Tag: RESNA

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA will hold its annual conference in July virtually due to the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic. “With the omicron variant and ongoing travel restrictions and difficulties related to the pandemic, this was a decision we felt we had to make,” said Andrea Van Hook, executive director. “It’s still early in our planning process so we can make this switch easily.” RESNA has held its last two annual conferences virtually. The 2022 conference,...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA and the DMERT Group are working on a new program to not only meet the growing demand for ATPs but also elevate the status of repair technicians.  The two organizations announced in November that they’re teaming up on a new career pathway that will allow techs who hold DMERT Level 2 Repair Certificates to gain the training and necessary skills to successfully become ATPs.  “We’re really looking at this program to help us identify who has...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA, for the first time, has its own track of 10 sessions at the upcoming International Seating Symposium.  “The purpose is to talk about the convergence of technologies,” said Andrea Van Hook, executive director of RESNA. “We know ATPs who are working in seating and mobility today need to know more than seating and mobility.”   ISS, organized and hosted by the University of Pittsburgh, is scheduled to take place Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA has ramped up its efforts to address questions around the ATP certification and recertification processes, including hosting webinars. Andrea Van Hook, the executive director of RESNA, who hosted one such webinar in November, talked with HME News about the “health” of the ATP program in 2021 and more. HME News: Why did RESNA need to increase its education efforts around the ATP?  Andrea Van Hook: We literally...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration obtained additional information during an inspection of a Philips’ manufacturing facility that was not previously available to the agency that showed the silicone-based foam used in a singular, similar device marketed outside the U.S. failed one safety test for the release of volatile organic compounds.  Similar testing provided by Philips to the FDA on devices authorized for marketing in the U.S. had demonstrated acceptable results.  “The...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA and the DMERT Group are partnering on a new career pathway to becoming an ATP. They’ve developed a program that will allow DMERT Level 2 Repair Technician Certificate holders to continue their professional career development by gaining the training and necessary skills to successfully become an ATP. “There is a growing need for DME and complex rehab technology repair technicians, as technologies become more intricate and complex,” RESNA stated. “The...

ARLINGTON, Va. – Certified assistive technology professionals that were unable to fulfill the work experience requirement for re-certification as a result of the ongoing public health emergency and are scheduled to be recertified between Sept. 1, 2021 – April 1, 2022, may apply for an exception from the RESNA Professional Standards Board, which will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. ATPs can submit their recertification application (RESNA Recert Application 2021.pdf) as soon as...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA will accept session proposals for its annual conference from Nov. 1 to Nov. 29. RESNA 2022 Conference: Driving the future of Assistive Technology is scheduled to take place in Arlington, Va., July 14-16. RESNA is accepting proposals for “buzz” sessions, 30-minute sessions devoted to one hot topic; general sessions, 60-minute sessions that are interactive; and master classes, 90-minute sessions that are more in-depth. The organization is not accepting proposals...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA has published the new AT-1 Standard for Assistive Technology for Air Travel. This standard specifies requirements and test methods for efficient and safe handling and storage of many different types of assistive technologies (AT) for passengers with mobility impairments on aircraft. “Many mobility device users travel by air but are discouraged from doing so because of the high incidence of damage that presently occurs to mobility devices during air travel,”...

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA has a new and improved portal that’s more welcoming and user friendly, the organization says. Enhancements to the portal include improved communication of upcoming events, mobile responsive and accessible design, and simple navigation with intuitive pathways to information. To access the new portal, RESNA members can keep their existing username but must create a new password. The organization says to reach out directly to [email protected] with questions.