'We're all in this together'

ARLINGTON, Va. - Complex rehab stakeholders need not worry that their issues will get lost in the shuffle when NCART, NRRTS and RESNA combine their conferences next year, organizers say.

“We're all in this together,” said Weesie Walker, NRRTS's executive director, who is on the event's planning committee. “Obviously, access to complex rehab is important and it affects all areas of assistive technology.”

Slated for July 12-15, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., the conference will combine the focuses of NRRTS and NCART's National CRT Conference, which is seating and mobility, with the focus of RESNA's annual conference, which is seating and mobility, as well as rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology devices.

The combined event allows the three organizations and their members to share and learn from each other, and amplify their advocacy initiatives, organizers say.

“We need to intermingle more because there is a lot of crossover in terms of how we approach funding and access issues,” said Walker.

There are also logistical benefits to having one conference instead of two, organizers say.

“People have a lot of demands on their time and travel can be difficult,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NCART. “There's a cross section of people who have historically gone to both conferences. Now they only have one to go to.”

While NRRTS and NCART typically hold their conference in the spring, Walker says the date change won't impact Capitol Hill visits.

“We're good with the date,” she said. “It just might be a little hotter in D.C.”