Page 6 - Mobility Management, June 2019

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Event Coverage
Sensational
Steel City
The International Seating Symposium Returns to Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH — At once a homecoming and a re-introduction, the 2019 International Seating Symposium (ISS) provided an opportunity to recall the complex rehab technology (CRT) industry’s roots while also looking forward in a big way.
This year’s ISS was hosted by the University of Pittsburgh at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, just a few miles from the Pittsburgh campus. The last time the ISS was held in Pittsburgh was 1997... and so much has changed in CRT since then.
2019 ISS Director Mark Schmeler welcomed more than 2,200 attendees.
HERL’s Jon Pearlman addressed the future of assistive technology.
Thursday’s plenary was a gathering of industry perspectives (and long-time friends): Susan Johnson Taylor (left), Jean Minkel, Carmen DiGiovine, Hymie Pogir and Ashli Molinero.
6 JUNE 2019 | MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
ISS by the Numbers
Wednesday, March 20, was the official opening day for the ISS, though pre-conference symposiums and events started on Monday. At Wednesday’s opening keynote, Mark Schmeler, Ph.D., OTR/L,
ATP, ISS Director for the American symposiums, said more than 2,200 attendees had registered, repre- senting 37 countries.
Among the countries represented by ISS attendees for the first time were Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Chile, Denmark, Guatemala,
Hong Kong, Iceland, Lebanon, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Addressing attendees at the
Karen Roy, Ms. Wheelchair America 2019, is a Numotion and industry ambassador.
opening keynote, Schmeler discussed the evolution of CRT,
and how big data can provide the means of demonstrating positive outcomes “when you properly eval- uate someone for a wheelchair and you give them what they need.”
Jonathan Pearlman, Ph.D., Associate Director of Engineering at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), pointed out that the assistive technology industry — worth $15 billion currently — will be worth $26 billion by 2024. “We don’t see the numbers to support the growth,” Pearlman said. “In the U.S., we see more ATPs retiring than being certified each year. ... You all need to become advocates for your own profession.”
The new registration system was a hit.
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