AAIDD 2018 Annual Meeting Call for Papers

Reaffirming Diversity and Inclusion

About the Conference
We welcome all interested individuals to participate in the 142nd Annual Conference of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) - the oldest and most prestigious professional organization for those in the disability field. This meeting will provide content, strategies, and resources that will be invaluable for our diverse attendees. Whether you are an advocate, direct support professional, student, practitioner, manager, researcher, clinician, educator, or policymaker - AAIDD truly has something for everyone!
This is the premier opportunity to share your research, model programs, resources, emerging trends and practices from many areas including education, employment, health, caregiving, advocacy, positive behavior supports and much more!
This year's theme, Reaffirming Diversity and Inclusion, couldn't be timelier, as we reflect upon disability as a major constituent of a diverse population, and how diversity within the intellectual disability field should be acknowledged and celebrated. Furthermore, we will consider how inclusion, now more than ever, remains our overarching goal to help realize and recognize the potential of all people with disabilities. Creative proposals are sought that present research findings, report on innovative practices, and/or analyze public policies or practices. Whether or not your presentation reflects this theme - we welcome your submission to present with us in St. Louis!

What can the 2018 AAIDD Conference offer you?
AAIDD members have been leaders at the cutting edge of ground-breaking research, practice, and policy in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1876! We are the definitive membership organization and the authoritative source of information for those in the intellectual disability profession. So join your new AAIDD family and reconnect with trusted friends and colleagues, as together we will share and learn from: 

- Thought-provoking plenary sessions, panel presentations, poster symposiums, and poster presentations.
- AAIDD Interest Networks and Chapter meetings, and many other opportunities for attendees meet each other.
- Fun social events and receptions with more informal opportunities to interact with luminaries in the field.
- Pre- and post-conference workshops that address relevant topics of interest in greater detail.

Students and Early Career Professionals - You Are Our Future!

The AAIDD Annual Meeting provides a unique opportunity to become more involved in the field, develop leadership skills, and network with people who share your professional passion. We encourage students and early career professionals to submit proposals. AAIDD Scholarships are available to support the participation of students and early career professionals. To be eligible for a potential scholarship, a student/early career professional must a) be the first author on a paper/poster proposal and b) indicate their proposal should be reviewed for a scholarship on the proposal submission form.

Proposal Formats
Individual Paper Presentation: Individuals or small groups of authors are encouraged to submit proposals for paper presentation whose content could be conveyed in 20-30 minutes (including question period). Among the paper presentation proposals accepted for inclusion in the program, AAIDD will group 3 paper presentations that are on a common topic or theme into one 90-minute concurrent session. AAIDD will assign a moderator to the paper presentations that will be combined into a concurrent session.
Poster Presentations and Reception: Individuals or groups of authors are encouraged to submit proposals for interactive poster presentations in which they can to discuss their work with conference participants. Poster proposals will also be peer-reviewed.
Poster Symposium: is a hybrid of poster and panel presentation style. Each symposium consist of an average of 10 posters where they have the opportunity to do a 3-5 minute verbal presentation about their posters.
Full Panel Presentation: Small groups of authors are encouraged to submit 3 distinct but thematically linked presentation proposals of 30 minutes each (including question period). Panel presentations will be reviewed as a group presentation. AAIDD will assign a moderator to each concurrent session.

For more information and instructions to submit a proposal, please click here.
Elizabeth Perkins, PhD, RNLD, FAAIDD
Chair, 2018 Conference Planning Committee