AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting
June 22-24, 2026
Chicago, IL
Sesquicentennial: 150 Years of Progress
The 150th AAIDD Annual Meeting will provide a forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to come together to explore opportunities, strategies, and challenges related to technological progress made in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This major anniversary of our Association is a time to reflect on our past and join together in celebrating the importance of scientific advancements in supporting people with IDD as we look toward the future.
The conference will:
- Include plenary sessions focused on how technology has shaped our policies, practices, and research in the past and present so we can better leverage Ai in the future.
- Feature panel presentations, poster presentations, issue briefs, and poster symposia on new and emerging knowledge in our field and promising practices that illustrate our ongoing commitment for the inherent dignity of individuals while fostering supportive communities though such advancements.
- Provide networking opportunities to build professional relationships, facilitate the informal exchange of ideas, and aid in personal and career growth.
AAIDD seeks proposals that highlight new and emerging knowledge in the field of IDD. Evidence-based research, practice, and policy-oriented proposals on all topics of concern to people with IDD are welcome, authors do not need to limit themselves to the conference theme in their submissions.
Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025
Vincent M. Chesney, MS, KM, FAAIDD
Chair, 2026 Conference Planning Committee
Individual Paper Presentation
Consist of presentations whose content could be conveyed in 20-30 minutes (including question period). AAIDD will group 2-3 paper presentations on a common topic or theme into one 60-minute concurrent session.
Dedicated Panel
(Formerly Full Panel)
Small groups of
authors may submit 3 distinct but thematically linked presentation
proposals of 15 minutes each (to be followed by a 15-minute question
period). Panel presentations will be reviewed as a group presentation.
Poster
Individuals or groups of authors submit proposals for interactive poster presentations in which they can discuss their work with conference participants in a 90-minute evening session.
Issue Briefs
Consist of a short informative update on the latest from our field. The session inlcudes approximately 8 speakers with 5-7 minutes of presentation time each supported by 5 PowerPoint slides. (If selected for this format, speakers must provide slides in advance of the conference.) Time for discussion is allotted after all speakers have made their presentations.
Poster Symposia
Consist of a hybrid of poster
and panel presentation. Each symposium consists of an average
of approximately 8 speakers with 5 minutes of verbal presentation time
about their posters followed by individual Q&A at their poster
board.
How to Submit a Proposal
All proposals will be peer-reviewed and authors will be notified of the decision in mid-February. Please note that all presenting authors must register and pay the registration fee.
Tools for Success for International Authors
Translations provided by the AAIDD International Interest Network
Tips for Submitting Proposals to English-language Conferences
Here are some tips that will help you in getting your proposal accepted for an English-language conference.
- Make sure that your submission can be easily understood by English-speaking reviewers.
Translation software works best with short sentences. Short, clear sentences are more accurately translated by software than long or complex sentences. - Make sure that your submission is professional and contemporary.
Use terms that are in current and common use by English-speaking professionals. Some terms are no longer used by professionals and may even be considered offensive. For example, the term “Mental Retardation” is no longer used by English-speaking professionals. Using this term may result in a poor review of your submission. In the US, “Intellectual Disability” is used. In the UK “Learning Disabilities” is used. - Understand and use the scoring criteria to your advantage.
The criteria that will be used to score proposals are almost always provided. Prepare your proposal to respond to the scoring criteria. Proposals that do not respond to the scoring criteria will receive a poor review. - Follow proposal submission procedures.
*Submit your proposal on time.
*Answer all questions and fill in all data entry fields.
*Give the most attention to the parts of a proposal that are worth the most points. - Seek advice.
The submission portal may list an email contact to request more information. It may also be helpful to ask an experienced colleague for their tips in submitting a proposal to an English language conference.
The Submission Portal is Now Open!
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