This newsletter is slightly different to usual - a brief update on next month's inaugural conference AND reasons why showing up at face to face events are kicking digital/virtual events to the curb.
So here's a brief run down of what's new for the conferences this month:
- L.A. Agenda & roster of speakers is announced
- Final Plenary session confirmed 'The Sports Prescription: Navigating Conversations around Adaptive Sports’ delivered by Alvin Malave from Angel City Sports, Andrew Skinner from Triumph Foundation, Gus LaZear from Ability360 and Lisa Holborn MA, CAPE Director of Outdoor Adventures.
- Scientific RESNA Posters & Platform announced
- Technical Training by US Rehab tickets are available - wheelchair technicians can book a 1-day ticket for hands on training Thursday March 26 - book now
- Early-bird tickets for New York are ending Feb 28th - book now
- Early-bird tickets are available for Chicago - book now
- Early-bird tickets are sold out, book standard rate tickets for Los Angeles, doors open in 4 weeks - book now
On March 26–27, 2026, the Abilities International Accessibility Conference brings together occupational therapists, physical therapists, assistive technology professionals, technicians and physicians, manufacturers, and resellers across the CRT industry. Many of us attend webinars year-round. We stay connected through email, Zoom, and group chats. That works for education and updates.
But there are things that only happen when we’re in the same room. Here’s what makes the in-person experience different, and why it matters for your work.
Real conversations with people who understand the work
In CRT, the details matter. Funding rules. Documentation requirements. Seating challenges. Delivery timelines. Product limitations. You can’t unpack those realities in a 30-minute virtual session.
At a face-to-face event, you can:
- Talk through a complex seating case with someone who’s seen it before
- Ask a manufacturer about a specific configuration and get a straight answer
- Share what’s actually happening with payers and referrals
The best conversations often happen between sessions, over coffee, or while walking the exhibit floor. They’re not formal and that’s why they’re useful.
Hands-on equipment time
You can watch product demos online but it’s not the same as being next to the chair.
At the conference, you can:
- Adjust back angles and see how hardware responds
- Feel the difference between cushions
- Compare frame options side by side
- Ask technical questions in real time
- Problem-solve directly with product specialists
For therapists, hands-on exposure helps with clinical decision-making. For manufacturers and resellers, it’s a chance to see how clinicians evaluate equipment and what questions they’re asking. That feedback loop is hard to replicate virtually.
Stronger working relationships
Most of us rely on the same circle of ATPs, therapists, suppliers, and reps year after year. But we don’t always see each other.
Seeing colleagues in person does a few simple but important things:
- It rebuilds trust and clears up misunderstandings quickly
- It strengthens communication
- It reminds us we’re working in the same industry and collaboration is key
Human moments lead to unplanned problem solving
Some of the most useful conference moments aren’t on the agenda (this is the best part). You sit next to someone and realize they’re handling the exact funding issue you’re struggling with. You overhear a conversation about a new piece of tech that could work for your client. You reconnect with someone you collaborated with years ago and realize there’s a new opportunity to work together again.
These aren’t “networking strategies.” They’re natural interactions that happen when people in the same field gather in one place.
Focused learning without multitasking
How many times do you log into a virtual session and you’re distracted? Sure the education is convenient, but most of us are juggling work while attending. Email notifications. Phone calls. Clinic demands.
When you travel to a conference, you step away from that environment. You focus!
You’re in the room, you listen differently. You ask more questions. You connect ideas back to your clients and business.
Seeing the bigger picture
The CRT industry is constantly shifting — reimbursement, compliance, product innovation, policy, staffing challenges.
When you gather with professionals from across the country, you get perspective:
- What trends are consistent?
- Where are manufacturers investing?
- What are therapists doing next?
That broader view helps with planning, helps to make your day-to-day work more efficient.
Reconnect with purpose
For many in this field, this isn’t just business. It’s long-term work with real impact on people’s lives.
Being in a room full of professionals who care about access, positioning, mobility, and independence reminds us why you do what you do. Reset, learn and grow!
Join us in Los Angeles, March 26–27, 2026
The Abilities International Accessibility Conference isn’t just another education event. It’s a working meeting of the CRT community — therapists, manufacturers, and resellers solving real problems together.
Virtual learning has its place. But if you work in complex rehab technology, being in the room still makes a difference.