ESCIF Forum
26th June - 2 PM CET
Participants at the ESCIF Congress were asked to briefly report on the ways in which they or their associations had already pursued projects to exert political influence. It turned out that practically all member associations had already been politically active in one way or another.
The examples ranged from exerting influence to improve accessibility, the implementation of specific projects to improve e.g. the housing situation, disabled car allowance, awareness campaigning as well as the realisation of projects to improve the quality of medical care and aids (e.g. catheters).
When asked about the goals of the work, the ideas ranged from the provision and cost coverage of personal assistance, the stronger representation of people with disabilities and the establishment of specialised centres for the treatment of people with SCI.
The following activities were discussed in the plenary session as next steps:
– Full membership of the European Disability Forum (EDF) should be applied for
– A project group for political work and active participation in the EDF is to be set up
At the ESCIF Forum on 26 June, we are planning to give a short update on your questions to the speakers, further discuss the creation of a project group and the most important topics to be pursued by ESCIF.
Please connect via this Zoom LINK.
ESCIF Congress 2024 in Berlin
22 - 25 May 2024
The 18th ESCIF Congress has been held in Berlin, Germany where enjoyed an informative and inspiring conference concentrated around the theme of political participation. The congress was attended by delegates from 22 European countries and highlights included a talk from Jurgen Dusel the patron of the 2024 ESCIF Congress who spoke about “Democracy needs inclusion”. We will be sharing the presentations on this page soon for your information and interest.
Please join us on 26th June 2pm CET to continue the conversations and continue to drive the agenda forward.
Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87692589661?pwd=JJJwTpTGfBlVa5WwkYiagQdpM444UK.1
Meeting-ID: 876 9258 9661 Kenncode: 515639
Special award for Albert Marti
We are very proud that our secretary Albert Marti has been honoured for his achievements by the Swiss Paraplegic association. The following link has a video where you can hear about his extraordinary story.
EU disability card
There is currently no mutual recognition of disability status between the EU Member States. It can cause difficulties for persons with disabilities travelling in the EU.
The European Commission worked with persons with disabilities and their advocates to test the European Disability Card.
Eight countries already use the European Disability Card a voluntary system of mutual recognition of disability status and some associated benefits.
The card ensures equal access to benefits across borders for persons with disabilities, mainly in culture, leisure, sport and transport.
Based on this good experience, by the end of 2023, the European Commission will propose a European Disability Card that would apply to all EU countries.
The card will make it easier for persons with disabilities to get the proper support when they travel or move to another country in the European Union.
We are delighted to inform you that we had a very successful ESCIF Congress in Thessaloniki, Greece last week. We were hosted by the Greek ESCIF member organisation PASPA who did a wonderful job of hosting this event that enabled great networking, informative presentations and a chance to enjoy the welcoming hospitality of Thessaloniki. We are also very excited to invite you to the 2024 ESCIF Congress which will be held in Berlin.
New ESCIF Project: Accessible Charging project
In most countries in Europe governments promoted the switch to electro mobility and the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles is currently being developed….
Project Ukrainian SCI Relief: Closing of the safe house in Poland
After 6 months ESCIF and its partners close the safe house for Ukrainian refugees with SCI in Poland due to resource constraints (staffing, not enough accurate accommodation and finances). However, the steering group is working on direct transports out of Ukraine and an in-country follow up project.
ESCIF BOARD IN THESSALONIKI
On the first weekend of September, a meeting of the ESCIF board was held in the Greek city of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki). The main goal of this meeting was to meet with Greek paraplegics, who will be the organizers of the future congress, which will take place from May 31st to June 3rd 2023, entitled “Reach beyond your limits – keep on wheeling”.
We reviewed the possible locations of accommodation for congress participants, the content of the program and potential speakers, the financial framework of the congress and a number of other details that are extremely important for a good congress. We had the honor of being the first to drive through the streets of Thessaloniki with a accessible tourist bus, which the Greek paraplegics acquired with the help of donations and with which they will conduct trips for their members. Of course, we cannot ignore the traditional Greek hospitality, for which we would like to thank our Thessaloniki friends, President George Avgoustidis and his wife Vasilika.
An equally important part of the meeting in the second largest Greek city was the discussion by members of the ESCIF management on the vision, goals and strategy for the further work of ESCIF.
Among others, Mirjam Kanalec, Vice-President of ESCIF, and Albert Marti, Secretary of ESCIF, visited Greek paraplegics in their office, where they exchanged many experiences and information about the implementation of programs for paraplegics and quadriplegics in Greece, Switzerland and Slovenia. Of course, on such occasions, a comparison of legislation in individual countries is inevitable.
Changes to the ESCIF Board
ESCIF Congress Samorin 2022
The European Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF), the annual congress of the European Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF), was held in the Slovak town of Šamorin between 25 and 28 May 2022, during which the annual assembly was held. ESCIF.
ESCIF Help Alliance project “Ukrainian SCI Relief”
The European Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF Help Alliance) with the support of several European SCI related organisations are aiming to install and run a “safe-house” for disabled refugees from the war in Ukraine – with a focus on the Spinal Cord Injured community.
