Remember the Deadline for Submission is May 30, 2008.

The 2009 ISS in Orlando will host over 1000 registrants including faculty and exhibitors with a primary focus on seating and wheeled mobility. There will be two exhibit halls hosting manufactures and other entities from North American and around the world. During the Symposium there is ample time set aside to interact with an audience and exhibitors focused specifically on complex seating, positioning, and mobility issues.

An Interdisciplinary Audience:

• Assistive Technology Practitioners
• Assistive Technology Suppliers
• Educators
• Manufacturers
• Nurses
• Orthotists
• People with Disabilities
• Physicians
• Policy Makers
• Rehabilitation Engineers and Technologists
• Therapists
• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
  
  

Deadline for Submission

Proposals must be received no later than May 30, 2008.

Proposal Topics

The symposium will include scientific and clinical papers, a research forum, in-depth workshops, panel sessions, and extensive exhibit halls. Presentations should address the seating and wheeled mobility issues of people with disabilities across the lifespan such as neuromuscular disorders, spinal cord injury and diseases of the spinal cord, orthopedic conditions, systemic conditions, obesity, or polytrauma. Proposals that address service delivery issues including evidence-based practice, models of practice, policy and funding, documentation, and outcomes are also very much encouraged.

Types of Presentation

Instructional Course Sessions:

Sessions will be one or two hours in length and can provide a forum for presentation of new service delivery models or clinical applications. While the sessions should provide a structured learning experience, ample time should be allowed for audience participation and exchange. A paper of no more than four pages is required for inclusion in the proceedings.

If your proposal is accepted, presenters and coordinators are expected to register for the conference. In recognition of a one-hour instructional course, we will provide: one complimentary conference registration and a $125.00 (US) honorarium. For a two-hour instructional course, we will provide: one complimentary conference registration and a $250.00 (US) honorarium. This must be shared by all presenting at your session. All travel and lodging expenses are your responsibility.

Paper Sessions:

Paper presentations will be 10 minutes in length (with an additional 5 minutes allotted for questions). A paper of no more than two pages is required for inclusion in the proceedings.

If your paper is accepted, you are expected to register for the conference and present the paper at the appointed session. Conference fee and all travel and lodging expenses are your responsibility.

Poster Sessions:

There will be limited space available for poster presentations. The presentation size will be 4 ' by 8 ' maximum. Submit an abstract describing your research or clinical application. Authors will be required to provide a two-page written submission that will be included in the course proceedings.

If your poster is accepted, you are expected to register for the conference and present the poster at the appointed session. Conference fee and all travel and lodging expenses are your responsibility.

Submission Guidelines and Information

First time presenters

Assistance with abstract development is available by contacting the ISS staff.

Submissions

Submissions will only be accepted in electronic format. This can be accomplished directly on our website, or submissions can be mailed on CD or DVD. Please see form below.

Please submit online; Go to the On Line submission form.

Graphics

If you are including graphics in your submissions:

• Photographs, charts, graphs - EPS format or Tiff format 600 dpi
• Graphics must be delivered as a separate image with placeholder in the document.
• You must supply photo release forms when including subjects in photographs.

General Content

Presentations must be educational in format and intent. They must not have the appearance of product promotion or advertisement.

A minimum of three (3) clearly stated learning objectives must be included as well as two or more outside references supporting the content of your presentation such a peer-reviewed journal article, conference proceeding, published document from a reputable source, book or book chapter.

Deadline

Proposals must be received no later than May 30, 2008.

Acceptance and Understanding

If your abstract is accepted, you agree to appear in the designated session.

If accepted, a written submission for the Syllabus, electronically (Word document) via email or CD, is required. The submissions will be printed in the Symposium Syllabus and will be available on-line following the ISS. The authors are responsible for all copyright releases for materials included in their submissions.

Notification of acceptance will be sent to the primary contact person only. It is the primary contact person's responsibility to notify all contributors.

Your electronic submission of an abstract acts as your signature acceptance and understanding of the above guidelines.

Contact Information for Call for Papers, Instructional Courses, and Special Sessions

For program information, contact:

Mark R. Schmeler, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP

University of Pittsburgh
School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology

E-mail: schmeler@pitt.edu

For conference information, contact:

Linda Szczepanski, CMP

University of Pittsburgh
School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology

Phone: 412.586.6921
Fax: 412.586.6923

E-mail: szczepan@pitt.edu

or

Cheryl Rohall

University of Pittsburgh
School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology

Phone: 412.586.6912
Fax: 412.586.6923

E-mail: crohall@pitt.edu

Online Submissions

Go to the On Line submission form.

Having Problems Submitting Your Proposal Online?

Although we prefer online submissions, if you are encountering problems, you may download the following Microsoft Word template and email it as an attachment to Linda Szczepanski at szczepan@pitt.edu.