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2026 Abstract Submission

Call for Abstracts 2026 - Closed!

For questions or concerns related to your previously submitted proposal, contact us at adec@adec.org.

 

 

For ADEC's Concurrent Sessions: Thursday, March 5 to Saturday, March 7, 2026

Click here for the Conference Schedule at-a-Glance (exact times subject to change)

Click here for a list of suggested topic areas

 

ADEC uses an online abstract submission database to collect proposals. Carefully review each of the specific submission requirements below and gather the required information in preparation for your online submission. For sample presentations relevant to our ADEC Conference, view our 2025 Concurrent Sessions .


1. ADEC Presentation Types

Click here to read about our submission types - you must choose from one of these 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. 



2. Presenter Information

  • All presenters are required to register for the conference.

  • Key Contact - One person (a presenter or an administrative assistant) is identified as the Key Contact for the submitted session. This person serves as the direct contact between ADEC and the presentation's speakers.

  • Onsite Presenter - For ADEC's 2026 Conference, at least one presenter must attend in person, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. This onsite presence ensures the integrity of our important CEU delivery, in case of Internet or other technical difficulties from the presenter or the hotel.
    • The Onsite Presenter is responsible to bring a laptop computer with all materials needed for the presentation (including a remote presenter's backup pre-recorded video).
    • Abstract information required for the primary presenter: first name, last name, highest degree/designation, title, affiliation, full mailing address, e-mail address, biography and CV.
    • Note: The "primary" presenter does not have to be the "first author" for your presentation, but is required to be onsite at the conference hotel. 

  • Additional Presenters - For ADEC's 2026 Conference Sessions, only one (1) additional presenter can be "remote," not attending in person. 
    • As a backup, this remote presentation must be pre-recorded video in a mp4 video format.  The onsite presenter is responsible to store and access this on one's own laptop, to be used for the presentation.
    • This remote person must be available for the session's Questions and Answers, either via synchronous phone/text/email or asynchronous email. 
    • These requirements for our 2026 Conference are to ensure the integrity of our important CEU delivery, in case of Internet or other technical difficulties from the presenter or the hotel.
    • Information required for the additional presenters: first name, last name, highest degree/designation, title, affiliation, full mailing address, e-mail address, biography and CV. 

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.



3. Abstract Content

Do not include identifying information (i.e. presenters names) in this portion of your submission. Submissions with identifying information will be removed from consideration since the review process is conducted as a double-blind review.

Title and Text:
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 that will be used to promote the presentation. 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.


Presentation Category:
Each abstract submission must specify the category that is most appropriate. Categories are derived from  ADEC's Body of Knowledge Outline, adopted in 2015. View the Presentation 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 meeting materials. The planning committee reserves the right to change the category if necessary.

  • Death Education and History of Thanatology
  • Dying and Foreseen Death
  • End-of-Life Decision-Making
  • Death Loss: Grief, Mourning, and Memorialization
  • Non-Death Loss: Grief, Mourning, and Memorialization
  • Traumatic and Unforeseen Death

Presentation Focus:
Each abstract submission must specify the indicator that is most appropriate. View the Presentation Focus Descriptions for a more detailed description of each.

Assessment and Intervention Focus Choices

  • Cultural/Socialization *
  • Religious/Spiritual
  • Lifespan
  • Individual/Personhood
  • Family Systems

Professional Issues Focus Choices

  • Self-care / Professional Development
  • Evolving platforms for Practice
  • Ethical, Moral, legal issues impacting practice

Contextual and Theoretical Consideration Focus Choices

  • Historical Perspective
  • Contemporary Perspective

*Proposals considered for Ron Barrett award must have cultural/socialization focus. 

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. View Acceptable Learning Objectives Verbs .


References/Citations:

  • All abstract submissions must include a minimum of 3 references in the last 7 years from academic, clinical or statistical sources. There is a maximum of 5 references; the two additional references do not have a limit on years and do not have to be academic, clinical or statistical sources.

  • No more than one reference may be from an Internet source.

  • All references must be listed in proper APA style. Not sure how to correctly write references in APA style? Use this handy Citation Maker.

Presentation Format:
Presenters will have the opportunity to present either in-person at Conference or virtually and will be prompted to rank their presentation format preference. All presenters for one session must agree upon the same format.

Disclosure:
All presenters will be required to disclose relationships with commercial entities. This is necessary for ADEC to comply with accreditation policies and for sessions to be approved for CEU credit.

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; diversity and inclusion; and appropriateness for references. Changes in presentation type, indicators, and levels of learning are at the discretion of the Conference Planning Committee. If you submit more than one abstract as the lead author, typically, only one of these abstracts may be considered in the final selection review.



4. Audiovisual Equipment

  • All oral presenters will need to bring their own laptop if presenting on-site. No laptop computers will be provided.
  • Projector for PowerPoint presentations and one podium microphone will be provided.
  • Any presentation that includes a remote presenter must have that portion pre-recorded in a mp4 video format. During the live, on-site session, the primary presenter must access and play this video from their own laptop.
  • Mac or tablet users should bring their own adapter/converter cords.
  • All other AV equipment including 35mm slide projectors, VCRs, and overhead transparency projectors will not be available. The only item available by request is a flipchart with markers that can be requested during abstract submission. Requests are subject to approval by the program committee. 

5. Resources & Additional Information