Citing concerns over the COVID-19 Delta variant and the health and travel challenges it has caused, the University of Pittsburgh’s Rehabilitation Science & Technology Continuing Education (RSTCE) team has rescheduled the 2021 International Seating Symposium (ISS).
In an Aug. 25 announcement, the RSTCE announced new dates: Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2022, for the main symposium, with pre-symposium conference sessions on Jan. 29-30.
“With aggressive vaccination programs being implemented in many countries, we are hopeful that moving to a later date will maximize the number of attendees, presenters, and exhibitors who are able to safely participate in-person,” the announcement said. The e-mail was signed by Mark Schmeler, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP, Vice-Chair for Education & Training, and Rachel Hibbs, DPT, ATP, NCS, Director of Continuing Education.
The venue — the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh — remains the same. So do the program and the presentations schedule. “The Exhibit Hall schedule will remain the same, but shift to reflect the change in dates,” the announcement said.
The RSTCE team is planning for a hybrid event, with in-person and virtual attendance options.
On Aug. 26, the RSTCE team sent out additional details via e-mail, including that registrations will be automatically transferred over to the new dates, and that registrants can change their attendance option — from virtual to in-person or vice versa — at no additional charge until Jan. 14, 2022.
Hotel reservations made through the ISS room block will be automatically moved to the new dates. This does not apply to reservations made outside the hotel block.
Exhibitors who aren’t available during the new dates can cancel and request a refund. Attendees who cannot attend during the new dates can change their registration type or request a refund.
And the RSTCE is already looking beyond 2022. The 38th International Seating Symposium is scheduled for April 2023 in Pittsburgh.
