Member News
September 2013- Vol 2, Issue 3 |
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Sign up for RESNA 2014 Conference Updates!
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| Greetings! |  Things haven't slowed down since our successful annual conference just a few months ago. As you know, our longtime Executive Director, Nell Bailey, announced her retirement shortly after the conference. We conducted a nationwide search this summer for a new ED, and I am pleased to announce that Michael Brogioli has joined the organization. Keep your eyes open for a "Meet the ED" webinar, which will be scheduled soon. We welcome Mike to his new position, and wish Nell a fond farewell.
I'm very proud that RESNA recently achieved special consultative status with the United Nations. This will allow us to continue to grow our international presence. If you didn't see the announcement, please click here.
Don't forget to check out the fall continuing education calendar - we now have a full schedule of webinars and some new courses, like "Advanced Seating & Mobility Workshop," which is in Atlanta this October. Have a great fall, and stay in touch, Alex Mihailidis RESNA President |
| Upcoming RESNA Continuing Education Events | |
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Meet RESNA's new Executive Director
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Michael Brogioli joins the RESNA team
After a nationwide search, RESNA's Board of Directors has named Michael Brogioli as RESNA's new Executive Director. Michael succeeds Nell Bailey, who retired after 23 years with the organization, 7 of those as Executive Director.
Mike has working on behalf of organizations that benefit vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities. As Executive Director and CEO of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, he strengthened the Association's advocacy agenda, built strategic partnerships, improved the fundraising program, and served as the organization's lead representative with federal agencies, Congress, and coalitions. More
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| Certification Corner |  Survey of assistive technology professionals now underway - the Professional Standards Board, charged with oversight of RESNA's certification programs, is conducting a survey of assistive technology professionals. Certified and non-certified professionals are invited to take the survey. Link to survey
Late applications accepted until Sept. 15 for fall testing period - ATP and SMS exam applications are being accepted until September 15 for the fall testing period (October 1 - December 31), with a late fee of $25. More
Application window for winter testing period is now open - ATP and SMS candidates who submit their applications starting now until November 30 (or until December 15 with an additional $25 late fee) will be eligible for the winter testing period, which is January 1 - March 31, 2014. More
Introducing new PBS Board Members
The Professional Standards Board provides oversight of RESNA's certification program, including the ATP, SMS, and the RET. The new officers, who started their terms in August, are:
- Mike Seidel, ATP, CRTS as Chair
- Brenlee Mogul-Rotman, BsCOT, OTR, ATP as First Vice-Chair
- Dan Cochrane, ATP as Second Vice-Chair
Joining the board are new members Amy Goldman, MS, CCC-SLP and Emma Smith, MScOT, ATP/SMS. Link to board member bios
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What Engineering Heaven Looks Like
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Student Design Competition winner's internship at TREAT leads to new opportunities and experiences
Seong-Hee Yoon didn't know what to expect when her team's design was awarded "Technology Most Likely to Become Commercially Available" at last year's RESNA Student Design Competition. The award came with a cash prize and an internship at the Center for the Translation of Rehabilitation Engineering Advances and Technology (TREAT) in Lebanon, NH.
So the student from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, headed off to New Hampshire last April with a little trepidation. What would she be doing? Would she get along with these flinty New Englanders? Would they make her change everything about her design? Would it snow? Read the article.
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The Student Design Competition: An Experience Unlike Any Other
|  A first-person account of what it's like to be a student design competition finalist by Simon Wilson
My name is Simon Wilson and I was co creator (with Kate Jackson) of "doc," or Dementia Organisation Care. Both of us are from the UK and attend Coventry University studying Industrial Design. Our product got shortlisted into the RESNA student design competition and then placed as a finalist.
Within three months we were on a plane to Seattle to present our product in front of a panel of judges, which is nothing I ever expected would happen. Read the article |
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Student Scientific Paper Competition Results
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 | | The 2013 Student Finalists |
Students shine in annual research paper competition
The Student Scientific Paper Competition was another highlight of this year's annual conference. Five finalist teams were invited to attend the conference and present their work to a panel of judges. One paper was chosen as the winner: Trunk Movement in Different Seated Pivot Wheelchair Transfer Techniques by Karen Meess, Chung-Ying Tsai, and Alicia Koontz from the University of Rochester and The University of Pittsburgh.
RESNA congratulates all of the students on their excellent work. The deadline for the 2014 Student Scientific Paper Competition is January 14th, 2014. More information |
| RESNA 2014 - Racing Towards Excellence in AT |  JW Marriott, Indianapolis, IN, June 11-15 RESNA races to Indy for 2014! Are you a sports enthusiast? A museum lover? A foodie? An Indianapolis 500 wannabe? This signature American city has something for everyone. RESNA's conference hotel is located in the heart of the bustling, compact downtown which features the Cultural Trail, a unique urban pedestrian and bike path with stunning public art and easy access to shops, museums, restaurants and nightspots. With a world class international airport (the first in the US to receive LEED certification) and that famous Midwestern hospitality, there are many reasons to fall in love with Indy. More Call for Papers and Submissions
- October 21, 2013 - Workshop and instructional course submissions
- January 14, 2014 - Scientific and student scientific paper submissions
- April 4, 2014 - Student Design Competition registration deadline
- April 16, 2014 - Student Design Competition submission deadline
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Government Affairs Update
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 | | Nathan Moon, GAC Chair |
RESNA asks Senate to ratify the CRPD treaty
In a recent letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, RESNA expressed its "strong support" of the Convention on the Rights of Disabilities (CRPD) treaty, and asked the committee to send the treaty to the full Senate for a vote. Over 150 countries have already ratified the treaty. In a heartbreaking vote last December, the Senate fell just five votes short of ratification. More
RESNA opposes proposed CMS capped rental rule
The Government Affairs Committee submitted comments to CMS regarding a proposed rule that would designate certain complex rehab technologies, including speech-generating devices and power wheelchairs, as a capped rental. RESNA opposes the rule. Read the letter (PDF)
National CRT Week educated legislators about complex rehab
Members involved in advocating for a separate Medicare complex rehab technology benefit reached out to legislators during the first-ever National CRT Week, held August 19th - 23rd. Meeting with legislators in their home districts while Congress was in recess, members were able to provide information about what complex rehab technology is, and why a separate benefit is important. Bills in the Senate (S 948) and the House (HR 942) are currently under consideration. More support is needed. Find out how you can help.
RESNA achieves UN consultative status
RESNA can now participate in UN activities and increase its international presence. More
RESNA's Government Affairs Committee
This all-volunteer committee develops and coordinates RESNA's positions on public policies and related activities. RESNA participates in public policy activities through memberships, affiliations and coalitions. Find out more.
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| SIG and PSG News |
 | | Rajesh Pagadala, SIG Chair |
New SIG "Super Chair"
Rajesh Pagadala, MSBME, ATP, RET has started his tenure as SIG Committee Chair. In his new role, Raj will be working with all of the SIG committee chairs on member engagement and participation in SIG activities.
New SIG, PSG Chairs elected at conference
The annual RESNA conference in June provided a perfect opportunity for some SIG and PSG committees to elect new leadership. Starting their terms are:
- Bill Youngman, Chair, Cognition & Sensory Loss SIG
- Paul Nishman, Vice Chair, Cognition & Sensory Loss SIG
- Dawn Waller, ATP, Vice Chair, Communication Technologies & Computer Access SIG
 | | Mary Ellen Buning, PSG Chair |
- Erin Michael, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS, Vice Chair, Wheeled Mobility SIG
- Ben Salatin, Vice Chair, International SIG
- Marcia Moore, PT, DTP, AT, Chair, Physical Therapists PSG
- Catherine Sweeney-Thompson, PT, ATP/SMS, Vice Chair, Physical Therapists PSG
International SIG sponsors award for RESNA Student Design Competition
This year, the International SIG sponsored an award for the Student Design Competition, "Technology Most Likely to Close the Gap in Developing Countries." The award came with a $500 cash prize and an invitation to attend the annual conference. Stephanie Valencia Valencia (she uses "Valencia" twice) is a student from the Escuela de Ingenieria de Antioquia and Universidad CES in Colombia. Her design, CreARTe, is a board game that teaches a color coding system for people with visual impairments. More
Interested in joining a SIG or a PSG?
As a RESNA member, you can join as many Special Interest Groups (SIGs) or Professional Specialty Groups (PSGs) as you would like. Each group has its own private listserv, and members can network and partner on projects. More
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| Congrats and Kudos! | |
It's a RESNA baby boom!
Four future RESNA members have made their debut this past year. First to arrive on December 7, 2012 was Zane Feathers, son of David Feathers, PhD, who is Chair of the Consumer Access, Priorities and Benefits over the Lifespan SIG (CAPABOL). Not to be outdone, Sharon Sonenblum, co-chair of the Student Scientific Paper Competition, gave birth to twins Eli Cole and Mira Rose on March 29, 2013. Then on July 31st, bundle of joy Connor Chayton Tinning arrived, the son of board member Jennifer Boger. RESNA congratulates all of our moms & dads! Now, when will the kids be ready to volunteer for a committee?
 | | Zane Feathers |
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 | | Eli Cole and Mira Rose |
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 | | Connor Chayton Tinning |
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Board member Clayton Lewis is a featured speaker at the FCC
Clayton Lewis kicked off the Federal Communications Commission's Accessibility & Innovation Initiative's new speaker series with a presentation called "The Future of Inclusive Design Online," which focused on how the evolution of technology is creating both new barriers and opportunities for accessibility and usability. Click here for the video presentation.
Clayton Lewis is Professor of Computer Science and Fellow of the Institute of Cognitive Science at the at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a consultant with the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, where he is helping to develop an initiative on cloud computing for people with disabilities.
RESNA member attends international symposium
Mary Jo Wagner, OTR/L, ATP, attended the International Program on Disability, Technology and Rehabilitation symposium in Seattle, WA this summer. Taking place right after the RESNA conference, the symposium had representatives from over 57 countries and featured sessions and panel discussions on projects happening in the developing world. The sessions are available on the website at this link. Mary Jo has been a RESNA member since 2007, and travels to Peru regularly to participate in a wheelchair clinic for children and young adults.
Have member news to submit for the next issue?
Send your items, along with a photo, to Andrea in the RESNA office at avanhook@resna.org. We're interested in new jobs, promotions, accomplishments, awards, publications, and more. If you want to tell your colleagues about it, we want to hear it!
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RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. Find out more at www.resna.org. |
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