Conference Agenda

Opening: 

Dr. Pedro Encarnação, AAATE President 

Prof. Andreas Efstathiou, Rector, European University Cyprus.

Keynote Speaker: Kamil Goungor, Policy and Movement Support Officer, European Network on Independent Living (ENIL)

Proposers:

Dana Cappel, occupational therapist, Beit Issie Shapiro

Orit Grinstein, occupational therapist, Beit Issie Shapiro

Rachel Blum, speech and language pathologist, Beit Issie Shapiro

Alaa Rabus, speech and language pathologist, Beit Issie Shapiro

With:

Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf (AAATE)

Alessia Sebillo (EASPD)

Riccardo Magni (Pragma Engineering)

Melanie Schaur (JKU)

Nikoletta Geronikola (Alzheimer Athens)

Discussants:

Ramon Daniels (Zuyd University)

Mac MacLachlan (Maynooth University)

Rachel Pace (Agenzija Sapport, Malta)

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Proposers: David Banes, Equitable AI Alliance
Wilfried Kainz, Zero Project

In this session we will discuss the initial outcomes of an international Think Tank, organised and promoted by AAATE in collaboration with GAATO and the SEURO Consortium, on the role of high- and low-tech assistive technology in supporting health, activities and participation of older adults at home and in their communities across different cultures and countries.

Following a presentation of the Think Tank report in its current state the discussion will focus on improving and expanding the report with additional recommendations and good practices and a discussion on how to improve the impact of the work of the Think Tank.

With:

Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf (Think Tank coordinator)

Merita Hoxha (Albania)

Claude Vincent (Canada)

Erik de Jeu (the Netherlands)

Tone Øderud (Norway)

Marie B. Abou Saab (Lebanon)

Turið Jacobsen (Faroe Islands)

Valentini Papageorgiou (Greece)

Luc de Witte (Discussion leader)

Others...

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Proposers:

Alexandros Kofteros, Cyprus Ministry of Education
Maria Meletiou-Mavrotheris, European University Cyprus
Katerina Mavrou, European University Cyprus

Advancing access to AT worldwide is what unites the members of the Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations (GAATO) and GAATO with international institutions having similar goals, such as the WHO, UNICEF, ITU  and others. In this session we will discuss with representatives of big and small non-for-profit membership based organizations of AT stakeholders the role they can play in driving the global, regional and national agenda’s. We will start from the outcomes of the recent consultation process held by WHO and the draft global Roadmap WHO is preparing. The session will highlight the potential of AT associations as non governmental civil society initiatives, expression of the interests of end users and the professionals that aim to support them.   

In collaboration with the WHO.

With:

Luc de Witte (GAATO president) Chair

Emma Tebbutt and Irene Calvo (WHO)

Natasha Layton (ARATA)

Francesco Zanfardino (GLIC Association)

David Banes (DAT Europe)

Alex Kamadu (ISWP)

Pedro Encarnação (AAATE)

Rohini Gaur (Kara Medical Foundation, India)

Takenobu Inoue (RESJA)

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Proposers: 

Karin Slegers, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Uta Roentgen, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Emiel van Miltenburg, Tilburg University

Proposers:

Ramon Daniëls, Research Centre on Assistive Technology in Care, Zuyd University, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Maastricht University, Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care

With: 

Kamil Goungor, European Network on Independent Living

Prof. Panayiotis Zaphiris, Rector, Cyprus University of Technology

Susanna Laurin, G3ict and IAAP Representative to the EU 

Gottfried Zimmermann, AccessibleEU Expert and Teach-Access Europe Representative

Proposers: AAATE, EUC, EDF, JKU (ATHENA Project), AccessibleEU, IAAP EU, Teach-Access

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Crisis response is a set of humanitarian actions taken to support those affected by disaster or conflict. The UN CRPD embeds crisis response through several key articles and principles--specifically Article 11--ensuring that the rights and needs of persons with disabilities are protected before, during, and after crises. During the session, we will highlight innovations that ensure that persons with disabilities, with the support from AT, are able to overcome these unforeseen, extreme situations.

With:

-Wilfried Kainz (chair) (Zero Project-Essl Foundation)

-Prof. Michael Ashley Stein (Harvard University)

-Mariam Gelashvili (Consort Georgia)

-Ehab El Khatib (Momentum Wheels for Humanity)

-Tone Øderud (Sintef)

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Keynote Speaker: Professor Serenella Besio, University of Bergamo

Proposers: 

Claire Huijnen, PhD, Research Centre on Assistive Technology in Care, Zuyd University, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Living Lab in Assistive Technology for Independency; Living lab for educational opportunities and inclusion

Nardie Fanchamps, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research Group Lead Educational Robotics, Computational Thinking & STEM-learning, Educational Sciences, Technology Enhanced Learning Innovations TELI, Open University The Netherlands 

Heike Gerger, PhD, Assistant Professor Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Faculty of Psychology , Open University of the Netherlands 

Larissa van der Leek, student at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Lisa Bosgoed, PhD candidate, Policy advisor education and quality, Berkenschutse, the Netherlands

With: 

-Rosemary J Gowran (Chair) (BeWheelWell Centre of Education and Research for
WheelchairUser Wellbeing, University of Limerick/ National Clinical Programme for People
with Disability, Health Service Executive)

–Mac MacLachlan (Assisted Living and Learning (ALL) Institute, Maynooth University)

–Satish Mishra (ATscale, Global Partnership for Assistive Technology)

–Marie Abou Saab (SESOBEL Lebanon, International Society of Wheelchair Professionals)

–Alex Kamadu (International Society of Wheelchair Professionals – ISWP)

–Natasha Layton (ARATA)

–Luc De Witte (Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations – GAATO)

–Jamie Danemayer (GDI Hub)

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

With:

• Dr. May Agius (University of Malta)
• Prof. Cecilia Lanyi (University of Pannonia, Hungary)
• Dr. Eleni Damianidou (European University Cyprus, Ministry of Education)
• Nefi Charalambous-Darden (Autism Praxis Infinity Solutions)
• Dr Lorenzo Desideri, AIAS Bologna onlus
• Others TBC

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Building on the momentum and insights generated by the SEURO project’s “Laying the Groundwork” workshop on 28 May 2028, this follow-up session is designed to consolidate and extend our collective understanding of what drives and what impedes the successful implementation of EU-funded digital health initiatives. 

With: 

Julie Doyle (Netwell CASALA)

Francisco Florez-Revuelta (University of Alicante)

Angelina Kouroubali (FORTH Institute of Computer Science)

Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf (WeCareMore centre for Research and Innovation of AIAS Bologna)

Claudine Auger (University of Montreal)

Sara Comai (Polytechnic University of Milan)

Showcasing of new products, prototypes or service innovations.

Each presentation is chaired by their presenters

Round Table Discussion: From Legacy to Leadership: Rethinking AT (and the role of AAATE) for the Next 30 Years

Chair: Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf, AAATE Secretary General, AIAS Bologna, Italy

Panelists:

• Luc de Witte, Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations, The Hague University of Applied Science
• Christakis Nicolaides, Pancyprian Organisation of the Blind
• Alex Kamadu, International Society of Wheelchair Professionals
• Sari Merilampi, Satakunta University

Awards ceremony

• AAATE Diamond Award – announced by: Georgios Kouroupetroglou, AAATE Past-President, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Tone Øderud, SINTEF Digital, Norway
• Best paper award – announced by: Silvio Pagliara, University of Cagliari, Italy

Conference Closing

Concluding Remarks: Dominique Archambault, University Paris 8-Vincennes-Saint-Denis, France