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Abstract Submissions

2013 Call for Concurrent Session, Specialty Workshop and Poster Abstracts

The ADEC Annual Conference invites leaders in death education and counseling to exchange information about the psychosocial, clinical and educational aspects of dying and death.

Reframing Images of Grief: Identity Transformation Through Loss

No one seriously debates the notion that loss changes life. The often-repeated phrase that “life will never be the same” is certainly true, but some of those “not the same” characteristics of loss can be revolutionary. People gain new passion. Purpose is reignited. Great movements are begun. In short, the identity of the grieving person is utterly transformed. That’s what this conference is all about — finding the ways we as death educators, bereavement professionals and counselors come alongside the dying and bereaved to help them learn how to live in a radically changed world.

Download the Call for Abstracts informational brochure. (PDF)

The submission period for all session types has ended. Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal. We look forward to reviewing them and putting together a diverse, dynamic program. Authors will be notified of acceptance no later than November 30, 2012.

Specialty Workshops:

As of July 18, ADEC is no longer accepting submissions for specialty workshops.

Specialty workshops are topic-specific training opportunities for professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge about dying, death and bereavement. Submissions are for either half-day (3.25 hours) or full-day (6.5 hour) workshops. The specialty workshops will be held on the two days preceding the conference: April 23-24, 2013. Submission of an abstract for a specialty workshop implies your availability to present on either of the two days.

Specialty workshops in 2013 will include some sessions identified through the proposal submission and review process, as well as some on key topics invited by the conference program chairs. This combination of submitted and invited workshops will provide conference attendees with a richer choice of options for the two days.

Concurrent Session and Poster Presentations:

As of September 12, ADEC is no longer accepting submissions for concurrent sessions and poster presentations.

Here are some helpful documents when Submitting and Preparing an Abstract:
Guidance for People Submitting an Abstract
Guidance for People Preparing a Presentation
Guidance for People Preparing a Poster

ADEC uses an online abstract submission database to collect proposals. Review each of the specific submission requirements below and gather the required information in preparation for online submission.

ADEC Presentation Types
You must choose from the following submission types. Read the entire list; you will choose the best presentation type for your submission when filling out the proposal information. Submissions will be evaluated on how closely the submission matches the presentation type selected.

About Presenters

Primary Presenter
One presenter should be listed as the primary presenter. Data required for the primary presenter: first name, last name, highest degree/designation, title, affiliation, full mailing address, e-mail address, biography and CV.

Additional Presenters
All the names entered as additional presenters must serve as speakers during this presentation. Co-author names are not collected in the abstract submission process; however, they can be acknowledged verbally or in handouts during the presentation. Data required for the additional presenters: first name, last name, highest degree/designation, title, affiliation, full mailing address, e-mail address, biography and CV.

Submitter
A non-presenter can submit a proposal on behalf of the presenters, if desired. The submitter must indicate that his or her role is "entered by" only, unselecting the primary and additional presenter roles.

Note: The person listed as the primary presenter, which may or may not be the same person as the submitter, is considered the administrative contact and will be the individual receiving notice from ADEC headquarters.

About the Abstract Content

Title and Text:
This year, two abstracts are required for each submission, one of 300 words that will be used by the reviewers to assess your submission and another abstract of 100 words. The longer abstract will not be made available to attendees. If your proposal is accepted, the shorter abstract will be made available to attendees to aid them in deciding which presentations they wish to attend.

Category
Each abstract submission must specify the category that is most appropriate. Categories are based on ADEC's Body of Knowledge Grid. View the Category Definitions for a more detailed description of each.

Categories help conference organizers create a balanced program and allow for the creation of a subject index in printed meeting materials. The planning committee reserves the right to change the category if necessary.

Dying

End-of-Life Decision-Making

Loss, Grief and Mourning

Assessment and Intervention

Traumatic Death

Death Education

Indicator
Each abstract submission must specify the indicator that is most appropriate. View the Indicator Descriptors for a more detailed description of each.

Cultural/Socialization

Religious/Spiritual

Professional Issues

Historical Perspectives

Contemporary Perspectives

Life Span

Larger Systems

Family and Individual

Resources and Research

Ethical/Legal

Presentation Level
Each abstract must identify the knowledge/skill level required of the participant.

Introductory: Presentations that all participants (including undergraduate students) with any appropriate background will be able to fully comprehend and/or appreciate. Presentations will discuss concepts that are considered basic skills/knowledge for those working in the field of thanatology.

Intermediate: Presentations that participants may more fully comprehend/appreciate if they have at least some work experience in the topic to be discussed.

Advanced: Presentations that present concepts that require a high-level of previous knowledge or work experience in the particular area/topic to be discussed as well as being most geared for specialists and those in advanced stages of their career.

Learning Objectives
All abstract submissions, except posters, must include three learning objectives that will answer the question: At the completion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

Examples:

discuss theoretical causes of post-bereavement family conflicts.

utilize a model of conflict resolution for inclusion in post-bereavement conflict management.

recognize the interaction of family patterns, attachment type, conflict style and grief when resolving post-bereavement issues.

References/Citations
All abstracts submissions must include at least three references and no more than five. Only references dated from 2006-2011 are accepted for the first three references.

Disclosure
All presenters will be required to disclose relationships with commercial entities. This is necessary for ADEC to comply with requirements to provide nursing continuing education credits via a national accrediting body.

Audiovisual Equipment
The following AV equipment is provided:

All oral presentations will be provided with a computer, LCD projector for PowerPoint presentations and one podium microphone. (Mac users should bring their adapter cords and laptops.)
All other AV equipment including 35mm slide projectors, VCRs, and overhead transparency projectors will not be available. The only items available by request are a DVD player or a flipchart with markers that can be requested during abstract submission. Requests are subject to approval by the program committee.

Evaluation of Proposals
Proposals are evaluated through blind review on the basis of several criteria including the following: clarity of content; suitability of fit between the presentation type and the proposed content; relationship to the ADEC body of knowledge; interest and usefulness of content to attendees; degree to which content is new or innovative; relationship to conference theme; theoretical and/or research base for content; and appropriateness for references.

Notification of Status
Notification of acceptance will be made to the administrative contract via e-mail no later than November 30, 2012. ADEC headquarters is unable to respond to inquiries regarding the outcome before this date.

Scheduling
IMPORTANT! Submission of an abstract implies your availability to present on any day of the conference. ADEC is unable to accommodate preferences for specific presentation days. All presenters are required to pay the full meeting registration fee. There are no honoraria or complimentary meeting registrations available to abstract presenters.

Questions?
Contact ADEC Headquarters at:

ADEC Headquarters
111 Deer Lake Road, Suite 100
Deerfield, IL 60015 USA
Phone:+1- 847-509-0403
Fax: +1-847-480-9282
E-mail: adec@adec.org