2027 Case Study Lab: Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about ASDAH’s 2027 Case Study Lab? Start here.

What is the Case Study Lab?

The Case Study Lab is a new ASDAH collaborative learning and creation experience running from February through May 2027. Small cohorts will explore real problems and create practical tools or resources. The work culminates at the virtual Practice to Power Summit, June 4–6, 2027.

Who can participate?

All are welcome to sign up. You don’t need a particular degree, credential, profession, job title, or ASDAH membership. ASDAH is intentionally seeking a mix of lived, community, professional, clinical, academic, research, advocacy, and other forms of knowledge while centering Fat people who are Black, Indigenous, from or have ethnic origins in the Global South, gay, queer, nonbinary, Trans, superfat+, disabled, chronically ill, and people living at other oppressed intersections.

Do I need to be a health professional?

No. Different cohorts will benefit from many forms of professional, community, and lived expertise. We do not want marginalized people present simply to tell their stories while credentialed participants are treated as the real experts.

Do I have to be fat to participate?

No. People across body sizes are welcome. Because the work concerns fat people’s lives, healthcare, access, autonomy, and liberation, Fat people—particularly those living at multiple oppressed intersections—will be intentionally centered. Others are welcome as co-conspirators.

Do I have to be an ASDAH member?

No. Membership is not required and will not determine cohort placement. ASDAH now offers more lower-cost membership opportunities than previously, including BIPOC and Low Income rates for people who qualify. Joining is encouraged, not required.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. Case Study Lab participation is free, and cohort participants attend the Practice to Power Summit at no cost. For non-cohort Summit attendees: ASDAH members $50; non-members $150; Join ASDAH + Summit bundle $200.

How many people will be in each cohort?

Approximately 5–8 people, for about 30–48 participants across six cohorts.

Is this an application process?

No. This is a sign-up process. ASDAH is composing working groups rather than ranking applicants. Cohort preferences, scheduling compatibility, workable group size, lived and professional experience, community knowledge, skills, and overall group composition will inform placement.

When is the deadline?

The Case Study Lab Sign-Up Form, including the Participant & Educational Use Agreement, is due December 31, 2026.

Can I request to work with someone I know?

Yes. The Sign-Up Form includes an optional section where you can name someone you would especially like to work with. ASDAH will consider the request when composing cohorts, but placement together cannot be guaranteed.

Can I nominate someone else?

Yes. You may optionally name someone you think would bring valuable knowledge, experience, skills, or perspective to the Case Study Lab. A nomination does not register that person. They must complete their own Sign-Up Form and Participant & Educational Use Agreement by December 31, 2026.

Will ASDAH contact the person I nominate?

The form will not ask you to provide another person’s email address or phone number. We encourage you to share the Case Study Lab information and sign-up link with them directly.

What if my preferred cohort is full?

You may indicate first, second, and third choices and whether you are willing to remain registered as a standby participant. If more people sign up than a cohort can reasonably accommodate, ASDAH will create a standby pool.

Does standby mean I was rejected?

No. Standby means a cohort reached its workable capacity. It is not a judgment about someone’s qualifications or value to the work.

How often will cohorts meet?

Approximately once per month from February through May, with collaborative work between meetings. Each cohort will determine its own meeting schedule.

Who schedules the meetings?

The cohort does. ASDAH provides the overall timeline and milestones; cohort members determine dates and times that work for the group.

How much work will happen between meetings?

That depends on the project and the role you take. Research, writing, reviewing, building resources, and presentation preparation may happen between meetings. Cohorts will be asked to talk openly about workload and changing capacity.

Who decides everyone’s role?

The cohort does. Groups may use facilitators, project coordinators, researchers, writers, editors, presenters, citation managers, designers, or other roles; responsibilities may rotate.

What if there is conflict?

Each cohort will establish group agreements covering communication, decision-making, accessibility, workload, disagreement, accountability and repair, power, authorship, and credit. ASDAH leadership can advise, facilitate, troubleshoot, or intervene when support is needed.

What if my capacity changes?

Tell your cohort. Capacity can change for many reasons. Group agreements will address how cohorts communicate about changing capacity and redistribute work.

What will cohorts create?

Possibilities include an audit, framework, protocol, guide, checklist, policy template, implementation tool, educational resource, decision-making tool, training resource, or something the cohort designs itself.

Do presentations need references?

Yes. Summit presentations must include references for research, data, publications, frameworks, and other source materials used. Written resources should include references when applicable.

Will the Case Study Lab offer CEUs?

ASDAH will apply to offer continuing education credit for eligible Case Study Lab participation and eligible Summit sessions. Approval is not guaranteed in advance.

Do I have to present at the Summit?

The cohort’s work will be presented, but every member does not necessarily have to speak. Presentation responsibilities are determined by the cohort.

What is the Practice to Power Summit?

ASDAH’s virtual conference, June 4–6, 2027. It includes six Case Study Lab sessions, an opening keynote, a closing keynote, an implementation session, and community reflection.

Will presentations be recorded?

Yes. Practice to Power Summit presentations will be recorded and may be housed on ASDAH’s website and in ASDAH’s educational resources. The Participant & Educational Use Agreement explains these permissions.

Who owns what we create?

Participants retain ownership of independently created original contributions while granting ASDAH specified non-exclusive rights to preserve and use Case Study Lab materials. Collaborative materials also involve the rights of fellow contributors. The full agreement appears in the Sign-Up Form.

Why does ASDAH need permission to use the work?

Because the goal is for these tools to keep working after the Summit ends. ASDAH wants to house, share, teach from, and build upon the work while preserving appropriate contributor credit and participants’ ability to use their own work.

What happens to the tools after the Summit?

They may be housed through ASDAH’s website and educational resources so providers, advocates, educators, researchers, organizations, community members, and future cohorts can continue learning from and building upon them.

What if the first year doesn’t go perfectly?

We’re trailblazing. ASDAH will plan carefully, create structure, communicate, listen, provide support, and adjust as we learn. We cannot promise perfection. The Case Study Lab itself is part of what we are building and learning from.