#REHABWEEK2025

2025 Call for Scientific Papers

The deadline is November 30, 2024, 2024 at 11:59pm ET. 

OVERVIEW
RESNA accepts Scientific Papers each year for presentation at a RESNA event. Submit your paper through the online Scientific Paper submission process as outlined below. Your submission will be reviewed and scored by a panel of reviewers who are experts in area(s) relevant to its topic.

Presentation of Accepted Papers
Authors of accepted Scientific Papers will be expected to present their work at the RESNA 2025 Conference in May 2025. Accepted papers will be assigned to either a 15-minute platform presentation or an interactive poster session.

Publication Options
Accepted scientific papers will be posted on RESNA’s website and will be publicly available as part of our Online Proceedings. The abstracts of accepted papers will also be published in an issue of RESNA’s Assistive Technology Journal.

Authors may select between online publication of their full paper as submitted or a shorter abstract in the Online Proceedings. The abstract-only option is ONLY for authors who plan future submission to scholarly journals and wish to avoid strict restrictions on “prior publication” established by some journals (e.g., Archives of PM&R and some medical journals).

  • All authors considering the abstract-only publication option should investigate the requirements of their targeted journal.
  • Authors who wish to submit their paper to RESNA’s Assistive Technology Journal do not need to limit their publication to an abstract, as the proceedings are not considered to be prior publication by the Journal editors.

Download Scientific Paper Author Instructions

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

The submission deadline is November 30, 2024 at 11:59pm ET.

TYPES OF PAPERS

Authors must classify their papers as one of the following types:

  • (ED) Education: Papers regarding educational activities related with rehabilitation technology-related issues. Education papers should explore aim, structure, procedure, and impact of activities.
  • (SP) Service Provision: Papers regarding service provision (directed at company/industry-related service provision) related with rehabilitation technology-related issues. Service provision papers should not have a commercial promotion aim, but rather the exploration, in a scientific manner, of the service provision activities.
  • (RE) – Research: Scholarly or scientific investigation and inquiry into rehabilitation technology-related issues. Research papers should be hypothesis-driven and should explore, through methodical investigation, a specific research question. Concrete results and discussion should follow. The paper and the subsequent presentation must include an implication section, which highlights how the research informs practice, policy, and/or technology development as relevant.
  • (PR) – Practice: Practice papers may include an actual case study or single event, documenting background of problem, options for intervention, resolution, and costs. A practice paper may also report on the feasibility, design, or modification of a device, method, or system for future research or for commercialization purposes. Practice papers are generally not formal hypothesis-driven papers. However, the paper and the subsequent presentation must include an implication section highlighting future research, public policies, and/or technology development that may strengthen the practice.
  • (PP) – Public Policy: Report on legislation, reimbursement, service delivery programs and administration, Tech Act projects, technology transfer, remote delivery, AT Education, distance learning, advocacy efforts, credentialing, etc. Presenters need to emphasize the implications of the public policy on practice, research, and / or technology development as relevant.

TOPIC AREAS

Authors must classify the scope and content of their papers into one of the following topic areas:

New Topic Areas:
RESNA is particularly interested in paper proposals in the following topic areas:

AI  Artificial Intelligence

NEW Emerging Technology
e.g. emerging technologies and innovations with the potential to improve the health, employment, community participation, and education of people with disability or aging. This is primarily for new technology not yet on the market or a new application of technology.

PLY  Play and Recreation in AT
e.g. technologies and innovations that specifically aid in the enjoyment of play and recreational activities

Traditional Topic Areas:

ACT  Access and Communication Technology
e.g. computer/Computing Access and Use: innovation in software and hardware; training strategies; integration of computer/computing technologies; alternative access; outcomes measurement.

AAC  Augmentative & Alternative Communication
e.g. augmentative and Alternative Communication: Assessment and intervention strategies; language representation techniques; clinical/technical; AAC research and developments; funding issues; service delivery options, outcomes measurement.

AGE  Aging
e.g. technologies, interventions, policy, etc. specifically related to supporting aging.

AV  Autonomous Vehicles
e.g., the promise of autonomous vehicles for people with disabilities; considerations, technologies, research and standards.

COG  Cognitive and Sensory Impairments
e.g. cognitive disabilities; learning disabilities; developmental disabilities; cognitive rehabilitation and aids to memory; low vision/blindness; hearing impairment.

ED  Education
Papers regarding educational activities related with rehabilitation technology-related issues. Education papers should explore aim, structure, procedure and impact of activities.

ETH  Ethics
e.g., real world examples of RESNA’s Standards of Practice; ethics of Assistive Technology for cognitive impairment; AI, machine learning and ethics

HMD  Home Modifications
e.g. technologies, modifications, accessibility, etc. specifically related to supporting living in the home; this can be for any age group.

INT  Technologies for Less Resourced Areas
e.g. providing services or conducting research relative to Assistive Technology in developing countries and other resource-limited environments.

JEA  Job & Environmental Accommodation – including Ergonomics
e.g. access to employment, education, or built environments; ergonomics; farming and other rural interventions; EADL systems; universal design of products, places & systems; liability and legal issues associated with home access and workplace modifications.

K12  K – 12 Practice
Efforts to improve access to quality AT services within the school setting. Tools, techniques, research, or applications which facilitate the promotion and improvement of assistive technology practice in the primary and secondary school setting.

OUT  Service Delivery, Outcomes, & Measurement
e.g. service delivery programs and administration; remote service delivery; models, challenges, funding, and best practices; ethics for practitioners
e.g. outcomes measurement tools, application, importance, practice
e.g. measuring/quantifying function; documenting change in performance; testing validity and reliability of measurement instruments.

SP Service Provision
Papers regarding service provision (directed at company/industry-related service provision) related with rehabilitation technology-related issues. Service Provision papers should not have a commercial promotion aim, but rather the exploration, in a scientific manner, of the service provision activities.

PP  Public Policy and Advocacy
e.g., legislation; credentialing and certification; advocacy for AT funding; access to services; nation-wide or model programmes

PuT Public Transportation
e.g, Accessible design and best practices in public transportation; mapping and guidance systems for independent movement; research.

SHO Smart Home Technologies
e.g, the use of consumer smart home technologies such as home automation, virtual assistants, IOT (Internet of Things) appliances and other technologies to adapt and assist people with disabilities in the home.

SM Seating and Mobility – Including Complex Rehab Technology (CRT)
e.g., seating and wheelchair interventions; transportation issues; vehicle modifications; user training; wheelchair features and client/diagnosis matching; objective tests; custom vs. off-the-shelf solutions; 24/7 postural support; documentation and outcome measures for funding approval, mobility issues over a lifespan.

OTH  Other

REVIEW CRITERIA

Each paper will be reviewed according to the criteria listed below:

  • Abstract/Background/Statement of Problem or Research Question: Does the Abstract concisely describe the content of this paper? Is the Statement of the Problem or Objective clear? Is the end user’s need clearly identified? Does the background information support the need for this study/development/policy issue? Is reference to previous work delineated clearly (if appropriate)?
  • Methods/Approach/Solutions Considered: If a research paper, are the methods clearly described and appropriate for achieving the stated objective? Is the research design appropriate and does it respond to the stated needs? If a practice or policy paper, are current methods or technologies considered? Are the solutions consistent with current clinical/design practice? Are methods to address the end user’s need adequately addressed? If applicable, have alternate methods to address the needs been presented/explored?
  • Evaluation/Results/Resolution/Discussion/Outcome/Performance & Cost/Implications (**May not be applicable for all Public Policy submissions) : If a research paper, are results well documented, valid, and reliable? Are appropriate statistics used? If a practice paper, was an evaluation attempted? Do results/conclusions address wider use of the new device/methods/information gained? If design related, are appropriate design details and analysis presented? For all, are the conclusions/implications reasonable? Does the discussion demonstrate how the model/policy/solution/device addresses the issue? Is the discussion consistent and relevant to the needs described in the Problem Statement/Objective?
  • Overall Quality of Presentation: Is the paper understandable and well organized? Are the flow of information and development of ideas presented in a logical and easy-to-follow fashion? Are the grammar and spelling correct? Are the figures and figure legends clear? Are appropriate references provided (when relevant)?
  • Subject matter is timely and appropriate to the RESNA audience: Is the paper appropriate for the designated topic area? Is the content noteworthy? Will this paper add to the existing knowledge in the field? Is there sufficient detail for an out-of-field observer to follow the presentation? Does this paper provide a foundation for future work? Are relevant implications clearly stated in accordance to the type of scientific paper?

AUTHOR NOTIFICATION

Authors should receive notification indicating acceptance or rejection by January 20, 2025.

The most common reasons for paper rejection include:

  1. Failure to follow formatting and submission guidelines;
  2. Falling outside the areas of interest/expertise of the RESNA audience;
  3. Having a seriously flawed approach to conducting the work reported;
  4. Failing to substantiate the claims made in the submission;
  5. Incomplete in methodology, results, or documentation;
  6. Previously submitted or published; or
  7. Numerous grammatical errors or failure to adequately proofread

FORMATTING YOUR PAPER

The following guidelines provide explicit instructions on how to format your paper submission to facilitate the review process and comply with electronic accessibility requirements for the Online Proceedings. The format must be followed precisely in order to make your paper accessible to individuals with visual impairments and to enhance our ability to publish the paper in electronic format on the RESNA website. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will hinder the review and publication process and may result in your paper being rejected.

Paper Structure and General Style Guidelines:

  • Scientific Paper Template: Scientific Papers must be formatted according to the RESNA Template.
  • Sample Paper: Authors should review the sample paper in order to gain the clearest idea about style and layout guidelines.
  • Style Manual: Authors can also refer to the Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th Edition) style guide for citation and reference information.
  • Submission of Files: You must upload the following files to the online system. The total allowable size for each file is 5MB.
    • Your full paper, including all tables, charts, and figures placed appropriately;
    • A blinded copy of the full paper. The blinded copy will be the full paper minus all of the author names and affiliations, as well as any acknowledgement section. Please be careful to accept all Track Changes and save as a Final version (not Showing Markup) so that no identification is given for a true-blinded review process; and
    • Alternative text for all non-text elements.

PLEASE NOTE: You will also be required to paste your abstract into the system. Your abstract cannot exceed 2000 characters with spaces.

Naming your Files: All files should be submitted in an editable format (doc or docx), rather than a PDF. PDFs shall not be accepted. Please name your files using the title of your paper.

2025 Call for Session Proposals

Submit a Session Abstract

The session abstract submission portal will be open through Friday, November 22nd at 11:59pm Eastern.

Download the Session Submission Instructions (PDF)

ABOUT RESNA SESSIONS

RESNA’s sessions distinguish themselves in the field because the presenters work to ensure the learning experience is innovative, interdisciplinary, and informative. Presenters aim to: 1. Deliver current information; 2. Have a well-organized structure which stimulates and facilitates learning; and 3. Include discussions which draw upon the participants’ own expertise.

For 2025, we are accepting session proposals in the following configurations:

  • “Buzz” Sessions – 30-minute sessions devoted to one hot topic; this may include one speaker, a panel of speakers, a hands-one demonstration, a show and tell, or another creative format.
  • General Session – 60-minute sessions which are interactive and make use of audience participation and group activities as a primary mechanism for knowledge transfer; this may include a single speaker, a panel of speakers, hands-on demonstrations, show & tell, and/or other creative formats.

RESNA is not accepting proposals for half-day or full day instructional courses.

Each session type must include a visual component (such as a PowerPoint-type presentation), a hands-on or demonstration component where possible, handouts and/or other teaching aids, and time for discussion and questions from the audience. Real-time polling, etc., can be made available. Please consider innovative ways to convey information and increase audience participation.

IACET CEU REQUIREMENTS

RESNA will be offering IACET CEUs for educational content sessions. In order to be included in the final program and to qualify for IACET CEUs, all educational sessions must have measurable learning outcomes and a learning assessment that is a multiple-choice quiz.

All sessions will be required to include concrete, measurable learning outcomes. The number of learning outcomes depends on the type and length of session. See Session Submission Instructions. 

Following session acceptance, presenters will also be required to submit multiple-choice quiz questions to assess each learning outcome in order to be included in the official program. See Session Submission Instructions. 

REVIEW PROCESS

The Conference Committee and their chosen experts, composed of professionals with expertise in a range of topic areas, will review all proposals. Proposals shall be evaluated according to the general criteria listed below, in addition to the general fit into the program as a whole.

REVIEW CRITERIA  

A. The proposal includes a clear abstract accurately summarizing the session content, does not exceed the 300 word limit, and is suitable for marketing purposes. Although this is called an abstract, it is in truth a short description of what the audience should expect from your presentation. This description should be well developed, as it is what will largely market your presentation and will be published in the RESNA program;

B. The subject matter is timely, relevant to the RESNA audience, and not too narrowly focused. Content of potential interest across disciplines is most welcome;

C. The proposal clearly defines session structure, organization, and time allocation as appropriate to the proposed material;

D. Presenters have sufficient expertise and knowledge of the subject matter; and

E. The proposal is thorough and includes concrete, measurable learning outcomes are clearly possible. See Session Submission Instructions. 

SUBMISSION FORMAT, METHODS, AND DEADLINE

The on-line submission system will be open until Friday, November 22nd at 11:59 pm ET. This is the final deadline and no extensions will be provided.

The on-line submission system will guide you through the step-by-step process outlined in the Conference Session Proposal Form. In addition, we recommend you provide a Microsoft Word document with all your information as a backup.  If you have problems submitting your proposal, contact the RESNA office at info@resna.org.

PRESENTER NOTIFICATION:

We will make every attempt to notify presenters about the status of their proposals by February 14, 2025. The Principal Organizer/Author will receive all notification materials and is solely responsible for disseminating the information to their co-presenters.

An acceptance notification will include the Education Committee’s review of the measurable learning outcomes and any suggested revisions, as well as instructions for developing the learning assessment, which are multiple-choice quiz questions.

The Principal Organizer/Author must accept the offer to present by February 21, 2025 with final, revised measurable outcomes and multiple choice quiz questions.

SESSION SCHEDULING

We will schedule accepted sessions for during the RESNA days of the conference, which are May 13, 14, and 15.  Please confirm your ability to both register for and attend the conference before submitting a proposal. Speakers will be eligible for a discounted registration rate. If presenters have special scheduling needs or restrictions, please note such in your proposal or advise us immediately upon notification of acceptance, so we may do our best to accommodate everyone’s needs.

The final conference program will be published on the website by March 2025.

DISCLOSURE OF PROPRIETARY INTEREST POLICY

Presenters agree to disclose to participants any proprietary interest in any product, instrument, device, service, or material discussed in the activity, and the source of any compensation related to the presentation.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY

The author/presenter/faculty certifies the material contained in their presentation/paper is original and created by said author(s), and in cases where materials have been used from other sources, proper documentation is provided and appropriate and necessary credit is given to the original sources. RESNA will not tolerate violation of copyright or intellectual property rules and shall take steps to sanction any RESNA author or presenter who does not follow established protocols for obtaining permission to use and/or reference work created by others. Authors/presenters/faculty of material to be distributed or presented at a RESNA educational activity shall abide by all applicable copyright and intellectual property laws, and are required to provide proper documentation and credit to the appropriate source in cases where materials have been used from other sources. Violators of this policy shall be excluded from participation in future RESNA educational programs.

Further, authors/presenters/faculty of RESNA conference sessions agree to comply with RESNA’s Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Due to the finite number of session slots available, RESNA may approach authors/presenters/faculty with an offer to present the session outside of the conference as a webinar or event. If this should happen, please note this is not an insult or a comment on the value of the session proposal, but a compliment on the strength of the proposal.

CONTACT US:

Please direct any questions to the RESNA office:

Email: info@resna.org
Subject Line: Conference Session Proposal

Phone: 202- 367-1121

Also check RESNA website for information on other submissions.