The Disability Section welcomes abstracts on all topics related to health and disability for the 136th APHA Annual Meeting in San Diego from Oct. 26-28. This year will mark our 2nd anniversary as an APHA section!

A Chairperson’s Forum will be held in the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 26 from 3 to 5.

We have asked representatives from several federal research funding agencies to present their disability research programs on Sunday evening. On Tuesday evening, a session titled “Professional Mentoring, Research, and Practice” is planned for student and new investigators to discuss their research with more senior investigators.

Abstract submissions related to the 2008 Annual Meeting theme of "Public Health Without Borders" are encouraged. Papers which reflect this theme are encouraged, but the Section invites abstracts in all areas of disability policy, practice and research.

·         Disability Surveillance

·         Disability and Assistive Devices

·         Disability and Measurement

·         Disability and Health Policy

·         Disability and Health Promotion 

·         Disability and International Health

·         Social Support, Personal Assistance and Caregiving*

·         Disability, Environment and Participation

·         Translating Disability Research into Practice

·         Disability and Health - Infants and children

* Co-sponsor with Gerontological Health Section

Special Sessions:

·         Disability and Community Environmental Intervention Programs

·         Disability and Community Based Health Programs

·         Mentoring for Student and New Investigators

Abstracts are limited to 250 words. The submission deadline is Feb. 8, 2008.

1.    The Disability Forum offers four types of sessions:
Scientific sessions -- oral presentations of 15 minutes. Priority for these sessions is given to scientific presentations of more developed work, which usually includes some level of data analysis.

2.    Poster sessions -- "Disability Resource Fair". This format is most appropriate for descriptions of developing work, new intervention programs, resource centers, etc.

3.    Special Session -- A thematic group of four invited papers for a special session on a selected topic.

4.    Mentoring for Student and New Investigators -- short oral presentations of developing projects for discussion with senior scientists in the field of disability research.

All presenters will be expected to make their presentations accessible to all participants.

Presenters will be notified about the Disability Section required guidelines for accessibility.

Students: The Disability Section is committed to developing future leaders in the field.

Submissions from students are encouraged, and students should indicate their student status in the Comments box.

Program Planner Contact Information:
David B. Gray, PhD
Program in Occupational Therapy
Washington University
Campus Box 8505
4444 Forest Park Ave
St. Louis, MO 63108
Phone: (314) 286-1658
Fax: (314) 286-1601
grayda@wustl.edu