Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
The RESNA Special Interest Groups (SIGs) respond to the long-felt need for a communication network within the rehabilitation community; one that would address the diverse needs of consumers, physicians, engineers, providers, therapists, and industry.
Each SIG provides a forum for exchanging information relating to its area of specialty, and through the SIG program a cross-fertilization of ideas among the various disciplines occurs. Members have responded enthusiastically to this opportunity, which not only fulfills the need for networking but also makes it possible for them to participate directly in formulating and implementing policies that enhance the delivery of technology to disabled persons.
Twenty-one SlGs have been established, and others will be formed as the need and demand arises. A brief description of the planned activities for each SIG follows. Common goals of all SlGs are developing instructional courses, participating in paper and/or poster sessions at annual conferences, developing resource databanks, and sponsoring regional groups and meetings.
SIG-01 Service Delivery & Public Policy represents two distinctly different groups from within Rehabilitation; the Service Delivery Practitioner, who routinely provides technologies to assist the disabled; and those individuals actively involved in shaping the Public Policies, which ultimately enhance these services.
SlG-02 Personal Transportation is focused on transportation technologies, information, and modifications for personal vehicles. This includes issues specific to rehabilitation as well as those that provide access through application of universal design practices. It is primarily comprised of researchers and technicians engaged in objective, structured study and design of assitive driving devices.
SIG-03 Augmentative & Alternative Communication focuses on establishing liaison with other groups with similar objectives, interacting with other SIGs, and developing and promoting consumer participation in the SIG.
SIG-04 Dysphagia: Eating, Swallowing & Saliva Control provides a forum for professionals dedicated to technological advancements in eating, swallowing, saliva control, and related issues. It also fosters networking, information dissemination, and sponsors special programs during the annual conference.
SIG-05 Quantitative Assessment focuses on human performance measurement, biomechanics (quantifying performance), and quantitative assessments in clinical/nonclinical contexts. A primary goal is to achieve widespread recognition of the needs for appropriate quantitative methods and tools. Expanded use of such methods is sought to improve accountability, systematic methods of service deliver and scientific foundations of rehabilitation engineering.
SIG-06 Special Education focuses on issues related to developing and applying assistive technologies for the instruction of children and young adults who are disabled. Planned activities include formulating a research agenda, creating an electronic bulletin board system, establishing a public domain software library, and linking with other professional societies.
SIG-07 Technology Transfer has identified several issues that demand attention, and initially is addressing three: The problems that confront scientists and inventors when they attempt technology transfer, evaluating existing technology transfer efforts, and education and training.
SIG-08 Sensory Loss & Technology is addressing ways to ensure greater exposure for this discipline through RESNA conferences in both scientific sessions and in exhibit demonstrations.
SIG-09 Wheeled Mobility & Seating is the largest SIG and has formed regional groups. Major activities include mechanisms for dissemination of information and identification of resources.
SIG-10 Electrical Stimulation devotes most of its effort to establishing a broader understanding of electrical stimulation through greater visibility at RESNA conferences.
SIG-11 Computer Applications has an ambitious program that includes adopting a position paper, a computer bulletin board, developing and publishing software guidelines, creating a member expertise list, and promoting consumer involvement in the SIG.
SIG-12 Rural Rehabilitation has four subcommittees to address specific issues:
SIG-13 Robotics & Mechatronics addresses the unique problems associated with using industrial robotics technology to serve the vocational and daily living needs of physically disabled persons. Members apply their skills to human/robot control and communication strategies, robot sensors for rehabilitative applications and vocational opportunities for disabled users of robots.
SIG-14 Job Accommodation provides a means for sharing solutions to problems in the provision of job accommodations and is a resource in the area of employment issues.
SIG-15 Information Networking serves as a forum for those producing or providing rehabilitation technology-related information and attempting to better coordinate information and networking efforts.
SIG-16 Gerontology addresses the technical needs of the disabled elderly. Needs guidelines and resource inventories are being generated with a focus on technical means of improving the quality of life for this large population.
S1G-17 International Appropriate Technology is a new forum for the many RESNA members who are actively interested in providing rehab technology and services to people in the Third World and other limited- resource countries. Activities will include interchange of information at the annual conference, through RESNA publications and through a personal contact network.
SIG-18 Tech Act facilitates communication among state Tech Act project directors, staff, consumers and other interested persons with a focus on common issues, policies and processes that enhance technology services for persons with disabilities.
SIG-19 Universal Access provides an opportunity for RESNA members interested in a more universally usable world to network, communicate, and promote this concept. SIG-19 members are active in universal design in all design disciplines including environmental design, product design, design engineering, home modifications, environmental control, and information technology, and are involved in research, design development, production, service delivery, and public policy.
SIG-20 Cognitive Disabilities and Technology acts as a central place for the exchange of expertise and information on issues related to the applications of cognitive science and technologies to people with cognitive disabilities. The SIG intends to be cross disability in focus, including mental retardation, alzheimer's, brain injury, mental illness, autism, learning disabilities and other conditions which affect cognitive processing.
SIG-21 Telerehabilitation The objective of this SIG is to address ways to meet the various challenges of telecommunication technologies including issues related to technology R&D, clinical implementation strategies, access by anyone from anywhere, and telehealth policy.
SIG-22: Consumer Perspectives of Assistive Technology represents those that advocate for direct consumer involvement in product design and manufacturing, research, service delivery and policy/advocacy.
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