Faced with coming together virtually instead of in person due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry still found a variety of ways to commemorate National CRT Awareness Week, Sept. 20-24.

NRRTS and Unite4CRT took education, advocacy and camaraderie to new heights with its Sept. 23 CRT Awareness Day activities, all designed “to raise awareness of mobility as a human right,” NRRTS said in an Oct. 1 news announcement.

Starring “wheelchair users and industry mainstays,” the day featured panel discussions, videos, and Zoom videoconferences, all aimed at “explaining the wheelchair users’ world,” NRRTS said.

Weesie Walker, ATP/SMS, NRRTS’ Executive Director, said of the event, “I thought a whole day of online meetings would be boring. But not once was I even tempted to leave and miss something. It was a fascinating day.”

The day was conceived by Walker and Annette Hodges, NRRTS’ Director of Education and a Unite4CRT activist. “We wanted to have a day that focused on people that actually use complex wheelchairs and assistive technologies,” Hodges explained. “The real story, the compelling story, comes from those that live the experience. And we weren’t disappointed. Our turnout was phenomenal.”

NRRTS President Gerry Dickerson, ATP, CRTS, called the day “historical.”

“What a day,” he added. “Congratulations on all the hard work in putting this together.”

Jenny Siegle, a power wheelchair user and co-founder of Unite4CRT, invited all CRT stakeholders to join the monthly Conversations that Siegle hosts.

“Join us for our monthly Conversation,” Siegle said. “We encourage every person who is a wheelchair user, supplier, therapist, caregiver, and friend to use their voices as a catalyst for change.”

The next Unite4CRT Conversation takes place Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Eastern time and will feature Cathy Carver, PT, ATP/SMS, who will discuss the “Come Roll with Me” program.