Plenary Speakers
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Mr. Chapal Khasnabis,
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Chapal Khasnabis, a Prosthetist and Orthotist is a global visionary leader with a lifelong commitment to the fields of prosthetics, orthotics, and assistive technology and rehabilitation. He has served within the Public Health and Innovation (PHI) team under the Department of Essential Medicines & Health Products (EMP) at the World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva. He has led and facilitated groundbreaking global initiatives including guidelines and training packages for wheelchairs, CBR guidelines, Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE), the formation of the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology: ATscale, the creation of the first WHO-UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology and standards for Prosthetics and Orthotics. These initiatives aim to enhance access to essential health technologies for people with disabilities, older individuals, and others in need. As a Social Innovator with 44 years of extensive expertise, Chapal currently serving as Senior Assistive Technology Advisor for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). |
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Dr. Ravinder Singh is a distinguished professional with a Ph.D. in Public Health and over two decades of research experience in the field. At the ICMR Headquarters (Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India) in New Delhi, he oversees areas including mental health, disability, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies. He has significantly contributed to both national and international journals and has served as an editor for several publications. He is also actively involved in academia as a visiting faculty member at various institutions and has delivered numerous lectures on health research. He serves as a consultant/expert for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. He is currently working on integrating Assistive Technologies into the Indian Health System in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva, WHO-SEARO, and WHO-India. His involvement in various task force projects has earned him recognition and awards for his invaluable contributions to the field. |
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Carmen DiGiovine, PhD ATP/SMS RET, is a Professor – Clinical in the Occupational Therapy Division at The Ohio State University. Dr. DiGiovine is the Interim Director of the Occupational Therapy Division and the Director of the Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology Certificate Program. In addition, he is the Director of Rehabilitation Science and Technology for the Assistive Technology Center at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. DiGiovine’s areas of interest, as a rehabilitation engineer, include assistive technology, complex rehabilitation technology, post-secondary education, evidence-based practice, and outcome measures. He has over 31 years of experience in the fields of assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering and is an active member of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), of which he’s the past president. He has presented at national and international conferences for the past 25 years and regularly teaches both in-person and online courses at The Ohio State University. |
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Theresa Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP |
Theresa Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP is an occupational therapist and Rehabilitation Clinical Manager at The Ohio State University Medical Center. She has over 28 years’ experience in Seating and Positioning and Adult Neuro Rehabilitation. Theresa has been certified by RESNA as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). She is responsible for Assistive Technology center and the Adaptive Sports Institute. She is also a clinical instructor at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at OSU. Theresa is a member of the Clinician Task Force and is appointed to the United Spinal Board of Directors. Theresa has participated in presentations across the country at many national and international conferences. Theresa received the 2016 Academy of Spinal Cord Injury TLC Distinguished Clinical Award and the 2017 OSU Medical Center Values in Action Award. |
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Jayachandran J is a physiotherapist and Clinical Lead at North Wales Posture and Mobility Wheelchair Service. There he leads both the paediatric and adult team, facilitates aspects of performance management, professional and clinical effectiveness, audit and governance. He has over 25 years of clinical experience as Paediatric Physiotherapist working with children and their families managing long-term complex conditions. Jay has extensive experience in the field of 24-hour postural programme and has special interest with seating, Wheelchairs and complex rehabilitation technology.
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Henri is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience, including 13 years in humanitarian contexts. In France, he focused on health and social services for people with various impairments, specializing in home adaptation and assistive technology. His humanitarian career began in 2010 after the Haiti earthquake, and he has since worked in Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific. Henri specializes in aiding those with disabilities caused by natural disasters and armed conflicts. In 2019, he joined the UN Mine Action Service to develop assistance programs for explosive ordnance victims. He holds a degree in occupational therapy and a designation in international strategy from IRIS in Paris.
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Dr Suresh is a passionate academic researcher in the field of disability and public health in the past two decades contributing predominantly to bridging the gaps in access to rehabilitation services, strengthening rehabilitation within the health systems and policy research as well as mainstreaming disability within the agenda for health in the global South. Presently serves as an associate professor at Northumbria University Newcastle U.K & contributes as an honorary associate professor at LSHTM U.K. A trustee for the Royal College of Occupational Therapy U.K, a Co-director for Cochrane Affiliate for disability in Cochrane India Network, the scientific committee of the ISRRA (International Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Alliance) and a member of the research workstream of the WHO World Rehabilitation Alliance. As an expert committee member of the MoSJE – disability department in India, he has significantly contributed to various government projects and policies related to NCDs and Disability, particularly in the states of Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
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