Conference scoop: RESNA to consolidate presence in 2027, return to standalone in 2028

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA will once again co-locate its annual conference with the Abilities International Accessibility Conference in 2027, but the organization will consolidate all its programming at a single event in the New York metro area on April 29-30.

The decision comes after RESNA experimented with a two-location format in 2026, helping organize programming in both Long Beach, Calif., and New York. The organization split its educational offerings, including workshops, scientific paper sessions, poster presentations, the Student Design Challenge and the Developer's Showcase, between the two events.

"The feeling was, perhaps we confused our members by doing two events so close together," said Andrea Van Hook, executive director of RESNA. "So, we decided let's focus on one and let's focus on New York, since that had the bigger participation from RESNA members this year, and let's bring the whole conference to that location."

Abilities Expo is also planning an accessibility conference in Los Angeles on Jan. 13-14, 2027. While RESNA members on the West Coast may attend or present at that event, the organization's official conference programming will be centered on the New York gathering.

The move to a single co-located event is also part of a broader transition for RESNA, which plans to return to hosting its own in-person, standalone conference in 2028 for the first time since 2023 in New Orleans. The organization expects to announce the dates and location for that conference in early November.

"We surveyed our members and they overwhelmingly said that, while they've appreciated what we've done with co-locating the conference, they really miss RESNA having its own conference," Van Hook said. "So, we're going to give it another try."

RESNA is evaluating destinations that offer affordable airfare and hotel options, as well as strong public transportation systems and walkable environments.

"Since the pandemic, there are some smaller cities that have built up their meeting capacities, particularly for the size of the meeting that RESNA is," Van Hook said.

Whether through its co-located conference in 2027 or a standalone event in 2028, RESNA plans to place a greater emphasis on member engagement and networking opportunities.

"We had a Member Night at each of the Abilities events this year and they were a big hit," Van Hook said. "Our members get an allergic reaction when you say networking – it's just a way to allow our members to hang out.”

Related:           

• RESNA seeks submissions for conference programming.
• Accessibility Conference builds traction in three-city debut.