Call for Abstracts – ePoster Submissions

ISAAC Connect: Augmenting our Network

ePoster Information

Here are some important tips and tricks to help you finalize your ePoster for ISAAC Connect, taking place from August 9 – 12, 2021.

Your complete ePoster is due by Sunday, July 25, 2021 at the latest!

A PDF document is at the link below with full instructions on submitting your ePoster: 

How will the ePoster sessions work at ISAAC Connect?

  • ePosters at ISAAC Connect will have two components:
  1. ePoster will be submitted in PDF format and displayed in the event platform for the duration of the event.
  2. ePoster presenters will be scheduled for a time slot, during which they will be asked to do a live short presentation (3- 5 mins) to highlight the ePoster and to answer questions.

How do I submit my accepted poster?

  • All submissions must be made into your submission’s Google Drive folder (each ePoster presenter has already been provided with their unique folder URL).

All Google Drive folders are now open, and ePosters must be uploaded no later than Sunday, July 25, 2021 @ 18:00 GMT

What are the requirements for submission?

  • Either a single page ePoster (landscape or portrait) or a PowerPoint slide sequence (maximum five slides) can be submitted.
  • Submit your ePoster in PDF format.
  • Include your ePoster ID on your ePoster (top right-hand corner).
  • The top of the ePoster should display the title of the ePoster (18-point bold font), and the names of the authors (16-point bold font) and their affiliations (16-point bold & italic font). The rest of the ePoster should be in 14-point font, with headings in 16-point font.
  • A statement to acknowledge that ethical guidelines were followed should be included on the ePoster (e.g., “The ethical guidelines as required by the relevant authorities/tertiary institution – please name – have been followed.”).

What should I keep in mind to make my ePoster accessible to all event participants?

  • Use the accessibility tools and guidelines of the program you are using to create your ePoster (e.g., PowerPoint). 
  • Use a clear, consistent layout to organize the content. Make sure that the specific sections (e.g., background, methods, results, conclusions and recommendations) are easy to locate.
  • Use high-contrast colour combinations to visually highlight sections.
  • Provide adequate white space and avoid clutter.
  • Use sans serif fonts.
  • Use a combination of text, images, and simple graphs and tables to present the information.
  • Try to keep the text easy to read and concise.
  • Write in bullet format: avoid the use of long, complex sentences.
  • Use plain English, spell out acronyms, and define uncommon terms: keep in mind that our audience is international.
  • Avoid using watermarks.
  • Use only static images: do not embed videos or animation in the ePoster.
  • Make sure the images used are not copyrighted.
  • Include a descriptive caption for all images, graphs, and tables.

Example guidelines from other conferences can serve as a practical model

Will I have the opportunity to discuss my ePoster?

  • You will be assigned a time slot during which you will be asked to do a live short presentation (3- 5 minutes) about your ePoster and answer questions.
  • You will be informed of your allocated time slot.

When is my ePoster due?

  • All ePosters must be uploaded to the unique submission Google Drive folder no later than Sunday, July 25, 2021 @ 18:00 GMT.
  • If you are able to submit your ePoster before this deadline, you are strongly encouraged to do so.

 Resources

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Please consider submitting an ePoster to contribute to and help shape this inaugural ISAAC Virtual Event 2021. This event takes place from 9-12 August 2021.

ePosters are an essential part of this virtual event that encourage interaction and the exchange of ideas among participants.

Guidelines for Submission of your abstract to the Online System
All submissions to present an ePoster at the 2021 ISAAC Connect Virtual Event must be made through the online system. Please note that only ePoster submissions will be accepted for this event. The online portal opened on Friday, April 16th, 2021 @ 20:00 GMT

Submissions close Friday, May 14, 2021 @ 20:00 GMT

The information below is also available at the following link:

Each submission requires you to:
1. Submit a 300-word abstract
2. Submit presenter information
3. Specify accessibility needs
4. Specify 3 learning outcomes
5. Specify 3 keywords
6. Provide a maximum of 3 references (optional)
7. Complete Conflict of Interest Statement
8. Upload ASHA declaration form(s) as a single PDF file. Each author listed on the abstract will need to complete an individual ASHA declaration form.
9. Submit a clear head-and-shoulder photograph of all the authors, in the allotted space(s) within the ASHA declaration form noted above (optional).

** Submission and final ePoster must be in ENGLISH. Other language(s) may be included (in addition to English) at the author’s discretion. Any submission or final ePoster that is not made in English will not be accepted. ** 

What is an ePoster?
ePoster presentations are normally made by electronic presentation slides in Power Point or PDF files. ePoster presentations are a visual representation of research findings, practice-related ideas, or personal experiences. They typically incorporate graphics and text. ePosters will be available for download during the whole duration of the virtual event. Presenters will be allocated a timeslot to discuss their ePoster with delegates.

Once your ePoster has been accepted, ISAAC will provide more details about how to produce your ePoster and other functions of the virtual platform. More details relating to ePoster formatting requirements, as well as tips and advice on creating a high quality ePoster presentation, will be posted on the ISAAC Connect Call for ePosters webpage when available. Regardless of number of languages used, only one ePoster will be accepted per presentation. 

Evidence areas
ePosters can be submitted that address one or more of the following evidence areas:
Research Evidence – Present quality evidence gathered using empirical qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
Professional Practice – Share observations and experiences from your professional practice, or guide others in their practice.
Personal Experiences and Preferences – Tell your story about living or working with AAC.
Research Methods and Theories – Discuss AAC research methods and/or AAC theory.

What are the requirements for submission?
Please do not submit the following:
• Abstracts that have already been published elsewhere
• Submissions that are solely for marketing purposes – these submissions should be presented held at a Virtual Exhibitor’s booth.
• Submissions containing sensitive material, such as a person’s name, voice, picture, or personal details, without their permission.

Copyright
ISAAC will own the copyright on all ePosters accepted for the conference.

Ethical Procedures
All presenters are expected to have followed ethical procedures in the collection and analysis of clinical and research data. This includes measures to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all participants. Images and likenesses, including audio recordings and photographs or video data, must only be used with the informed consent of the person depicted. Real names or initials must only be used with the participant’s explicit permission; otherwise pseudonyms stated as not being the person’s real name must be used. Where a person cannot provide informed consent themselves, proxy consent (e.g., from a parent or appointed guardian) must be obtained. For those requiring more information about consent and assent processes, the following links:

•  World Health Organization Guidance for Ethics Review of Health-Related Research with Human Participants


World Medical Association: Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects


Bryen, D.N. (2016). Ethical issues in conducting research involving persons with disability: A view from the past and some new challenges. Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(2–1), 53–59.

A statement to acknowledge that ethical guidelines were followed should be included on the ePoster (e.g., “The ethical guidelines as required by the relevant authorities/tertiary institution – please name – have been followed”).

It is the author’s responsibility to make consent or other ethical considerations clear within their abstract as well. Abstracts suspected of containing identifying information will be returned to the author(s) as non-reviewable.

Notification of Acceptance
1. Applicants will be notified about the acceptance/rejection of their submission by Friday, June 18, 2021. Only ePoster submissions will be accepted for this virtual event (i.e., all platform presentations are invited only).
2. At this time, poster presenters will also be notified of the available formats for ePoster presentations.
3. Authors accepted to present their ePosters are expected to register their attendance for the virtual event and be available to present at their allocated time in the program to engage with participants and answer possible questions. If presenters are unable to present at the allocated time, this presentation opportunity will be forfeited. Unfortunately, no changes to allocated times can be considered. Conference registration pricing rates are available on the ISAAC website.

Theme for this Virtual Event: ISAAC Connect: Augmenting Our Network
This theme reflects ISAAC’s common goal for connecting all stakeholders (persons who use AAC, their friends and family, clinicians, teachers, researchers, advocates, device manufacturers, policy makers, etc.) from all over the world despite the global COVID-19 pandemic. ALL relevant ePosters of high quality submitted via the online platform will be considered for eligibility. Specifically, persons who use AAC and early career researcher researchers (including post graduate students) are encouraged to participate.

NIH Support for Early Career Professionals
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) has awarded a conference grant to USSAAC, the US chapter of ISAAC (Melanie Fried-Oken, PI), to support the ISAAC Connect Event. With the specialized funds, ISAAC Connect has invited experts outside of the AAC field who will offer their perspectives on AAC in the future. We also have planned master classes with breakout rooms, interactive sessions between AAC leaders, people who use AAC and early career professionals, and a Spanish chapter round table. In addition, the NIH award will provide registration to 12 early career professionals, AAC clinicians and researchers who joined the field within the past eight years. If you would like to be considered for one of these awards, please identify yourself as an early career professional when you submit your ePoster.

What do I need to know before I start my submission?
The online form will prompt you to provide the following details:
ePoster Title
The topic of your ePoster should be clear from the title (max 15 words).

Author Details
The name, affiliation, contact details, and a short biography (max 150 words) and photo for each author. You must also indicate which author(s) will be available for the ePoster at the online event.

Accessibility Needs –
You will be asked to identify any presenter accessibility needs within a virtual environment.

Abstract Format for ePoster presentation:
Your abstract must be entered as plain text into the submission form, and should be a maximum of 300 words. In addition, no more than three references should be included (the references do not form part of the 300 words). The abstract should provide a detailed description of the ePoster contents for the conference proceedings and for review purposes. The abstract should contain no identifying details of the authors, to enable a blind review of the submission.

Research Evidence ePoster abstracts should include:
• an introductory statement that outlines the background and significance of the study
• an overview of the main aim of the research
• a succinct description of the basic methodology used
• a clear indication of the study’s major results/findings
• a concluding statement

Professional Practice, Personal Experiences and Preferences, and Research Theories and Methods
• ePoster abstracts must include the content and focus of the ePoster.

Ethics Statement
A brief statement to confirm that ethical principles (including informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence and non-maleficence) were followed, should be included in the abstract. This can be included in more detail on the ePoster.

Where appropriate, the name of the relevant institution from which ethics approval was obtained should be included on the ePoster.

Keywords
You will be asked to list three keywords.

Learning outcomes
You will be asked to list three learning outcomes.

References
You will have the option of providing a maximum of three references.

Declaration of Interest Statement
Authors must select one of the following statements:
• “The authors disclose they have no financial or other interest in objects or entities mentioned in this paper”.
OR
• “The authors disclose they have the following financial or other interests in objects or entities mentioned in this paper…” (Please provide specific details, e.g., research funding sources, commercial interests in products or interventions, etc.)

This statement must acknowledge the interests of all authors on the ePoster.

ASHA Disclosure Form(s)
These forms allow ASHA members to gain Continuing Education Units (CEU) for attending the presentation. An ASHA form must be completed for each proposal submission and uploaded as a PDF, using the “Upload File” functionality within the system. If they are not included, the proposal will be returned to the author(s) as non-reviewable.

The ASHA form template can be accessed from the ISAAC website, and must first be downloaded and saved to your local computer. Once saved, it can be opened and completed. The form template was created with the full version of Adobe Acrobat, and ISAAC recommends that authors use either the Adobe Reader or the full version of Adobe Acrobat to complete and save the form.

When you’ve finished the submission
Submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Research Committee for ePoster presentation. You will receive a confirmation email after your Abstract has been successfully submitted.

What Selection Criteria will the Programme Committee use?
The ePoster presentations will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
• Strength of theoretical, scientific, or professional rationale.
• Quality and rigor of content, as appropriate for proposal type.
• Relevance and interest to ISAAC audience.
• Overall clarity of proposal.

When will I be notified about the outcome of my submission?
Email notification of programming decisions will come from ISAAC on Friday, 18 June 2021.

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email at isaacconnect@isaac-online.org

The above information is available in PDF format below:

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