which emanated from work conducted at UB’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, which Dr. Steinfeld leads.
If you missed it, do not worry (!) —the recording will soon be available to members on RESNA Learn.
Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for RESNA. We are thrilled to host our annual conference in conjunction with RehabWeek 2025 from May 12-16 in Chicago, Illinois.
The Call for Session Proposals is open, and we’re excited to receive your proposals for "buzz" sessions (30minutes) and general sessions (60 minutes).
The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 22.
The calls for Scientific Papers (deadline is November 30) and Student Scientific Papers (deadline is December 11) have also been posted. Coming soon we will open the portal for the Student Design Challenge and the Developer Showcase, so get those ideas and designs ready!
Finally, join me and other RESNA members at our last two webinars of the year:
- “AT for Healthy Aging”, presented by Sue Redepenning on Wednesday, November 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET; and
- “Maintaining Independence Throughout the Lifespan with the Use of Assistive Technology for Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy”, presented Julie Wells and Erin Baker on Wednesday, December 18 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Thank you for being a part of our RESNA community. Happy Fall!
Jim Lenker, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, RESNA Fellow
RESNA President