NRRTS notes

TRINIDAD, Colo. - NRRTS's travel schedule for 2010 is filling up.

In addition to its own event, the Continuing Education and Legislative Advocacy Conference (CELA) April 28-30 in Washington, D.C., and other regular industry events like Medtrade, the organization plans to make its debut appearance at the Abilities Expo in Los Angeles April 9-11.

"It's THE place to reach out to consumers," says Simon Margolis, executive director of NRRTS. "If we want to get out and talk to consumers about the separate benefit for complex rehab, there's no better place to do it."

The Abilities Expo, which will also hit New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, features exhibitor booths, workshops and fun events like dance performances--all geared toward consumers.

At its booth there, NRRTS will hand out a special consumer edition of its Directions Magazine that includes articles on the separate benefit and self-advocacy. It will also sell the magazine to providers for a nominal fee.

"It's something that they can put out in their waiting areas," Margolis said. "There's even a place on it to personalize it with a sticker or business card."

Later this year, NRRTS will set its sights on Medtrade Nov. 16-18 in Atlanta, where it will have a better-positioned Complex Rehab Pavilion. Last year, the pavilion was toward the back of the convention hall; this year, it will be front-and-center, across from the booths of traffic-attracting manufacturers like Pride Mobility Products and Invacare.

"With a better position, more signage and more marketing--I think it will be a positive experience," Margolis said.