WAVE Deadlines
WAVE 1: 31 JANUARY 2026 — all submission types
WAVE 2: 15 MARCH 2026 — all submission types. Final call for Special Symposia (by invitation only)
WAVE 3: 30 APRIL 2026 — final call for instructional courses (ICs), symposia & LaunchPad
WAVE 4: 31 MAY 2026 — ONLY scientific papers & posters
LATE-BREAKING posters — 30 JUNE 2026
***ACRM is reviewing and accepting content in waves***
Again this year, ACRM is using a wave model for conference submissions to provide clarity and visibility to the deadlines. Authors will have three WAVES (series of deadlines) in which to submit their abstract. At the conclusion of each WAVE, all complete abstract submissions will be evaluated, and authors will be notified whether their submission has been accepted.
ACRM highly encourages early submissions
Benefits of submitting early (WAVES 1 and 2):
- Increases likelihood that there will be availability of slots in your chosen primary content area should your submission be accepted.
- Should your abstract not be accepted, any feedback from reviewers will be provided, and submitters will have the opportunity to revise and resubmit in a subsequent WAVE.
- Earlier acceptance provides access to increased time for ACRM to partner with presenters to promote your session and build your audience.
- Early acceptance allows you to register at the best discounted rates and increased room availability at the headquarters hotel.
- At the conclusion of each WAVE, all complete abstract submissions will be evaluated and authors will be notified whether their submission has been accepted.
Submission Types
Explore submission types and deadlines for the ACRM Annual Conference.
Scientific Papers & Posters
WAVE 1 Deadline to submit
31 January 2026
Scientific Posters are graphic presentations of a scientific paper. Submissions must include objectives, hypotheses, methodology, and results in the abstract (see Submission Guidelines below). Submissions with pending results are not accepted.
A scientific paper is a moderated oral presentation of approximately 15 minutes including questions and discussion. Outstanding submissions may be chosen for a longer presentation. AV equipment may be used to supplement the presentation.
Submission Guidelines
A 400-word abstract must follow one of the two structured formats used for submissions to the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (see Instructions for Structured Abstracts).
Structured abstracts for Scientific Poster and Papers must have these sections:
- Research Objective(s)
- Design
- Setting
- Participants (animals or cadavers or specimens, for orthotics only)
- Interventions
- Main Outcome Measure(s)
- Results
- Conclusions
- Author(s) Disclosures
Systematic/Meta-analytic Reviews must have these sections:
- Research Objective(s)
- Data Sources
- Study Selection
- Data Extraction
- Data Synthesis
- Conclusions
- Author(s) Disclosures
Poster Awards to be eligible for
- ACRM Poster Spotlight 1st Place
- ACRM Poster Spotlight 2nd Place
- ACRM Poster Spotlight 3rd Place
- Brain Injury ISIG David Strauss, Ph.D. Memorial Award
- Brain Injury ISIG Early Career Best Poster
- Brain Injury ISIG Deborah Lee Price Girls and Women with ABI Taskforce Poster Award
- Spinal Cord Injury ISIG Early Career Poster Award
- Spinal Cord Injury ISIG Best Poster
- Stroke ISIG Early Career Poster Award
- Stroke ISIG Outstanding Scientific Poster Award
- Stroke ISIG Newsworthy Poster of the Conference
- Measurement ISIG Measurement in Action Poster Award
- Measurement ISIG Advancing the Science of Measurement Poster Award
- Measurement ISIG Early Career Poster Award
- International ISIG Poster Award
- Best Early Career Poster in Aging Research & Geriatric Rehabilitation
- Best Scientific Poster in Aging Research & Geriatric Rehabilitation
- Best Scientific Poster in Cancer Rehabilitation
- New Investigator Poster Award in Cancer Rehabilitation
- Excellence in Complementary, Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Poster Award
- Best Overall Poster in Health Services Research
- Best Early Career Poster in Health Services Research
- Best Student/Resident/Fellow Poster in Health Services Research
- Military & Veterans Affairs NG Best Poster Award
- Military & Veterans Affairs NG Early Career Poster Award
- Neurodegenerative Diseases NG Best Poster Award
- Neurodegenerative Diseases NG Early Career Poster Award
- Pediatric Rehabilitation NG Poster Award
- PRNG Co-Chair Name (two co-chairs for this NG)
- Physician and Clinicians Networking Group Poster Award
- Best Overall Poster inTechnology Award
- Best Early Career Poster in Technology
The total length of all sections in the submission must not exceed 400 words. Tables or other graphics are not permitted. Submission must include three to five continuing education learning objectives. This is required whether the abstract is eventually selected for CE/CME or not.
Submission must indicate all participants in the abstract, listing the lead investigator first, followed by all other participants in the order in which they should appear in print. The submitter has the ability to complete all information for each participant, though we recommend that participants log in to the system to complete the information themselves.
It is important that submitters appropriately identify the role of presenters and moderators and confirm their intent to register and attend in person. There is an option for poster presenters to present asynchronously. To learn more, please visit ACRM.org/posters
Selection Criteria
Each complete submission received by the published due date will be independently peer-reviewed. There should be no more than ONE presenter identified for Scientific Poster and Papers. All additional contributors should be entered as non-presenting contributors. Poster and paper presenters must register for the conference by the date stated in their acceptance letter.
Poster/Paper proposals will be reviewed for the following elements:
SELECTION CRITERIA | WEIGHTING FOR EACH CRITERIA |
| Contribution to state of the art of rehabilitation science | 22% |
| Pertinent to the interests of the ACRM membership | 10% |
| Expertise and qualifications of the presenters | 8% |
| Overall impact and quality | 60% |
Review System Questions:
- Accept/Reject
- Comments (If score is higher than 75, but reject, must include comments; If score is less than 75, but accept, must add comments):
Abstract Publication & Poster Awards:
All abstracts of accepted papers and posters will be published in the online pages of the ACRM journal, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, (the “ARCHIVES”) following the conference, where they will be fully searchable and citable. The ARCHIVES is the most-cited journal in rehabilitation.
Accepted posters will have the opportunity to be considered for the ACRM Poster Awards. Further, a subset of the poster award winners will have the opportunity to present their poster in a Poster Spotlight session. Awards and Poster Spotlight require in-person participation. Asynchronous Presenters are not eligible to receive awards or participate in Poster Spotlight.
*Late-Breaking posters are not eligible for ACRM poster awards.*
The conference Program Committee reserves the right to offer an alternative or reduced time slot for presentations based on submissions.
Instructional Courses (IC)
WAVE 1 Deadline to submit
31 January 2026
Instructional courses may be proposed for a four-hour or eight-hour time block, allowing presenters the opportunity to discuss and present a topic in depth. Courses should be either instructional in nature, offering in-depth training or knowledge translation on a particular topic; or informative, providing detailed coverage of an area of research, methodology, or clinical practice.
Courses will be scheduled as conference sessions on 13 – 16 October depending upon the length and level of interest in the topic. Instructional courses typically provide the opportunity for small-group interaction and hands-on activities.
The proposal should include a course title, course director/lead presenter, all presenters with credentials and affiliations, detailed course outline, and duration. The submission must describe the instructional method to be used, and the content and format of presentations. It should also identify the intended audience (i.e., researchers, clinicians, administrators). A concise and descriptive summary of the course is also required for marketing purposes.
Important Points:
- Presenters will not be paid a stipend or honorarium.
- All presentations must be submitted for review prior to the conference.
- Instructional courses require a minimum of two speakers.
- All presenters will be required to register for the IC.
- Submitters should confirm presenters’ availability to register and attend the IC.
All presenters and moderators must register as specified and they must present at the conference in person. Therefore it is important that submitters appropriately identify the role of presenters and moderators and confirm their intent to register and attend in person.
Proposals must include:
- Course title
- Course director/lead presenter
- All presenters with credentials and affiliations
- Detailed course outline and duration
- Instructional method, content, and format
- Intended audience (researchers, clinicians, administrators)
- Concise summary for marketing
Multiple presenters are required. All must provide disclosure of potential conflicts and agree to audio/video recording for re-broadcast. Presenters receive no stipend or honorarium. All presentations must be submitted for review before the conference.
Selection Criteria
Each complete submission received by the published due date will be independently peer reviewed. Instructional course proposals will be reviewed for the following elements:
SELECTION CRITERIA | WEIGHTING FOR EACH CRITERIA |
Does the content add to state of the art of rehabilitation science and/or reflect best practice in clinical practice?
| 15% |
| Pertinent to the interests of the ACRM membership? | 10% |
| Expertise and qualifications of the presenters | 7.5% |
Will the proposed format lead to direct application of content by attendees (clinical or scientific application)?
| 7.5% |
Overall impact and quality
| 60% |
Review System Questions:
- Is the proposal the appropriate scope for an IC? (i.e. does this warrant a 4 or 8 hour course)
- Is the content better suited for a different format? Symposia, poster, research paper
- Accept/Reject
- Comments (If reject, must add comments):
The conference Program Committee reserves the right to offer an alternative or reduced time slot for presentations based on submissions.
Symposia
WAVE 1 Deadline to submit
31 January 2026
Symposia Sessions are 60 minutes in length, and are presented by professionals with expertise in the topic
There is a mandatory period of 10 minutes for questions and discussion, and more time may be allotted. Symposia will be scheduled for presentation 13 – 16 October. Desired symposia submissions:
- All symposia should have a minimum of two presenters.
- Show how current research can effectively guide clinical practice.
- Identify clinical questions where additional research data are needed.
- State a direct relationship between the subject matter and evidence-based practice.
Important Points
- Symposia require a minimum of two presenters.
- Proposals that include original research must report results. Works in progress or pending results are not accepted.
- All presentations must be submitted for review prior to the conference.
- Presenters will not be paid a stipend or honorarium.
- All presenters will be required to register for the ACRM conference. Submitters should confirm presenters’ availability to register/attend conference.
- Symposia proposals are not published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
All presenters and moderators must register as specified and they must present at the conference in person in Washington DC. Therefore it is important that submitters appropriately identify the role of presenters and moderators and confirm their intent to register and attend in person.
Selection Criteria
Each complete submission received by the published due date will be independently peer reviewed. Symposia proposals will be reviewed for the following elements:
SELECTION CRITERIA | WEIGHTING FOR EACH CRITERIA |
Does the content add to state of the art of rehabilitation science and/or clinical practice?
| 22% |
| Pertinent to the interests of the ACRM membership | 10% |
| Expertise and qualifications of the presenters | 8% |
Overall impact and quality
| 60% |
Review System Questions:
- Is the proposal the appropriate scope for a symposium? (i.e. does this warrant a 60 minute presentation)
- Is the content better suited for a different format? Poster, research paper
- Accept/Reject
- Comments (If score is higher than 75, but reject, must include comments; If score is less than 75, but accept, must add comments):
The conference Program Committee reserves the right to offer an alternative or reduced time slot for presentations based on submissions.
LaunchPad
Deadline to submit
WAVES do not apply for LaunchPad. This deadline is final.
30 April 2026
LaunchPad is an annual competition showcasing innovative rehabilitation technologies from non-profit labs and startup companies. Held on the first day of the ACRM Annual Fall Conference, participants pitch their ideas to a panel of industry experts and an audience of clinicians, researchers, engineers, and decision-makers—gaining market feedback and competing for prizes.
- The template for the Executive Summary can be found here or on the ACRM LaunchPad webpage ACRM.org/launchpad.
- All presenters and moderators must register as specified and they must present at the conference in person in Washington DC. Therefore it is important that submitters appropriately identify the role of presenters and moderators and confirm their intent to register and attend in person.