RESNA’s 2022 conference, scheduled for July, will take place virtually, the association has announced.
In a Jan. 3 news announcement, RESNA cited the “ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic” in explaining its decision.
RESNA Executive Director Andrea Van Hook said in the announcement, “With the Omicron variant and ongoing travel restrictions and difficulties related to the pandemic, this was a decision we felt we had to make. It’s still early in our planning process, so we can make this switch easily.”
Van Hook added that RESNA has received positive feedback from previous conferences presented virtually. “We’ve now held two successful virtual conferences, and our members and attendees tell us they really enjoy it,” she said. “They are able to earn more CEUs than at an in-person conference, and they don’t have to worry about the expense of travel.”
The 2022 conference — scheduled for July 14-16, with the theme “Driving the Future of AT” — will feature three days of continuing education sessions “on a wide range of [assistive technology] topics, available live and on-demand.” Rounding out the conference will be keynote lectures; interactive scientific paper platform sessions and poster hall; an interactive Developer’s Showcase highlighting new and emerging technologies; a Student Design Challenge and Student Scientific Paper Competition; and a virtual exhibit hall that will offer product demonstrations as well as one-on-one meetings.
“We are still looking at ways to do something in-person in 2022,” Van Hook added. “There are some very creative ideas on the table, so stay tuned.”
