Congress 2025 in Zagreb

The Croatian Associations of Paraplegics and Tetraplegics will be hosting the European Spinal Cord Injury Federation Congress (ESCIF 2025), which will take place in Zagreb from May 28-30, 2025. Representatives from the Federation’s member organizations are expected to attend, with around 50 participants in total.
ESCIF 2025 gathers experts, organizations, and participants from across Europe, aiming to exchange knowledge and experiences on the topics of accessible tourism, accessible transportation, and assistive technology. We are currently in the process of defining speakers, guests and specific activities for the Congress.

25 Years of the Croatian Association of Paraplegics and Tetraplegics – Successful Working Weekend in Pag

From 8 to 10th of November a traditional »working weekend« was held in Novalja on the island of Pag, organized by the Croatian Association of Paraplegics and Tetraplegics (HUPT). The event, which marked also HUPT’s 25th anniversary, gathered over 80 members who participated in discussions on disability rights, the current projects of HUPT, and shared their experiences.

The Ombudsman Dario Jurišić presented the rights of people with disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the activities that HUPT carries out to improve the status of paraplegics and tetraplegics in Croatia. During the event, participants also remembered the longstanding contributions of Manda Knežević, the former president of HUPT, whose efforts were crucial in securing disability rights in the country.

International representatives were also present at the event. At HUPT’s invitation, Mirjam Kanalec, representative of the Paraplegics Association of Slovenia (ZPS) and Vice President of the European Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF), attended the event. She addressed the participants on behalf of ZPS and ESCIF, praising the longstanding collaboration with HUPT and reminding them that Croatia will host ESCIF congress next year in Zagreb.

Representatives of paraplegic and tetraplegic associations from Serbia (SPIKS), including Bojana Gladović, ESCIF board member, and Nenad Duraković, president of SPIKS, were also present, with Duraković introducing the work of their organization.

This working weekend further strengthened HUPT’s ties with international partners and highlighted its commitment to continued cooperation and joint activities aimed at improving the conditions of people with disabilities. Such meetings provide an important opportunity for sharing experiences and ideas that can contribute to creating better conditions for people with disabilities across the region.

Aging (Well) with Spinal Cord Injury

On September 14, 2024, the event “Aging (Well) with Spinal Cord Injury” took place in Rome at Sala Tevere, Lazio Region, to mark World Spinal Cord Injury Day. Organized by the Rome and Lazio Paraplegic Association, it brought together healthcare professionals, experts, and individuals with spinal injuries to discuss aging-related challenges and solutions. At the invitation of Pietro Barbieri, President of AP Rome & Lazio, and former member of ESCIF Board, Mirjam Kanalec, Vice President of ESCIF, also attended the conference. During the event, she presented ESCIF’s work and its projects.

The event concluded with a discussion and final remarks from the AP Rome and Lazio President, emphasizing the importance of integrated care and proactive strategies to support aging with spinal cord injuries.

On this occasion, Kanalec visited ESCIF member, FISH (Italian Federation for Overcoming Disabilities), where she had a pleasant discussion with its President, Vincenzo Falabella. During their conversation, Falabella outlined the federation’s activities and expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with ESCIF. They also discussed the plans for organizing the ESCIF Congress in 2026.

Support for Albania

ESCIF and the association “Konvoi of Hope Karlsruhe” collect wheelchairs for Albania.

The ESCIF Help Alliance supports with the help of the association “Convoy of Hope Karlsruhe” the Albanian self-help association for people with paraplegia “Shoqata e Invalidëve Para & Tetraplegjikë të Shqipërisë”. 40 urgently needed care beds and wheelchairs are to be transported by truck to Albania in October.

We are still looking for active wheelchairs, including those in need of small repair, that can be reconditioned in Konvoi of Hope’s own wheelchair workshop.

Transport to Karlsruhe needs to be organized locally. For more than 5 chairs the ESCIF Help Alliance can help with transport.

If you have any question, please contact Albert before October 13th: secretary@escif.org. Thank you for your support. The ESCIF Board

ESCIF Forum

Tuesday 20th August 2pm CET

Is your wheelchair suitable?

Find out with the Wheelchair Check 

Introduction of this new international screening tool with Linda Valent

 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89504117019

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

The 2022 annual congress of the European Association of Paraplegics ESCIF was held in the Slovak town of Šamorin, where a new member of the board, Lucy Robinson from England, was elected at the regular assembly. The vice-president Nuutti Hiltunen from Finland stepped down after for years of service. Due to the illness of President Stefan Opresnik Jorlev, this Vice President function is even more important so that the operation of the association can run smoothly. Mirjam Kanalec has been unanimously appointed by the board as the next Vice President and Lucy Robinson is the Treasurer. 
 

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.