Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Category: Member News
Dear RESNA Community,
As we wrap up 2025 and head into the holiday season, I want to thank you for being such an active and engaged part of the RESNA community. Your energy and commitment continue to move our field forward.
We are excited about what is ahead for RESNA in the new year, especially the 2026 RESNA Conference, which will be presented in collaboration with Abilities International.
The conference will be in two locations in 2026:
- Abilities Expo Los Angeles (to be held at the Long Beach Convention Center), from March 26-27, and
- Abilities Expo New York Metro (to be held at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center) from April 30 -May 1.
Each conference location will combine the strengths of RESNA’s innovative research, development, and practice content with the wide-ranging exhibition halls for which Abilities Expos are known.
Proposal submissions are still open in multiple formats:
- Developers Showcase (Los Angeles): Application deadline: January 12, 2026
- Scientific Papers (New York Metro). Deadline: January 12, 2026
- Student Scientific & Student Design (New York Metro). Deadline: February 2, 2026
I hope you will consider sharing your work or encouraging others to participate.
We have launched our End-of-Year Giving Campaign, and you can support RESNA’s mission by donating and sharing the campaign with your networks. Whether you choose to make a general donation, contribute to the Founder’s Fund to advance new initiatives, or support the Joey Wallace Educational Scholarship Fund, your generosity helps us continue providing education, resources, and opportunities for assistive technology professionals and students.
If you are looking to build your skills before the year ends, we are also offering a limited-time Wheelchair Webinar Bundle featuring three CEU-earning sessions. This bundle is free for members and available to non-members for $60.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the recent passing of Don McNeal and Denis Anson, both of whom contributed greatly to RESNA’s mission and values. I always valued my conference encounters with both Don and Denis. Each was generous with their expertise and personal encouragement, and I am sad that additional such moments will no longer be possible.
RESNA will take a short break for the holiday season, so our office will be closed from December 24-January 1.
Thank you again for your continued support. I wish you a warm, restful holiday season and an inspiring start to 2026!
Warm regards,
Jim Lenker, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, RESNA Fellow
President, RESNA