Abstracts

Scientific Presentations

When an abstract is submitted as a Scientific Presentation, you are asked to indicate a preference of presentation format (free paper, poster or either). However, if the abstract is accepted for presentation, the Scientific Program Committee will determine the final presentation format. All accepted abstracts in this category will be published in the Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (DMCN) supplement. Please note: Individuals may present a maximum of two oral presentations, including papers presented on behalf of first authors who are unable to attend the meeting.

• Free Paper (podium presentation) – A seven-minute oral presentation held during one of the concurrent “Free Paper” sessions during the Annual Meeting.
• Scientific Poster – If accepted, Scientific Poster presenters will be required to submit their poster as an ePoster. An ePoster is an electronic version of the traditional mountable poster in PDF format.  It will be displayed on computer monitors at the Annual Meeting and posted on the AACPDM website after the Annual Meeting. Dual display methods will increase exposure to the work and allow for more flexible access. Additional details will be sent to accepted poster presenters and posted on the AACPDM website.

The members of the AACPDM Scientific Program Committee will review the abstracts, blinded to the names of the authors and institutions affiliated with the submission. Presentations will be selected on the basis of their research question or hypothesis, study design/methodology/conclusions, impact/relevance and importance.

Student status will not affect your abstract submission type or the grading of your abstract.

In order to make fair comparisons of the quality of submitted abstracts across a wide spectrum of disciplines, it is imperative that the following structured abstract format be followed.

There is a strict 3000-character count, including spaces, which will be imposed on the length of the body of the abstract.

Background and Objective(s): Provide a brief statement about the problem or question/s of interest followed by the specific objective/s of the study.

Study Participants & Setting: Describe participants and relevant information about the setting(s) in which the research was conducted so that generalizability of the results can be determined. The inclusion/exclusion criteria, number who participated out of the number eligible and pertinent socio-demographic information may be described.

Some terms used to describe participant selection processes include: random sampling, consecutive series, convenience sampling, purposeful (or purposive) sampling. Examples of relevant settings include primary care, tertiary or referral center, institutional setting, community, etc.

Materials/Methods: Describe the methods used to conduct the study. Where applicable, identify the primary (and important secondary) outcomes and what statistical methods (where applicable) were used to conduct the analyses. For qualitative studies, describe the methodology used and briefly summarize data collection methods and data analysis processes.

Results: Scientific abstracts must contain results from the completed study. Statistical analyses must be appropriate for the study design and level of data. Standard deviations or 95% confidence intervals and the level of statistical significance are to be reported, when applicable. Results of qualitative studies must include brief summary of themes or theoretical model, as appropriate.

Conclusions/Significance: Only those conclusions that can be supported by the data presented in the study should be stated. The significance or implications of the findings may be described.

Demonstration Posters

The purpose of a Demonstration Poster is to showcase emerging ideas, generate discussion regarding new and innovative service delivery models, highlight novel techniques and technologies; and/or advocacy efforts pertaining to the care of people with childhood-onset disabilities. Demonstration Posters can be used to highlight an upcoming funded clinical study or a program or service evaluation, but abstracts that include scientific data, analyses and results WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE DEMONSTRATION POSTER CATEGORY and are more appropriate for submission as a Scientific Presentation.

The Demonstration Posters will be fully recognized in the program; however, please note that these abstracts will not be published in the Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (DMCN) supplement.

If accepted, Poster Presenters will be required to submit their poster as a traditional poster and as an ePoster. Details will be sent to accepted presenters and posted on the AACPDM website.

The following criteria will be used to judge Demonstration Poster abstracts:

• Innovation
• Potential to impact research and/or clinical practice in childhood-onset disability
• Freedom from commercial bias
• Safety
• Scientific abstracts of hypothesis driven research or other abstracts that would qualify for submission as a Scientific Presentation will not be considered for Demonstration Posters

There is a strict 3000-character count, including spaces, which will be imposed on the length of the body of the abstract. The abstract should be structured as follows:

Background/Objectives: Provide a brief introductory statement about the issue at hand followed by the specific objectives of the Demonstration Poster.

Description: Provide a description of the information to be presented in the poster.

Significance: Briefly explain the significance or importance of the information being presented, highlighting novel and innovative aspects.  Where appropriate, suggest future research that might help establish, validate or strengthen these new ideas.

Clinical Observation or Single Case Study Posters

These posters will provide the opportunity to share observations and single case studies that illustrate important or novel findings, treatment outcomes, or lines of scientific inquiry. The goal is to serve as a forum for interesting observations that may not meet the robust standards of scientific evidence needed for a scientific poster but are compelling to our attendees and inspire idea generation about potential new directions for clinical consideration and scientific inquiry.

Note: abstracts that include scientific data, analyses and results WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE CLINICAL OBSERVATION OR SINGLE CASE STUDY POSTER CATEGORY and are more appropriate for submission as a Scientific Presentation.

The Clinical Observation or Single Case Study Posters will be fully recognized in the program; however, please note that these abstracts will not be published in the Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (DMCN) supplement.

If accepted, Poster presenters will be required to submit their poster as an ePoster. An ePoster is an electronic version of the traditional mountable poster in PDF format.  It will be displayed on computer monitors at the Annual Meeting and posted on the AACPDM website after the Annual Meeting. The dual display methods will increase exposure to the work and allow people to view posters at their convenience. Details will be sent to presenters and posted on the AACPDM website.

The following criteria will be used to judge Clinical Observation and Case Study Poster abstracts:

-      Innovation
-      Potential to inform research and/or clinical practice in childhood-onset disability
-      Freedom from commercial bias
-      Safety

There is a strict 3000-character count, including spaces, which will be imposed on the length of the body of the abstract. The abstract should be structured as follows:

Background/Objectives: Provide a brief introductory statement about the observation or case study and objectives of the poster.

Description: Provide a description of the information to be presented in the poster.

Significance: Briefly explain the significance or importance of the information being presented, highlighting novel and innovative aspects. Where appropriate, suggest future research that might help establish, validate or strengthen these new ideas and/or novel clinical implications.

Morning Seminars

This 60-minute interactive session should include approximately 40 minutes for presentation of material and at least 20 minutes of interactive discussion with attendees.  Attendance is limited in order to encourage audience participation.

Your session abstract should include the following:

1. There is a maximum of 4 presenters and a strict 3000-character count, including spaces, which will be imposed on the length of the body of the abstract.
2. Content should be current, evidence based, practical, applicable and provide a balanced perspective.
3. Consideration for audience participation in the schedule. We encourage you to prepare questions to promote participation interactive portion of your session.

Mini-Symposia

Mini-Symposia are 120 minutes in length and include up to 90 minutes of presentation and at least 30 minutes for active discussion with the audience, providing formal in-depth instruction for continuing professional education combined with audience participation and interaction.

Mini-Symposia are an important component of the Academy meeting. We recommend that authors structure their course abstract according to the following guidelines:

1. There is a strict 3000-character count, including spaces, which will be imposed on the length of the body of the abstract.
2. Content should be current, evidence based, practical, applicable to the AACPDM audience and provide a balanced perspective. Each mini-symposium should include experts representing multiple centers speaking along a certain theme. We highly encourage the inclusion of those with lived experience with childhood onset disability (including family members) as co-presenters.
3. The most positively evaluated courses are those which encourage audience participation in a variety of ways throughout the session. Mini-symposia must include opportunities for audience participation.
4. Please limit the number of symposia speakers (including author) to no more than eight.
5. Handouts are recommended for any accepted abstract for Mini-Symposia.  Handouts submitted electronically prior to the meeting will be included on the AACPDM website. Prior permission must be obtained to duplicate copyrighted materials. Additional instructions for submitting handouts will be sent to presenters and posted on the AACPDM website prior to the annual meeting.
6. Please note: Individuals may only present in a maximum of two Mini-Symposia.