SIG 21 Minutes; RESNA 2000 (7/1/00)

In Attendance: Jack Winters (Chair), Therese Willkomm, Nigele Shapcott, Gilbert Logan, Cindy (S) Miller, Greta Nelson, John Noiseux, Adrian Blanarovich, Matthew White, Linda Sav?, Richard Burns, Krista Coleman, Michael Rosen, Deb Case (Secretary)

History and Background

A SIG is a special interest group of a predetermined topic. SIG 21 was conceptually founded one year ago. Jack was delegated by Alexandra Enders to initiate this SIG, starting by collecting at least 20 signatures; these were obtained & submitted to RESNA. As of 10 months ago SIG 21 became an official SIG. This is first meeting ever of the SIG.

Budget for SIG: $100 plus .56 for each member of SIG. Participation is voluntary.

SIG chair & co-chair serve for 2 years. Co-chair can take over for chair after one year. Krista volunteered to co-chair, but not chair the next year. Krista was unanimously approved as co-chair. Jack will chair through next year's meeting, and we’ll readdress next year. Chairs make a commitment to attend RESNA annually.

Process for Interacting

There was a discussion on the process for interacting, and what communicate about. The key aspect was to communicate with each other as to who is doing what - knowledge of and to ease entry into telerehabilitation.

A listserv currently exists of approximately 75 individuals. Sign-up at the following site: telerehab@lists.cua.edu (Jack Winters is the moderator of the listserv). To date it hasn't been that active of a listserv. Use the subject line of the listserv to explain goal of postings.

No web page currently exists. RESNA is encouraging each SIG to have a web page on the RESNA server, which once RESNA is ready, would be at: www.resna.org/telerehab.

May potentially use teleconferencing for Interactive conferencing. There is a need to exchange ISDN and IP addresses.

Internet video conferencing: Netmeeting was suggested for point-to-point with RERC aid (via Donal Lauderdale – Lauderdale@cua.edu). Problems exist however with Firewalls; requires modification to Firewall. Advantage is it is free and part of Explorer and Outlook.

Do we want a brochure? Advantage is ease in dissemination of information by RESNA. No decision at this point, and would have to identify the need and target.

Open Discussion

Relationship of RERC to SIG: Do want to use RERC as a conduit to the SIG? Not a problem if doesn't require additional resources. RERC personnel time could be an issue. Might open conflict of interest issues with involvement with RERC; some members of SIG are also members of the RERC. Discussion supported involvement with RERC.

Unique telesessions. Do we want to provide tech assistance to other RESNA groups? Possibly distance education? The possibility of exporting of portion of RESNA to other conferences, broadcasts, etc. was discussed, as well as support to other SIGs, such as SIG 17. OT community has expressed strong interest, as well as PT (PSGs).

There is a barrier to idea implementation because many don't know the technology, thus we can support others in establishment of telecommunication, but not ongoing support. The SIG can inform of possibilities and basics. Student chapters might be interested in holding meetings for broadcasting. However, it needs to be kept small and manageable.

Mission Statement

The number one goal of the SIG is to think of sessions related to RESNA; action items perform yearly, e.g. demonstrations, concurrent sessions, activities, etc. SIGs are being encouraged to be more proactive. Mike suggested SIG deliver a half day instructional course. Need to guarantee will have attendance of at least 20-25 attendees - RESNA needs to be able to financially support the
offering of the course. Need also determine the level of instruction in advance - beginning, intermediate, or advanced, or multi-level.

Mission statement committee determined the original mission submitted was not complete enough. The desire is a half page comprehensive mission statement. See SIG 17 mission as an example. It needs to be inclusive and describe what SIG 21 does and doesn't do. Nigel volunteered to create a first draft of the mission statement and post to the listserv for feedback.

Planning for RESNA 2001

Individuals who volunteered to represent the SIG on each committee for review of proposals for RESNA 2001 are as follows:

· Instructional Courses: Richard Burns;

· Concurrent Courses: John

· Platform Sessions: Michael Rosen

· Greta would like to assist where she can from a PT perspective. Nigel volunteered an OT to assist Shepherd to post results of professional perception survey to listserv.

RESNA and APTA conferences overlap next year. We may want to try to transmit to a location that can multipoint or stream (e.g., Marquette). Need to consider time zones. Can request 2 rooms at Reno because rooms are less expensive. Applications of telerehab to attract multitude of populations/professionals (real time); spectrum. Focus concurrent session on results. How does RESNA advertise?

Discussion addressed the desire to alleviate fears of practitioners through an instructional course. Suggestions included the use of case studies or examples what works/doesn't work - snipets or two
instructional courses with a beginning course in the am and intermediate in afternoon. The basics can be used to set the framework, build a foundation of the terminology.

Topics suggested for next year's RESNA:
Concurrent session:
Possible Instructional Courses:

· Telerehabilitation: What it is, what it isn't, and how it works. (Basic)

· Making it Work: Simple Problem Solving Using Telerehabilitation

· Telerehabilitation at home, school, work, and play.
Want to have multiple solutions to avoid technological issues; don't depend on one technology. Phone line and ISDN line emulators are available as a backup.

Proposals are due September 29th; notification is early December for Instructional Courses. Need to notify RESNA as soon as possible if there is a desire for teleconnections in Reno. ISDN is expensive, but emulators are not; Nigel suggested we use emulators if we want to stay within the building.

Concurred as a SIG to have a full day Instructional Course and one Concurrent Session.
(Critical appraisal of where the field is, where going, etc.) A round-table was also suggested.

Cynthia volunteered to write one Instructional course proposal and Richard the other. Krista volunteered to write one concurrent proposal (Tech Speak/Geek Speak). Therese volunteered to review proposals if desired before submission.

There was mention of the need to be a technical group that reviews proposal suggestions.

(Get paid for teaching an instructional course; intent is for hands on component.)

Other Information/Discussion

Mike will be delivering a course on telerehabilitation at CSUN.

Jack (also chair of RESNA Research Committee) noted that the research symposium for next year will be telecommunications or virtual reality. Two years from now the topic will be Universal Design.

Draft submitted by Deb Case, 9/00 [with minor revisions by Jack Winters, 10/00]