Sister Organisations

In an agreement drafted on August, 26, 2000 in Tokushima, Japan (Tokushima Agreement) international collaboration in the field of assisstive and rehabilitation technology was addressed.

In recognition of the potential benefits of collaboration with the membership organisations that promote the field of rehabilitation and assistive technology,

AAATE - Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe,
ARATA - Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association,
RESJA - Rehabilitation Engineering Society of Japan, and
RESNA - Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America

agreed to pursue opportunities that will provide value to their members as well as strengthen the international network. The intent of this agreement is to promote communication, and information exchange. The organisations consider each other as being "sister organisations" in other geographical areas, being not competing, respecting the different characteristics by culture, political environment, membership, mission statement and situation of people with disabilities in their geographical area.

The proposed activities are, but not limited to:

A Reciprocal Membership Benefits

1. Each organisation will provide one free membership for each sister organisation including all benefits and privileges to a person/ place designated by the respective sister organisation.
2. Each organisation will provide reciprocal membership privileges in terms of conference registration fees and for certain publication activities.

B Annual Conference Benefits

1. Each organisation will provide free booth space at their conference.
2. Extend an invitation to the conference to one official representative of the organisation and offer free registration to the conference.
3. Promote to host an international meeting within the conference.
4. Advertise and promote each others conferences, including logos, dates and locations in the newsletters, conference proceedings and web as appropriate.

C Use of Logo

1. In principle each organisation may use each others logos to support collaboration. Approval to specific activities may be granted on a case by case basis.

D Web

1. Each organisation will promote mutual recognition of all organisations, including linkages to all web pages as appropriate. A common text might be used for that by all organisations put on a prominent place in the websites.

E Calendar of events

1. Each organisation will include announcements of events such as meetings of international relevance in the newsletter and web.

F International Journal

1. The organisations continue to consider to optimise the international publication practice of articles for their members. They will consider the needs of the different membership and existing Journals. The idea of a joint international journal will be explored and discussed further.

The draft of the agreement has been signed on August 26, 2000 in Tokushima, Japan by
Christian Bühler, President of AAATE,
Barry Seeger, Past President of ARATA,
Mr. Kiyoshi Ichikawa, President of RESJA
Mary Binion, President of RESNA.

The boards have supported this draft and expressed their agreement by an exchange of emails during September and October 2000.

The Tokushima agreement founds a new quality of international collaboration of these organisations. The organisations are convinced that international co-operation is an important development factor in our global world. Concrete mutual benefits for the organisations and their members support the international development of this field. It is up to the members to make use of the new opportunities.

Last update: April 10th, 2001