European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability News-tryout

The Elsass Foundation Research Prize: Call for Nominations is open now!

EACD — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMT

You can nominate your candidate for the Elsass Foundation Research Prize 2025 now. To be considered, nominations must be submitted in English in confidence before August 9, 2024. The Elsass Foundation Research Prize is awarded by the protector of the Elsass Foundation, HRH Princess Benedikte at the foundation's premises in Charlottenlund, Denmark. The prize recognizes researchers that have - and continue to make - an exceptional contribution within the field of cerebral palsy (CP).

The prize amount is 1.000.000 dkr. (equivalent to 150.000 €). It is a combined personal prize of 250.000 dkr. (37.500 €) and a research grant of 750.000 dkr. (112.500 €). It is preferably given to one person only, but it may also be shared by several researchers. Nomination of candidates within all areas of CP research and sciences, with any professional background are welcome. The Elsass Foundation Research Prize was founded and given for the first time in 2019. The first recipient of the award was Belgium Professor Bernard Dan, the second in 2021 was Professor Iona Novak from Australia and the third prize went to Professor Richard Lieber from the USA in 2023.

For more information, please visit: www.elsassfonden.dk/en/about-us/awards/research-prize-call-for-nomination/

Nominate your candidate here: https://shorturl.at/WPH4R

EACD/IAACD Heidelberg 2025 - Call for Abstracts: Oral/Poster Formats is open!

EACD — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMT

It is a great honour and pleasure to announce the call for abstracts for the 4th Triennial Meeting of the International Allied Academies of Childhood (IAACD) and the 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) in the beautiful city of Heidelberg, Germany, from June 24th to 28th, 2025 is open. The Scientific Committee and the Family, User and Stakeholders Committee together with the German Supporting Network invite you to this rare occasion of a world-wide meeting to submit abstracts for an oral communication and/or poster presentation.

To increase the diversity of this global congress meeting we warmly welcome submissions coming from high-income countries and also especially from low- and mid-income countries.

Please note the following calls and deadlines:

➢ Call for Formats with individual speakers: Orals / Posters Monday, 08.07.2024

➢ Closing Date for submission for Orals / Posters Sunday, 13.10.2024

For detailed information, please check the Abstract Submission Guidelines

Go directly to the Abstract Submission Tool

Do you have questions about abstract submission? We will be glad to assist you if you have any questions. Please contact: eacd-iaacd@mcon-mannheim.de

Go to the EACD/IAACD 2025 Call For Abstracts webpage!

EACD/IAACD Heidelberg 2025 - Call for Abstracts: Multiple speakers is open!

EACD — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

It is a great honour and pleasure to announce the first call for abstracts for the 4th Triennial Meeting of the International Allied Academies of Childhood (IAACD) and the 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) in the beautiful city of Heidelberg, Germany, from June 24th to 28th, 2025 is open. The Scientific Committee and the Family, User and Stakeholders Committee together with the German Supporting Network invite you to this rare occasion of a world-wide meeting to submit abstracts for a focused symposia, mini-symposia, instructional seminars or instructional courses.

To increase the diversity of this global congress meeting we warmly welcome submissions coming from high-income countries and also especially from low- and mid-income countries. Further, we plan a 12h virtual live track during European evening / nighttime from 7pm to 7am CET (=daytime in other world regions) in order to encourage speakers from other time zones not being able to visit the meeting onsite.

Please note the following calls and deadlines:

➢ Call for Formats with multiple speakers: Pre-Conference-Symposia and Courses; Main Conference Focused and Mini-Symposia, Instructional Seminars or Courses, Online Conference Symposia and Instructional Courses (during European nighttime, live across all time zones): Monday, 11.03.2024

➢ Closing Date for Submissions with multiple speakers Sunday, 16.06.2024

➢ Call for Formats with individual speakers: Orals / Posters Monday, 08.07.2024

➢ Closing Date for submission for Orals / Posters Sunday, 13.10.2024

For detailed information, please check the Abstract Submission Guidelines

Go directly to the Abstract Submission Tool

Do you have questions about abstract submission? We will be glad to assist you if you have any questions. Please contact: eacd-iaacd@mcon-mannheim.de

Go to the EACD/IAACD 2025 Call For Abstracts webpage!

Upcoming General Management Committee Vacancies

EACD — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 11:00:00 GMT

The posts of Secretary (Term 2024-2027) will be up for election at the next EACD Annual General Meeting (May 30th, 2024) during the EACD Bruges 2024 Meeting. Prof. Elegast Monbaliu will finish his second term as Secretary in 2024 and is not eligible for re-election. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape and guide the activities of the EACD. Should you have any queries about the vacancy, or interest in applying for this position, please contact Prof. Elegast Monbaliu, EACD Secretary, or Prof. Eugene Rameckers, Chair of the Nominations Committee.

We would kindly like to ask members of EACD who would like to apply for the above-mentioned vacancies in the EACD General Management Committee to please send your Curriculum Vitae and Motivation letter to admin@eacd.org by at latest March 31st, 2024 as part of the official election procedure.

EACD Bruges 2024 - General Abstract Call is Now Open!

EACD — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:00:00 GMT

The general abstract submission for Oral Communications, Scientific Posters, Technology & Innovative Products Posters, and Instructional Courses is open for EACD Bruges 2024! The scientific committee of the 36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) invites you to submit your abstracts for one or more of the submission types, be aware that only abstracts following the Guidelines for Abstract Submission (see here) will be accepted. The deadline for Mini-Symposia abstract submissions is October 20th, 2023, 23:59h Central European Time (CET). After undergoing the reviewing process, all authors will be informed by December 11th, 2023 at latest on the formal acceptance or rejection of the submitted abstract(s).

Thank you for submitting an abstract for EACD2024. Do not hesitate to encourage your colleagues and those from other fields working on developmental disability to do so as well, in the spirit of the theme of the meeting: 'Composing a new symphony'!

EACD Bruges 2024 - Abstract Submission for Mini-Symposia is Now Open!

EACD — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:30:00 GMT

The abstract submission for Mini-Symposia is open for EACD Bruges 2024! The scientific committee of the 36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) invites you to submit your abstracts for mini-symposia, be aware that only abstracts following the Guidelines for Abstract Submission (see here) will be accepted. The deadline for Mini-Symposia abstract submissions is June 30th, 2023, 23:59h Central European Time (CET). After undergoing the reviewing process, all authors will be informed by September 4th, 2023 at latest on the formal acceptance or rejection of the submitted abstract(s) for a mini-symposium.

Upcoming General Management Committee Vacancies

EACD — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 11:00:00 GMT

The posts of Treasurer (Term 2023-2026) and GMC Member + Education & Training Officer (Term 2023-2026) will be up for election at the next EACD Annual General Meeting (May 25th, 2023) during the EACD Ljubljana 2023 Meeting. Therese Millar will finish her second term as Treasurer in 2023 and is not eligible for re-election. Prof. Elisabet Rodby Bousquet will finish her second term as GMC Member in 2023 and is not eligible for re-election. These positions offer an exciting opportunity to shape and guide the activities of the EACD. Should you have any queries about any of the vacancies, or interest in applying for any of these positions, please contact Prof. Elegast Monbaliu, EACD Secretary, or Prof. Nana Tatishvili, Chair of the Nominations Committee.

We would kindly like to ask members of EACD who would like to apply for any of the above-mentioned vacancies in the EACD General Management Committee to please send your Curriculum Vitae and Motivation letter to admin@eacd.org by at latest March 31st, 2023 as part of the official election procedure.

EACD Ljubljana 2023 - Benefit from the early bird registration fees!

EACD — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:00:00 GMT

It is a great privilege and pleasure for the EACD Ljubljana 2023 Team to welcome you to Ljubljana, Slovenia from 24-27 May 2023! Following the outstanding line of previous EACD annual meetings, we will do our best in offering an excellent opportunity to share experiences, exchange scientific ideas, and foster interactions between all professionals, children and their families. The motto of this EACD annual meeting is "Smarter Goals for Better Future", with the intent to emphasize the importance of goal setting in all processes of care in the rehabilitation of children and youth. The programme in Ljubljana will be divided into five main thematic modules: (i) The importance of timely intervention; (ii) Advances in the management of orphan diseases; (iii) Management of pain in children with developmental disorders and chronic pain syndromes in otherwise normally developing children; (iv) Goal setting: active role of the child and parent in (re)habilitation process; (v) Advances in technological support of the rehabilitation process. It is also our great pleasure to announce several excellent keynotes for EACD Ljubljana 2023 with prestigious professionals in the ﬁeld of childhood-onset disability: Helene Polatajko, Emma Livingstone, Minna Ståhl, Laurent Servais, Muharrem Yazici, Izzeldin Abuelaish and Ruslan Vasyutin!

Slovenia, your host country, tells its green story. Everything is green no matter which direction you turn – towards the Alpine peaks and extensive forests, the Adriatic Sea, the mysterious Karst and nearby vineyards, and the Pannonian Plain. Ljubljana, the capital city, is a vibrant city with thousands of years of history. The European Green Capital 2016 has in a short time become a model of livability and eco-sustainability for all medium-sized cities in Europe. Our conference venue is in the city centre, which is closed to traffic. The local Scientific and Organizing committee hopes to greet you in person. Plan your schedule to make the most of your Ljubljana visit. Build your clinical skills with scientific and educational sessions, satellite symposia, oral presentations, in-person networking opportunities, and much more!

Register before February 20th, 2023 to benefit from the early bird fees!

Go to the EACD Ljubljana 2023 Registration page!

Visit the EACD Ljubljana 2023 website

EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum presents: Christmas Quiz and New Year's Research Resolutions!

EACD — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 10:00:00 GMT

The EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum will be hosting its next event on 13 December 2022, 19:00-20:30h CET (Brussels time): The Early Career Researchers' Christmas Quiz & New Year's Research Resolutions! The year 2022 is coming to an end and the EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum would like to invite you all to an online meeting full of Christmas spirit on December 13th. This is a social event where we will talk about the past year’s research experiences, wishes for coming year and much more. Click here to register now for this exciting event!

EACD Ljubljana 2023 - Abstract Submission Deadline Extended!

EACD — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:00:00 GMT

Due to many requests, the EACD Ljubljana 2023 Organising Team has decided to extend the abstract submission deadline for mini-symposia, instructional courses, oral communications and poster presentations until November 30th, 23:59h CET! Abstracts arriving after this extended deadline will not be accepted. After undergoing the reviewing process, all authors will be informed by January 19th, 2023 at latest on the formal acceptance or rejection of the submitted abstract(s). Be aware that only abstracts following the Guidelines for Abstract Submission (see here) will be accepted.

Submit your abstracts now!

Go to the EACD Ljubljana 2023 Abstract Submission Tool!

Visit the EACD Ljubljana 2023 website

4th Transatlantic Surgery Webinar - Treatment of Crouch Gait in Children with Cerebral Palsy

EACD — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:00:00 GMT

Online event endorsed by the EACD

When: 12 Dec 2022, 14:00-17:30h CET (Brussels time)
Where: Online

Presented surgeries will cover the broad spectrum of surgical techniques used to correct the crouch gait in patients with cerebral palsy. The surgeries will be shown and commented on simultaneously by a group of experts in the field of neuro-orthopedics sitting in one studio. Many other aspects of biomechanics, pathophysiology, prevention, and rehabilitation protocols in crouch gait will be discussed. Educational objectives include (i) to teach the basic surgical techniques used in the management of the orthopedic problems of patients with cerebral palsy; (ii) to discuss main indications and contraindications for presented surgical techniques; (iii) to show tips and tricks and how to avoid possible pitfalls when performing presented surgical techniques.

Registration, programme & more info: 4th TRANSATLANTIC ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY WEBINAR TREATMENT OF CROUCH GAIT | Webinar

EACD Ljubljana 2023 - Opening Call for Abstracts!

EACD — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMT

The scientific committee of the 35th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) invites you to submit abstracts for a mini-symposium, instructional course, oral communication and/or poster presentation! Be aware that only abstracts following the Guidelines for Abstract Submission (see here) will be accepted.

The motto of this EACD Annual Meeting is “Smarter Goals for Better Future”, with the intent to emphasize the importance of goal setting in all processes of care in the rehabilitation of children and youth. The program in Ljubljana will be divided into five main thematic modules: (i) The importance of timely intervention; (ii) Advances in the management of orphan diseases; (iii) Management of pain in children with developmental disorders and chronic pain syndromes in otherwise normally developing children; (iv) Goal setting: active role of the child and parent in (re)habilitation process; (v) Advances in technological support of the rehabilitation process. All abstracts related to childhood-onset disabilities are welcome, and we invite authors from all fields and professions surrounding children and adults with childhood-onset disabilities to submit their topics.

On behalf of the Scientific and Organizing committee of the 35th European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) Annual Meeting, it is a privilege and great pleasure to welcome you to Ljubljana, from May 24th to 27th 2023. Slovenia, your host country, tells its green story. Everything is green no matter which direction you turn – towards the Alpine peaks and extensive forests, the Adriatic Sea, the mysterious Karst and nearby vineyards, and the Pannonian Plain. Ljubljana, the capital city, is a vibrant city with thousands of years of history. The European Green Capital 2016 has in a short time become a model of liveability and eco-sustainability for all medium-sized cities in Europe. Our conference venue is in the city centre, which is closed to motorised traffic.

The local Scientific and Organizing committee hopes to greet you in person. Plan your schedule to make the most of your Ljubljana visit. Build your clinical skills with scientific and educational sessions, satellite symposia, oral presentations, in-person networking opportunities, and much more! Following the outstanding line of previous EACD Annual Meetings, we will do our best in offering an excellent opportunity to share experiences, exchange scientific ideas, and foster interactions between all professionals, people with childhood-onset disabilities and their families.

Key dates:

Abstract Submission deadline:
21 November 2022

Notification of Acceptance to submitting authors:
19 January 2023

EACD Ljubljana 2023 Congress:
24-27 May 2023

Click here to go directly to our EACD Ljubljana 2023 – Call for Abstracts page

EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum presents: Online event with Prof. Christine Imms

EACD — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT

The EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum (ECRF) brings you fresh news for these August days! As you know, one of the ECRF's objectives is to support knowledge exchange... and for that's reason our ECRF is very happy to invite you to our first online ECRF Educational Session! In this session, Prof. Christine Imms will talk about her work on participation in childhood disability, and how to create networks to improve the implementation of research findings in clinical practice. Since Prof. Imms’ session at the EACD2022 in Barcelona took place at the same time as our EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum session, we would like to use this super exclusive opportunity to allow ECRs who were unable to attend her session to learn more about participation. The session will take place on Thursday, September 1st, 08:00-09:15 am CET (Brussels time). Subscription link: https://eacd.org/event-4926051

EACD Ljubljana 2023 - Save the dates: 24-27 May 2023!

EACD — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:00:00 GMT

The next 35th EACD Annual Meeting will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia 24-27 May, 2023! The preparations for this congress are already in full swing! Please visit: https://eacd2023.org regularly for the latest updates and the key dates towards this exciting event!

IAACD Community of Practice for Advocates of Developmental Disabilities Services

EACD — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 10:00:00 GMT

The IAACD Global Professional Education Committee (GPEC) is launching two virtual Communities of Practice (CoP) for people developing services for children with developmental disabilities and their families.

More info at https://iaacd.net/kh-home/community-of-practice/

Stop violence against women and girls with disabilities

EACD — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Let’s stop violence against women and girls with disabilities! Did you know that children with disability are 2.9 times more likely to suffer sexual violence? Help put a stop to this by raising awareness and supporting accessible sex education. Please check out the YouTube video here to learn more: https://youtu.be/EPCpg2ccVNI

Open Letter: Appeal For Action

EACD — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:00:00 GMT

The war in Ukraine due to the invasion by the Russian Army is having a devastating impact on the country’s children with disabilities. Families are terrified, in shock, and desperate for safety. In conflict, children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. They often require specialized treatment and services. Without access to services, schools and assistive products like wheelchairs, many children with disabilities face a very real risk of exclusion, neglect and stigmatization as the war continues.

As of 20 March 2022, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has verified 52 attacks on health care in 25 days. This is, of course, unacceptable and health care must always be protected. The attacks on medical and education facilities have decimated the Ukraine’s health and education systems. It is estimated that more than 4 million people have been forced to leave the country, including thousands of children. This has hit children with disabilities the hardest, leaving many without access to specialized care and accessible education facilities they need.

The implications cannot be underestimated. Lack of access to proper medical and psychological care will prolong or worsen injuries and disabling conditions among children. The risk of being exposed to violence and facing difficulties to access basic services including health and education are exponentially higher for children with disabilities. The risk of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect for children with disabilities is even further heightened by the death of or separation from caregivers. On top of this, families of children with disabilities in a conflict often lack the means or ability to provide their children with the assistive equipment they need, while neighbouring countries are hosting an unprecedented number of refugees from Ukraine. The refugee flow is adding a huge strain on service provision, challenging Ukrainian and host communities’ access to the required services and care to families who have children with disabilities.

Therefore, on behalf of children with disabilities affected by the conflict in Ukraine, the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) and partners are asking those involved in the war, those who have influence over them, all neighbouring countries and the international community for the following actions for children with disabilities inside Ukraine and refugee-host countries:

1) Invest in providing lifesaving support and long-term rehabilitation services, including psychosocial support and mental health care for children with disabilities.

2) Provide children with disabilities early passage across borders and ensure safeguarding of the human rights of children with disabilities and their access to basic services including health and nutrition, education, child protection and shelter.

3) Increase financial assistance to families with children with disabilities to help provide access to assistive products like wheelchairs, canes and prosthetics.

4) Produce and provide a resource containing information on relevant local rehabilitation resources, care facilities, family support resources and any other information that may help the children with disabilities to access care readily.

5) Provide flexible, unrestricted, multi-year funding to meet the needs of children, including those with disabilities and their families to increase their access to specialized services.

6) Support reconstruction and recovery efforts by prioritising the needs of children, including children with disabilities.

7) End all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to children and their families within Ukraine.

Download link: Open letter - Appeal for Action - EACD April 2022.pdf

on behalf of the EACD General Management Committee

BornToGetThere Summer School 2022, 11-15 July 2022

EACD — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:00:00 GMT

This Summer School is organized by the University of Pisa from 11 – 15 July 2022 as a part of a project funded by the European Commission “BornToGetThere” with the support of the IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris and of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 848201. The 5-day course is a practical and immersive experience, covering the models, the procedures and instruments that are recommended internationally to plan and conduct clinical and research activities for Early Detection, surveillance and intervention in children at risk for Cerebral Palsy (CP). It will be based on international guidelines, effective models of knowledge translation, and guided by good clinical and human ethics practice. The course faculty will be constituted of international experts in the field of childhood disability research and clinical care.

The aims of the Summer School are: 1) to raise awareness of the participants about the practical pathways for the implementation of Early diagnosis and Intervention guidelines of CP as feasible, sustainable and culturally modified for different environments; 2) to elevate the participants’ knowledge of the surveillance and early intervention methods and models iii) to promote international collaboration for the advancement of early care and parallel research efforts with children at risk of CP and their families.

Click here to find out more about the BornToGetThere Summer School 2022!

Upcoming General Management Committee Vacancies

EACD — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:00:00 GMT

The posts of Chair-Elect (Term 2022-2026; 1 year as Chair-Elect, 3 years as Chair), GMC Member & Communication Officer (Term 2022-2025), and GMC Member & National Networks Officer (Term 2022-2025) will be up for election at the next EACD Annual General Meeting (May 19th, 2022) during the EACD Barcelona 2022 Meeting. Dr. Arnab Seal will finish his term as Chair in 2023. Dr. Lorna Wales will finish her second term as GMC Member in 2022 and is not eligible for re-election. Prof. Jeroen Vermeulen will finish his first term as GMC Member in 2022 and is eligible for re-election. These positions offer an exciting opportunity to shape and guide the activities of the EACD. Should you have any queries about any of the vacancies, or interest in applying for any of these positions, please contact Prof. Elegast Monbaliu, EACD Secretary, or Prof. Nana Tatishvili, Chair of the Nominations Committee. We would kindly like to ask members of EACD who would like to apply for any of the above-mentioned vacancies in the EACD General Management Committee to please send your Curriculum Vitae and Motivation letter to admin@eacd.org by at latest March 31st, 2022 as part of the official election procedure

33rd EACD Annual Meeting - EACD Europe 2021 (Archive)

EACD — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Under the meeting theme 'Childhood Disability in a Changing World', EACD Europe 2021 looked back on the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on the area of childhood disability, from the use of remote consultation methods and tele-medicine up to the mental health impact. But also looked forward to the newest trends in rehabilitation and care, the possibilities for user-professionals partnerships, and the latest developments in technology and innovation.

Around 600 delegates from 54 different countries joined us during this innovative, fully virtual meeting with four Thematic days spread over four consecutive weeks. During these weeks, the participants have been presented 22 keynotes, 71 oral communications, 194 poster presentations, and 4 satellite symposia. Furthermore, EACD Europe 2021 is proud to have hosted the launch of the EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum, and the inaugural meeting of the Early Intervention in Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Group.

EACD Europe 2021 Program is here.

Recordings of the EACD Europe 2021 keynote lectures are available for EACD members on EACD educational webpage: https://edu.eacd.org/lectures

Call for nomination: The Elsass Foundation Research Prize 2023

EACD — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 10:36:55 GMT

Nominate your candidate for the Elsass Foundation Research Prize 2023 now! To be considered, nominations must be submitted in English here before May 31st, 2022. Every second year the Elsass Foundation Research Prize is awarded by the protector of the Elsass Foundation, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte at the foundations’ premises in Charlottenlund, Denmark. The prize recognizes researchers that have - and continue to make - an exceptional contribution within the field of cerebral palsy (CP).

Prize amount

The prize is DKK 1.000.000 (equivalent of 150.000 €). It is a combined personal prize of DKK 250.000. (37.500 €) and a research grant of DKK 750.000. (112.500 €). It is preferably given to one person only, but it may also be shared by several researchers. Nomination of candidates within all areas of CP research and sciences, with any professional background are welcome.

Selection Committee

Members of the committee are appointed among internationally recognized researchers with

extensive expertise and knowledge in the field of CP:

Thomas Sinkjær, Chairman and Professor in Neurorehabilitation and Neurotechnology, DK
Roslyn Boyd, Professor of Cerebral Palsy Research, PhD (PT), AU
Giovanni Cioni, Professor of Child Neurology, IT
Darcy L. Fehlings, Professor, CA
Bernard Dan, Professor and former prize recipient, BE

Click here and nominate your candidate!

About The Elsass Foundation: The Elsass Foundation is a private foundation from Denmark working to improve the quality of life for people with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families. The Elsass Foundation works across a wide range of areas, including research, knowledge dissemination, developing activity programmes and providing funding to institutions, associations and individuals. The foundation was established in 1975 following a donation by Helene Elsass, who had CP. Her wish was to establish a foundation that could help others with cerebral palsy to the greatest extent possible. The Elsass Foundation is a proactive foundation which strives to keep abreast of the latest research and knowledge in the field of CP. All activities are structured so as to revolve around our mission to improve the quality of life for people with cerebral palsy (CP). One of the primary goals is to help ensure that people with cerebral palsy attain the greatest possible level of independence and autonomy - Website: https://www.elsassfonden.dk/en/

The RehaTech4Child Survey has been launched!

EACD — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:00:00 GMT

In May 2020, EACD set up a Technology & Innovation Task Force, currently led by Prof. Sylvain Brochard and Dr. Christelle Pons. Technology and innovative solutions are making more and more a difference in our society as well as in paediatric rehabilitation. In fact, in some cases technologies and innovative solutions could improve rehabilitation practices in complementary with traditional approaches. However, most initiatives in this area relevant to our community are still mostly from local/regional initiatives, and which kind of technologies and innovations exactly are used, or not used, in paediatric rehabilitation at the moment is still rather unknown. Therefore, the EACD Technology & Innovation Task Force aims to develop a vision at the European level by making visible the needs for people with childhood-onset disabilities and by promoting innovation targeted on this group.

As one of the Action Points, EACD has prepared with a number of partners the RehaTech4Child survey! The aim of the RehaTech4Child Survey led by EACD is to identify the digital technologies (e.g., robotic devices and treadmill systems, virtual reality and gaming systems, telehealth) that are used in clinical practices throughout Europe, and to explore the barriers and facilitators in the use of these new technologies in clinical practice. This knowledge would eventually help in designing the future technological developments based on the feedback from rehabilitation professionals.

In order to reach out to as many people as possible, the survey has been translated into 20 different languages due to the invaluable support of our RehaTech4Child Steering Group, our EACD National Coordinators and many others.

Please find below a list of links to the survey in all available languages:

English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Romanian, Ukrainian, Georgian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Lithuanian and Estonian.

EACD Webinar Event: "The Power of New Technologies in Childhood Rehabilitation"

EACD — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 11:00:00 GMT

As became apperently clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, technology and innovative solutions are crucial in this day and age for providing the best possible care for people with a childhood-onset disability. As such, the European Academy of Childhood Disability will be hosting a webinar event at December 7th, 2021, 19:30-21:30h CET (Brussels time) on 'The Power of New Technologies in Childhood Rehabilitation', with presentations from the EACD Secretary (Prof. Elegast Monbaliu), the winner of the EACD2021 Technology & Innovation Award (Rowan Johnson, MSc), and the winner of the EACD2021 Early Career Researcher Award (Saranda Bekteshi, MSc).

Upcoming Webinar event: GSL / TAL in Cerebral Palsy. World Perspectives

EACD — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to inform you that on November 8th, 2021 from 14:00-16:30h CET (Brussels time), the 3rd Transatlantic Surgery Webinar will be organised. This years’ Transatlantic Surgery Webinar will be focused on ‘Gastroc-Soleus Lenghtening / Tendon Achilles Lengthening in Cerebral Palsy, World Perspectives: a Review of Techniques’. The online webinar event will be 2.5 hours. Registration for this event is free of charge! During the webinar on November 8th, recorded surgeries covering the whole spectrum of surgical techniques used to correct the equine foot in patients with cerebral palsy will be shared online from twelve operating theatres in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Lebanon, Poland, Russia, and the United States of America. The surgeries will be presented simultaneously and live-commented by faculty members in the e-studio. As for the educational objectives of our webinar, the organisers aim to teach the basic surgical techniques used in the management of the orthopaedic problems of patients with Cerebral Palsy, present the minimally invasive versions of the surgeries used in the equine foot, discuss main indications and contraindications for presented surgical techniques, and show tips and tricks and how to avoid possible pitfalls when performing presented surgical techniques.

This years’ webinar event is endorsed by the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (EPOS), and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), and will be organised by a truly international team, including orthopedic surgeons from Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, as well as from North and South America. As in the previous years, this event will be a great opportunity to promote medical education to enhance the care of children with Cerebral Palsy. Moreover, we hope this event will be of great interest to a wide variety of professions, including among other physiotherapists, (pediatric) orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, paediatricians and other medical specialists from all over the world. The first webinar event in 2019 became quite successful with an audience of over 7000 people, and the following year had an audience of 12 000 people from 28 countries.

Scientific Committee:
Bartosz Musielak
Elisabet Rodby-Bousquet
Michael Wade Shrader
Marek Jozwiak

EACD Barcelona 2022 - Register now!

EACD — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 10:00:00 GMT

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 34th European Academy Of Childhood Disability (EACD) Annual Meeting, it will be a great pleasure to welcome you to Barcelona, from May 18 to May 21, 2022

The program will provide an innovative and comprehensive overview of the advances in basic, translational and clinical research; we will be able to discuss new developments in the diagnosis, practice and management of Childhood Disability, promoting the highest standards of care and support for the patients and families. The 34th EACD Annual Meeting will also provide a key interdisciplinary platform for all participants, not only to share knowledge and the most recent advances but also to discuss practical, real -world challenges, all under the Meeting Theme: "Networking Knowledge into Actions".

Barcelona is a magnificent and cosmopolitan city, a perfect venue for the congress thanks to its privileged position on the Mediterranean coast. It has been the gateway and home of several ancient cultures that have always represented the essence of art, culture and progress. The local organizing committee hopes to greet you in person, but due to the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, our meeting will be fully hybrid, with the possibility of attending in person or online. If you can join us, we will do everything possible to make your stay in Barcelona a useful, pleasant as possible and a truly unforgettable experience.

We look forward to meeting you in Barcelona!!

Dr. Mercedes Martínez Moreno, MD

President of the Local Organizing Committee

Dr. Lourdes Macias Merlo, PT
President of the Local Scientiﬁc Committee

Click here to go directly to our EACD Barcelona 2022 - Registration page

EACD Barcelona 2022 - Call for Abstracts!

EACD — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:00:00 GMT

The scientific committee of the 34th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) invites you to submit abstracts for a mini-symposium, instructional course, oral communication and/or poster presentation. Be aware that only abstracts following the Guidelines for Abstract Submission (see here) will be accepted.

With our motto "Networking knowledge into actions" we invite authors from all fields and professions surrounding children and adults with disabilities to submit their topics. With improving networks of care and better web connectivity, collaborative working across boundaries has prospered within Europe and across our global community. We would welcome submissions where such collaborations has led to a change in practice, influenced outcomes, offered benefits or thrown up some challenges. All abstracts related to childhood-onset disabilities are welcome, including those on treatment, prevention, early detection, early intervention, transition and lifespan issues, parents' and siblings’'experiences, adult research, health systems, engineering in disability, basic sciences, social science research and ethics.

We are interested in receiving submissions across a large number of conditions, including cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury (traumatic, stroke, cancer), neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, spinal disorders, intellectual impairments, learning disabilities, profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, sensory impairments, genetic syndromes (e.g. Down, Rett, ...), rare diseases (e.g. neurometabolic, neurodegenerative, ...) and all other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Key dates:

Mini-symposia & Instructional courses:
18 October 2021: Abstracts Submission deadline
12 November 2021: Notifications to submitting authors

Oral communications & Poster presentations:
30 November 2021: Extended Abstract Submission deadline
17 January 2022: Notifications to submitting authors

AusACPDM/IAACD 2022 goes fully virtual!

EACD — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 10:00:00 GMT

The current COVID-19 outbreaks throughout Australia have created increasing uncertainty about travel both within Australia and Internationally. Currently there is almost no travel across state borders in Australia, and the likelihood of international borders opening early in 2022 seems remote. Because of these uncertainties, the Better Together 2022 Organising Committee, in consultation with the AusACPDM Board and IAACD Steering Group, have made the decision to move to a fully virtual Conference in March 2022.

This decision has been made now in advance before there are too many financial implications to the Host Academy, to those wishing to make plans to attend, and to allow time for the Committee to put together the best virtual conference possible for our participants. The Better Together 2022 Organising Committee thanks everyone for their support and understanding in this decision, and we are all very much looking forward to a day when we can all safely come together again. We are Better Together, and we can be Better Together virtually as well as in person.

34th EACD Annual Meeting, Barcelona, 18-21 May 2022

EACD — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:00:00 GMT

The 34th EACD Annual Meeting is going to take place in Barcelona, Spain from 18-21 May 2022! The EACD 2022 Organising Team is working hard to bring you an inspiring, high-quality programme under the Meeting Theme: "Networking Knowledge into Actions".

The Meeting will be in hybrid format. Save the date and join us next year in Barcelona! More information regarding the Call for Abstracts and other key deadlines will follow soon.

For the latest updates on the EACD Barcelona 2022 Meeting, please visit regularly: https://www.eacd2022.com/

EACD Barcelona 2022 promo video - YouTube

Launch of the EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum

EACD — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 10:00:00 GMT

The EACD Early Career Researchers’ Forum has been launched on Thursday 3 June 2021 during the EACD Europe 2021 Meeting!

All Early Career Researchers within the EACD Community are welcome to join this Forum and to participate in the activities of the Early Career Researchers’ Forum. The Forum is intended to be a central platform run by Early Career Researchers (ECRs) for the ECRs community across Europe active in the area of childhood-onset disability. A place for ECRs to find and discuss opportunities, learn from others, share experiences, get to know your colleagues, mentor peers, and create impact through community engagement.

Would you like to be involved or participate in the activities of the Forum? Please complete the survey here:
https://eacd.typeform.com/to/WOQvKcMC

This short survey has been prepared by the current (interim-)leads of the Forum to capture your thoughts and ideas, and allow you to indicate your interest in this initiative. Furthermore, please feel free to introduce yourself on the Padlet Board at EACD Early Career Researchers' Forum, and tell us some more about who you are, where you are from, and what your research, clinical or other interests are!

EACD Europe 2021

EACD — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:00:00 GMT

All session recordings will become available at short notice at the EACD2021 Virtual Platform and will be accessible for all EACD2021 delegates up until December 2021!