4 adults on stage speaking to audience

October Conferences Roundup

October is a big conference month for many organizations, and BridgingApps is no exception. Today, three of our team share their in-person experiences from this year.

Conference: M-Enabling Summit
Official Description: “The leading global conference and showcase covering the fast-moving technology innovations that enable persons with disabilities and older persons to access digital content and services in new ways.”
Dates: October 15–17
Location: Washington, DC
Report from: Amy Fuchs, Program Manager

A really great conference is one from where you return tired, but energized! I spent three days listening to leaders in the field of accessibility share what they have learned through their experiences, what they see in store for the future based on their research, and more.

There were many opportunities for networking, and for browsing exhibits that showcased new technologies and the most recent updates to established ones.

My favorite panel was Tech for Aging, moderated by Frances West. They spoke about the growing population of aging adults and how businesses and technology can learn from this demographic.

Conference: Easterseals National Network Summit 2024
Official Description: “Don’t miss this collaborative opportunity to be a part of the continued movement towards full equity, inclusion, and empowerment for all. Together, we can make a difference and shape a brighter future for individuals with disabilities.”
Dates: October 22–25
Location: Chicago, IL
Report from: Tara Rocha, Digital Learning Specialist

I helped Elise Hough, CEO of Easter Seals Greater Houston, prepare information for the panel she sat on. The topic was “insights and outcomes from digital literacy programs that have been delivered in our communities through funding from the Comcast Foundation.”

Another favorite session was Terry Samuel’s “Your Story, Your Voice: The Power of Storytelling.” Samuel, a former NPR executive editor and USA Today editor-in-chief, presented insights on the elements of effective storytelling, emphasizing ways to share Easterseals stories in the digital age.

I also enjoyed the field trip to Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, where participants had the opportunity to observe two programs firsthand:

  • The Chicago campus of Easterseals Academy, a therapeutic day program for public-school students with autism and related disabilities.
  • HB Threads, a social enterprise that provides employment and skills training for Easterseals Academy students and others.

We used the Whova conference app to find all the information, correspond with attendees, see the schedule, and ask questions.

The conference was a great opportunity to meet and network with other Easterseals affiliates, and to learn about their programs and find new ideas for helping our own clients. It was a wonderful event that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Conference: 78th Annual Meeting, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Official Description: “We have selected the theme, ‘Translating Discovery’ … we want to place special emphasis on the journey of discovery from the bench all the way to implementation into everyday clinical practice.”
Dates: October 23–26
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Report from: Cristen Reat, Program Director

On Thursday the 24th, I presented a joint session with Dr. Aloysia Schwabe: At Your Fingertips–A Web Based Transition Tool that Interfaces with BridgingApps Resources. We talked about how families are often overwhelmed when navigating educational and healthcare systems while teenagers with disabilities make the transition to adulthood—and how BridgingApps worked with Texas Children’s Hospital to create TexasYouth2Adult.com as a navigation tool. The session included hands-on demonstrations of TexasYouth2Adult and the App Search Tool database, plus a discussion of which mobile applications families find most useful in their transition journeys.

(TexasYouth2Adult is mobile-friendly and universally accessible; it includes multiple resources to help young adults set up their own accounts and participate fully in the transition journey. The App Search Tool stores information on some 2,700 apps, including transition tools that assist with everything from managing health information to practicing social skills.)

The rest of the conference included many thought-provoking and interesting sessions. Some of my favorites were:

  • The keynote session featuring Dr. Jen Arnold, who spoke about disability inclusion in healthcare
  • Advocacy Strategies for Health Equity: Multi-Step Actions for Multi-Level Change
  • A Multidisciplinary Approach to Patient-Prioritized Outcomes in Shared Decision Making

I also enjoyed browsing the poster sessions that documented research projects. My favorite was “My Abilities First: Global Developmental Milestones” by Dr. Veronica Schiariti from the University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada).

In the exhibit hall, I learned about The Perkins CVI Protocol, a new assessment tool for kids with cortical visual impairments. Also found out about three new apps:

This interdisciplinary conference was a unique opportunity to connect with therapists, doctors, and others who provide disability services for families. I loved interacting with all sorts of healthcare professionals, including psychologists and physicians who work with young adults moving into independent adulthood.

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