Welcome to RESNA 2010
Thank you for coming to Las Vegas and the annual RESNA conference. We know you must choose your conference attendance wisely in these difficult economic times. We have worked diligently to ensure that once you head for home, you will be confident you made the right choice. For over 30 years RESNA has been dedicated to the support of people working in the fields of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. As President, let me welcome you to what I know will be a valuable and inspiring conference experience. We are particularly thrilled to be joined this year by the International Symposium on Quality of Life, a forum presenting technologies and research that so compliments our own.
As we come together in these challenging times, RESNA members, non-members, and future members have the opportunity to learn about current and emerging assistive technologies (AT), developments in rehabilitation engineering, and policy issues that effect the availability of AT products and services. I hope youll take full advantage of the comprehensive array of instructional courses, seminars, and plenary sessions, as well as access to networking with vendors, practitioners, and researchers in all areas of adaptive technology.
All this will occur in one of the most beautiful and accommodating resorts in the Las Vegas area. Given its location off the strip, Red Rock Resort offers a full-amenity venue for hosting what is always a packed schedule of conference sessions, events, and activities. For those wanting to enjoy the excitement the strip offers, it is only a short shuttle ride away.
For our current members, please use this time to recharge your batteries in all things AT and rehabilitation engineering. If you are not a RESNA member, or are attending your first RESNA conference, let me extend a special welcome on behalf of our 1400 members, and express our hope that your conference experience will stimulate interest in deepening your involvement with the organization.
Thank you again for coming. And please make the most of your time at the 2010 RESNA Conference.
Greg McGrew, ME
RESNA President
WELCOME FROM YOUR 2010 CONFERENCE CHAIR
Welcome to Las Vegas! RESNA was last here in 1994 for one of our largest and most successful conferences. A lot has changed in those years, from the technology to the way services are provided and paid for. This year's conference will be different as well. The committee has worked hard to pack more conference into a shorter time so that you don't have to be away from home and work as long. Please let us know what you think of the new schedule on the conference evaluation form.
Take time to review the conference schedule in the middle of the program booklet. Sunday evening is the Opening Session and Keynote presentation by Christopher G. Atkeson, from Carnegie Mellon, on Assistive Robotics. RESNA is hosting the Second International Symposium on Quality of Life (QOL) Technology which runs concurrent with our conference. RESNA attendees can attend QOL sessions as part of their registration fee.
Conference sessions begin Monday at 9 a.m. with not more than 5 RESNA sessions running concurrently. Sessions take place throughout the day Monday and Tuesday. If you are interested in getting involved with RESNA the organization, make sure to attend one of the SIG or PSG meetings starting at 7:30 a.m. (Come on, you'll be due for a break from the tables by then...). Check the meetings schedule on page __ for information on all the RESNA meetings.
Join us Monday at 10:30 a.m. for VP of Research for IBM, Richard Schwerdtfeger's presentation, Accessibility and Access for All. Following Richard's talk, come for the opening of the Exhibit Hall and the Walk-About Lunch. Exhibits are open both Monday and Tuesday, but make sure to plan your visit as time can slip away in Vegas.
The conference breaks at 5:45 p.m. Monday, but plan to attend the Exhibit Hall Reception and SIG/PSG Open House in the Exhibit Hall from 6-8 p.m.. The popular SIG 11 Developer's Forum runs from 7-9 p.m. in the Computer Tech Lab. You can also join us pool side for drinks and music 8 to midnight. This should make a nice start to your Vegas evening...
There are lots of events on Tuesday with SIG/PSG meetings starting at 7:30 a.m., Exhibit Hall opens at 8 a.m., and sessions starting at 9 a.m. Join us in the Charleston Ballroom at 12 noon for the Awards Luncheon and Passing of the Hat. The conference closes at 7 p.m. with the Annual Business Meeting. Finally, for those of you who never remember to get here for the instructional courses, you have your choice of 10 to choose from on Wednesday.
Here's hoping you have a great conference and to hoping what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.
Kevin Caves
On behalf of the 2010 Meetings Committee