Welcome to the ISBA 2027 Abstract Submission Portal

We warmly invite submissions from anyone with an interest or experience in respite, including service providers, family carers, people with lived experience, researchers, policymakers and advocates.

ISBA 2027 is centred on the theme: Respite: A Bridge to Opportunity and Inclusion

Respite is not an end point - it is a bridge that enables individuals, families and communities to access opportunity, inclusion, innovation and connection.

Before starting your submission, please review the conference themes and guidelines below.

Conference Themes

We welcome submissions aligned with the following key themes

Opportunity; Creating pathways through respite

• Respite as a catalyst for independence, education, employment and community life
• Expanding choice and flexibility in respite models
• Person-centred and family-led approaches
• Respite across stages of life

Inclusion;  Belonging, participation and rights

• Inclusive respite for people with complex needs
• Equality, diversity and cultural inclusion
• Rural, regional and marginalised communities
• Partnership with people who use respite and their families

Innovation; Reimagining respite

• New and emerging respite models
• Technology-enabled supports
• Creative and community-based approaches
• Learning from international best practice

Partnership and Connection;  Stronger voices, stronger systems

• Advancing the right to respite through partnership
• Collaboration between families, providers and policymakers
• Connecting policy, practice and lived experience

Governance and Development of Respite;  Building sustainable systems

• Governance, accountability and quality standards
• Workforce development and retention
• Funding models and commissioning
• Regulation, safeguarding and continuous improvement

How to Submit

To begin the submission process, you must first create a contact via the Update Contact Information tab above. This person will be known as the submitting author, and the email address provided will be used for all correspondence related to the submitted abstract(s).

Once your contact profile is created, additional tabs will appear, including the Abstract Submission tab, where you can upload and submit your presentation.

Submission Deadline - Tuesday 23 October 2026, 23:59 GMT

2027 ISBA Abstract Submission Guidelines

The ISBA Conference welcomes abstracts from those working across the disability and respite sector. Submissions may describe work aligned with the themes outlined above.

Written Abstract Structure - Maximum total word count: 220 words

All abstracts must be submitted using the following headings:

• Background and Purpose (max. 70 words)
  Describe the context for the work, the respite issue being addressed, and the purpose or aim of the initiative, project or experience.
• Approach / Methods (max. 50 words)
  Outline how the work was undertaken (e.g. service development, programme delivery, evaluation, co‑production, research or lived experience reflection).
• Key Outcomes / Learning (max. 50 words)
  Summarise key outcomes, learning points or observed impacts for individuals, families, services or systems. Work in progress is welcome.
• Implications for Respite Practice (max. 50 words)
  Explain why this work matters for respite and how it may inform future practice, policy or collaboration.

Video Submissions (Optional Alternative) -  maximum of 3 minutes in length

In line with ISBA’s commitment to accessibility, inclusion and valuing lived experience, contributors are welcome to submit a short video in place of a written abstract. Video submissions are reviewed using the same criteria as written abstracts, and captions or subtitles are strongly encouraged to support accessibility.

Video submissions should clearly address:

• The purpose or focus of the work or experience
• What was done, learned or changed
• Why this is relevant to respite

Video submissions will need to be upload as a MP4 file, or an unlisted video link (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo)

If you have any questions regarding your submission, please contact us at isba2027@abbeyconferences.com