Annual Meeting FAQ
General Annual Meeting questions and answers can be found below. For specific information regarding the upcoming meeting, please visit the 2012 Annual Meeting website.
Abstracts
How do I submit an abstract I’d like to present at the Annual Meeting?
Abstracts must be submitted through the online abstract submission site. You may submit your abstract as an oral or poster presentations, as well as a two-hour long instructional course. There is no fee to submit an abstract.
Who is eligible to submit an abstract?
AACPDM encourages anyone who has information of interest, such as research or clinical studies, in the areas of cerebral palsy and developmental medicine to submit their abstract. Membership in AACPDM is not required for abstract submission.
When can I submit an abstract?
The AACPDM abstract submission site generally opens at the beginning of December and closes at the end of January. Abstracts are reviewed by the Scientific Program Committee, and notifications are typically sent in early April.
Is the research presented at the Annual Meeting published?
All Scientific Poster and Free Paper abstracts are published in a supplement to Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology (DMCN) journal. The supplement is provided to each attendee of the Annual Meeting, as well as online at the DMCN web site.
Registration
Who should attend the Annual Meeting?
The target audience of the Annual Meeting includes Developmental and other Pediatricians, Neurologists, Psychologists, Physiatrists, Orthopedic and Neuro-Surgeons, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Orthotists, Rehab Engineers, Kinesiologists, Nurses, Nutritionists, Special Educators, Administrators, Researchers, and all others concerned with the care of children with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities.
When and where can I register?
Registration for the AACPDM Annual Meeting typically opens in early June and remains open until late August/early September. Early Bird registration is the most cost-effective way to register, and is generally open until approximately 5-6 weeks prior to the meeting. Advance Registration is open for approximately two weeks after Early Bird registration ends. On-site registration is also available at the Annual Meeting, and is more expensive than pre-registering.
What is included in my registration fee and what is extra?
Your basic registration fee includes all plenary sessions and Free Paper sessions at the Annual Meeting. Attendees are also invited to attend the President’s Welcome Reception and poster review session at no additional charge. Optional events that do carry an additional fee are: Pre-Conference sessions, Breakfast with the Experts sessions, Instructional Courses, and the Friday night dinner event.
I will be unable to attend the entire conference. Do I have to pay the full registration?
AACPDM offers a one-day registration for the Annual Meeting at a discounted rate from the full meeting registration. Only one one-day registration is allowed per registrant. If you will be attending more than one day of the Annual Meeting, you will need to register for the full meeting.
How will I know what sessions to attend?
The Preliminary Program is available online in early June, when registration opens. The program provides information on the meeting schedule, and describes the courses that are available. Instructional courses and breakfast sessions include a description of the course, as well as the purpose, objectives and target audience. In addition, instructional courses provide a level of basic, intermediate or advanced. This designation is merely a guide; all registered attendees are welcome to attend sessions of any instructional level. The Final Program is provided to all registered attendees when they check in at the registration desk at the Annual Meeting.
Can I attend a course without registering for the Annual Meeting?
All attendees must sign up for either basic registration (for the full meeting) or a one-day registration before registering for additional courses such as breakfast sessions, instructional courses, or pre-conference sessions. Plenary sessions are included with both a one-day registration and the full basic registration.
CME/CEU
What types of CME/CEU credits does AACPDM offer?
AACPDM is accredited to offer CME/CEU credits for Physicians, Physical Therapists / Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists / Occupational Therapy Assistants, and Nurses. All attendees may claim a Certificate of Attendance. Information about the number of credits available can be found in the preliminary program on the Annual Meeting website.
How do I collect my CME/CEU certificate or Certificate of Attendance?
Shortly after the Annual Meeting takes place, AACPDM will email you with a link to obtain your certificate. Included will be your personalized login information, as well as a link to our self-reporting form. The form will ask you to indicate which sessions you attended, and your certificate will be available for printing or downloading at the end of the form.
I attended a past Annual Meeting and need my certificate. How do I get it?
Please email the AACPDM Office at info@aacpdm.org to get instructions. We will need to know the name that you registered under, and the year that you need the certificate for.
Miscellaneous
Does AACPDM provide any awards or discounts of any kind?
AACPDM is pleased to offer two types of travel scholarships to attend the Annual Meeting: the International Scholarship, which awards up to $2500, and the Student Scholarship, which awards up to $1000. The International Scholarship submission generally opens in early December and closes at the end of January. The Student Scholarship submission opens in early February and closes at the end of April.
What is the Annual Meeting cancellation policy?
All requests for cancellation must be received in writing by the time pre-registration closes, which is generally four weeks before the Annual Meeting. A 75% refund will be granted for requests received before this time. No refunds will be granted after the deadline, and all refunds are processed after the meeting takes place. In the event that the Annual Meeting is cancelled by AACPDM, all pre-registered attendees will receive a 100% refund.
How can I support the Annual Meeting?
There are many ways to support the AACPDM Annual Meeting. First and foremost, you can register to attend the meeting. We encourage our attendees to return to our Annual Meeting and bring their colleagues. There are also multiple opportunities to exhibit at the Annual Meeting, and to sponsor events, which are detailed on the Annual Meeting website. Additionally, the Annual Meeting registration form provides an opportunity to donate to the AACPDM Endowment Fund. Donations to AACPDM can be made online at any time through our secure online contribution form.
How do I make reservations at the Annual Meeting hotel?
To make reservations at the Annual Meeting hotel, please contact the hotel directly. Information about the hotel, the hotel’s contact information, and a link to make online reservations are available on the Annual Meeting website.
Can I bring a guest to the Annual Meeting?
You may register a guest for the Annual Meeting. Guest registration includes social events, however guests may not attend scientific sessions.
Do you have a question that we should add to this FAQ? For this or any other inquiries, please contact AACPDM at (414) 918-3014 or info@aacpdm.org.