The Abilities International Accessibility Conference — the professional conference arm of the Abilities Expo show series — has announced 2027 dates and venues. Next year, the conference will be at the Long Beach (California) Convention Center on Jan. 13-14, and at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center on April 29-30. Both educational conferences will…
Abilities International Accessibility Conference Announces 2027 Dates
ISS 2027 Opens Call for Abstracts
The 40th International Seating Symposium takes place March 30-April 2, 2027.
The International Seating Symposium (ISS) has opened its call for abstracts for the 2027 conference taking place March 31-April 2 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Pre-ISS workshops take place March 30. In its July 22 announcement, the ISS said the deadline for paper presentations (15 minutes), short course presentations (30 minutes)…
Research: Combination of Nickel-Zinc Batteries, Supercapacitors Successfully Powers PMDs
A new study from University of Pittsburgh authors discusses improved battery range with less environmental impact.
A new study has examined the feasibility of using nickel-zinc batteries (NiZn) batteries accompanied by supercapacitors on power mobility devices. The research — Design and Feasibility of a Nickel–Zinc Battery-to-Supercapacitor Hybrid Power System with Active Voltage-Gap Control for Powered Mobility Devices — was published by Basel, Switzerland-based Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) on June 12.…
Manual Wheelchair Skills Courses Now Available for Clients, Caregivers, Professionals
The free courses focus on teaching skills to maximize independence in a range of scenarios.
Moving efficiently through a less-than-accessible world requires more than just an optimally fit wheelchair. Wheelchair riders also need the skills to use their mobility devices in a number of situations, from curbs to ramps, small spaces and thresholds. The latest series added to the Wheelchair Skills Program is a free-to-learn collection of self-directed, web-based manual…
ISS Opens Registration, Announces Lineup for 2026 Virtual Professional Summit
The ISS:VPS will take place on Jan. 28 and Feb. 25, 2026.
The University of Pittsburgh’s International Seating Symposium (ISS) team has opened registration for its 2026 Virtual Professional Summit (VPS), a two-day program in February and March. The ISS:VPS “will feature presentations by rising stars and industry veterans alike, sharing their expertise in seating and mobility,” the University of Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Science and Technology Continuing Education…
Study Challenges Belief that the Brain Rewires Itself After Limb Loss
New research could help support clients living with limb loss or using prosthetics with brain-computer interfaces.
Results of a new study are challenging the long-held belief that the human brain significantly changes itself following the loss of a limb — and this new information could help clinicians to better support patients before and after amputation. The study — Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation — was published Aug.…
Briefly: Colours’ Soft Opening Continues; Rory Cooper Named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Featuring Colours Wheelchair, Rory Cooper, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Colours Wheelchair Update: Now Processing Dealer Quotes, Orders Colours Wheelchair, which paused production in February, continues to expand the “soft opening” it announced on May 14 via social media. A social media post on May 27 said, “We are now scheduling appointments. Dealers, we are now providing quotes and processing orders. When ordering parts, expect…
University of Pittsburgh Study Seeks Input from Military Members, Veterans with SCI
Researchers are testing out a smartphone app to help veterans and caregivers manage medical issues.
The University of Pittsburgh is conducting a research study involving military members and veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). In a social media post, Brad Dicianno, M.D., a professor in the university’s department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, school of medicine, said, “We are looking for veterans with spinal cord injury and their caregivers to…
ISWP Calls for Support Following USAID Funding Cuts
The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals is asking stakeholders to renew memberships and make donations to sustain its programs.
The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) is calling for support following a USAID funding freeze by the Trump administration. “We need your support,” an ISWP LinkedIn post said on April 15. “Due to changes in U.S. foreign aid funding, our major source of revenue from a grant has been unexpectedly terminated, putting our mission…
Briefly: CRT Update Webinar Rescheduled for March 27; ISS to Partner with the Abilities Expo
Featuring the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology, U.S. Rehab, the International Seating Symposium, and the Abilities Expo.
CRT Update Webinar Planned for March 27 The rescheduled Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry update webinar sponsored by U.S. Rehab and the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) will take place on Thursday, March 27, starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Future-Proofing Complex Rehab Technology: Strategies for Growth and Protection in 2025 will…