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National Conference 2012 - Sydney

ARATA's next national conference

Bridging the AT Gap

Sydney Wednesday 22 –Friday 24 August 2012.
Sydney Masonic Function Centre

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With the worldwide evolution of smart technology there are many dynamic factors affecting the access and use of assistive technology (AT). Australia is moving towards a National Disability Insurance Scheme and there is the potential for a widening gap in our ability to keep up‐to‐date with AT equipment, services, policies and funding that contribute to the inclusion and participation of people with a disability.

ARATA 2012 Conference: “Bridging the AT Gap”, will provide the opportunity for all stakeholders, including clinicians, therapists, educators, rehabilitation engineers, inventors, suppliers and consumers to meet in Sydney, to share knowledge, experience and expertise to help bridge the AT gap.

The ARATA 2012 Conference reflects ARATA's purpose to "serve as a forum for issues in rehabilitation and assistive technology" and it will highlight:

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Computer and Environmental Control Systems
• Human Perspectives of Technology
• Manufacture and Supply of Communication/Computer Assistive Technology
• Service Delivery and Government Policy
•Wheeled Mobility and Seating

Visit ARATA 2012 on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ARATAconference

Key Speaker Profiles

Roger O. Smith, PhD, OT, FAOTA, Fellow of RESNA
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Roger O. Smith, PhD, OT, FAOTA, Fellow of RESNA is Professor of Occupational Science and Technology in the College of Health Sciences and Director of the R2D2 (Rehabilitation Research Design & Disability) Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (http://www.r2d2.uwm.edu/). His Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his M.O.T. is from the University of Washington, and his B.A. in Psychology and Communications, from Goshen College. This has prepared Dr. Smith for a highly interdisciplinary research program related to disability. Dr. Smith has published and presented widely in the area of disability access and universal design, assistive technology and functional performance measurement. Dr. Smith has secured and directed more than 8 million dollars of grants supporting research and demonstration projects defining issues, measures and interventions related to disability and rehabilitation. Dr. Smith’s current projects address the need for creating evidence databases for public use. He posits that new outcomes assessment methodologies that upload into big data collection systems must be implemented as the next generation of evidence-based practice.

John Walsh AM
Partner, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Sydney

John is a Partner in the Advisory division of PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he has worked for twenty years. During the years 1989 to 1992, he was a Board member of the NSW Motor Accidents Authority, and from 1994 to 1998 a Board member of the NSW HomeCare Service. He has been active in the development of general insurance, accident compensation and health expertise for the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. In 2001 he was named Australia’s Actuary of the Year, and in 2011 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
John has worked closely with the Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in establishing the definition and cost of disability, and interactions with accident compensation. He has also advised the NSW government on future demand and funding requirements for disability services, homelessness services and Aboriginal disadvantage. He was a member of the Disability Investment Group established in 2008 to study options for increasing the investment opportunities in the disability sector, and in 2010 was appointed to the Productivity Commission to investigate the feasibility of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and other options to fund lifetime care and support for people with a disability.

Wei Tech Ang
Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Wei Tech Ang is currently an Associate Professor at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He received his Ph.D. degree in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004, M.Eng. and B.Eng. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Nanyang Technological University in 1999 and 1997 respectively. Dr. Ang is one of the most active and well-funded robotic scientists in Singapore. His research focuses on robotics technologies in Bio-related applications, which include robot assisted microsurgery & cell micromanipulations, assistive & rehabilitation technology for the disabled, etc. Prof Ang is also an activist in the promotion of technology to assist and empower the disabled and aged for quality independent living. He is one of the co-founders of the Singapore Therapeutic, Assistive & Rehabilitative Technologies (START) Centre, whose mission is to be a multiplier to grow the assistive and rehabilitative technology industry in Singapore. START Centre was partially funded by the Economic Development Board under the Locally-Based Enterprise Advancement Program.

Registration, fees and general information

Online registration click here: Jump to online registration form.

PDF Registration Guide click here: Registration Guide - ARATA Conference 2012 (pdf 3.7Mb)

Accessible word documents click here: Registration brochure - doc format - Registration form - doc format

General information about Sydney and Australia is provided in these documents:

General information (Word format) - General information (PDF format)

Funding Assistance to attend ARATA 2012

Funding is available to assist people with a disability and their carer/support worker with the costs of attending the ARATA 2012 conference in Sydney. Grant monies are subject to Funding to be provided by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Download and submit the following application by the closing date to be considered for funding support.

Grant_Application_Form_arata12

Conference Exhibitors

A feature of the ARATA conference is the Exhibitors Hall. As an exhibitor you will have the opportunity to become an integral part of the development and implementation of Assistive Technology while helping to influence thinking, increase understanding and improve the experience for all stakeholders including end-users. Delegates from all over Australia will attend the conference to view new products and services as discuss assistive technology with suppliers. Why not join the following exhibitors at “Bridging the AT Gap” ARATA Conference 2012.

Exhibition Hall layout

Ability Technology

Australian Communication Exchange

GTK Rehabilitation

Liberator Pty Ltd

Medifab Medical Fabrication

Megalong Positioning Services

Otto Bock Australia

Para Mobility

Permobil Australia

Pride Mobility Products

Rehab Assist

Technical Solutions Australia

The Brainary

Tunstall Healthcare

Zyteq

Spaces are still available. For additional information and options download the exhibition brochure here:

Exhibitor Sponsorship Information (PDF 2Mb)
Exhibitor Sponsorship Information (Accessible Version .doc 2.3Mb)

Submission of Abstract Proposals and Presentations

(Closing date for abstract submissions was Friday 9th December 2011)

The purpose of the abstract or presentation outline is to define the precise theme of the presentation for potential inclusion into the conference program. The proposal should be in keeping with the conference theme, Bridging the AT Gap and comply with the guidelines in the application form below.

First please download and read the following Call for Abstracts Application form:

Conference 2012 Call For Abstracts Application Form- pdf (1.5Mb)
Conference 2012 Call For Abstracts Application form(Accessible) - doc (115kb)

Speaker Document Downloads

Submit your Call for Abstracts online by following this link.

This form includes the ability to upload your abstract and Copyright release, so please prepare them first.

Closing date for submission of Full Papers:

Papers requesting Peer Review are required by Friday 18th November 2011
Other papers must be received by Friday 27th July 2012

Conference Inquiries

A.M. Meetings Plus P/L
Email: conference@arata.org.au
Phone: 03 9372 7182

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