The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) has primary responsibility to develop and coordinate RESNA's position on public policy and related activities. The committee plans for, coordinates, and recommends implementation strategies for RESNA's positions on public policy, pertinent regulations, and related activities. Due to staffing limitations, our efforts are focused on the U.S. federal government level, but we are happy to advise on state and local activities upon request.
RESNA is a professional organization made up of volunteers. If you have an interest in participating or working with the government affairs committee please contact execoffice@resna.org.
Chair: Rita Stanley
2025 Priorities
RESNA is a proud member of several coalitions, and also partners with other organizations to advance advocacy efforts. We are expecting a very busy year, given 72 new members of Congress (63 new members of the House, and nine new Senators) and the change in Administration. Besides our ongoing priorities, we are also concerned about:
- Potentially large cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, which would affect access to assistive technologies by people with disabilities
- Tariffs, which will impact the cost of goods and technologies imported into the United States
- Layoffs of federal employees and the shrinking of the government; layoffs have already affected staffing at NIDILRR and at FDA, although the Administration is now hiring back FDA employees who work on medical devices, including assistive technologies, as those positions are supported by industry fees, not American taxpayers.
- Cuts in indirect rates for NIH grants, which would impact disability research.
RESNA is a member of the following coalitions:
ITEM Coalition 2025 Priorities
CPR Coalition 2025 Priorities
2024 Year-End Reports
ITEM Coalition 2024 Year in Review
CPR Coalition 2024 Year in Review
DRRC 2024 Year in Review
How to get involved
- Join the Government Affairs Committee (GAC); this is an all-virtual committee. Issues and items are uploaded to RESNA Connect for members to review and provide comments. All members are welcome. Email execoffice@resna.org.
- Get to know your Congressional representatives; sign up for their newsletters and attend their local town halls and meetings. Let RESNA know if you develop a relationship with your representative or members of their staff.
Partner organizations
NCART Federal Issues: Find information on high priority items and how to reach your federal representative by phone or email.
NCART State Issues: Find information on high priority items and how to reach your state representative by phone or email.
International Efforts
Recent actions by the current Administration have effectively removed the United States from humanitarian and health-related participation on the international stage. President Trump issued an executive order on January 20, 2025, removing the United States from the World Health Organization. In addition, the Administration has halted most foreign aid funding and is dismantling USAID. USAID funding was one of the main sources of support for assistive technology service and delivery internationally.
RESNA remains committed to working with our international partners on expanding access to assistive technology, developing standards, and supporting workforce development.
RESNA has had special consultative status with the United Nations (UN) since 2013. RESNA has worked closely with the World Health Organization’s Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE), including attending and participating in GATE-sponsored meetings in Geneva and contributing to the development of the GATE Priority Assistive Devices list.
RESNA is a founding member of GAATO, the Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations. RESNA’s Executive Director serves on the GAATO Board and is Treasurer of the organization. The mission of GAATO is to advance the field of assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering to benefit people with disabilities and functional limitations of all ages.
The Assistive Technology Standards Board (ATSB) is the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the development of international standards through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The RESNA standards committee members serve on 13 ISO committees that cover a wide array of assistive technology and other products for people with disabilities. In 2024, RESNA standards committee members traveled to Korea on a foreign exchange product to work with international colleagues on a new proposed standard for assistive technology robots.
The International Special Interest Group is a robust forum for RESNA members and non-members who are interested in networking, providing services, and conducting research relative to Assistive Technology outside of North America. The International SIG encourages and facilitates collaboration on Assistive Technology projects worldwide.
Assistive Technology, RESNA’s peer-reviewed research journal, publishes research from around the world. The journal's purpose is to foster communication among individuals working in all aspects of the assistive technology arena including researchers, developers, clinicians, educators and consumers. The Editor-in-Chief is based in Ireland, the Journal is published by Taylor & Francis, a United Kingdom-based company, and the Editorial Board is comprised of researchers from several different countries.
If you are interested in learning more about RESNA’s international work, please contact the Executive Director.