ESCIF Congress 2026 – Comacchio, Italy
Topic: Ageing with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
The ESCIF Congress 2026 will take place in Comacchio, Italy. This year’s congress is organised by the Italian SCI organisation Federazione delle Associazioni di Persone con Lesione al Midollo Spinale (FAIP).
As always, the congress will bring together people with spinal cord injury, professionals, researchers, and advocates from across Europe. It provides an important opportunity to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and strengthen cooperation at the European level.
One of the main themes of the 2026 Congress will be ageing with spinal cord injury. This topic affects an increasing number of people within our community. We believe it is essential to examine both the challenges and opportunities related to ageing — medically, socially, and in terms of policy and support systems — while sharing good practices from across Europe.
Venue & Accommodation
The congress will take place at FLORENZ RESORT, Lido degli Scacchi, Comacchio
🔗 https://www.campingflorenz.com/
Accommodation will be provided in fully accessible mobile homes, specifically the DONATELLO and TINTORETTO units (see camp plan).
The campsite has been officially awarded for its accessibility for people with disabilities.
Additional nights:
- €130 per unit per night (for both unit types)
- Please indicate additional nights in the registration form
- Payment is made directly to the resort upon departure
Transportation to the Venue
Participants may travel by car or fly to Venice Marco Polo Airport or Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport.
The organisers will provide accessible transfers from both airports:
- Approx. €90–130 per person (round trip)
- Payment will be made directly to the organisers
- Further details will be provided after registering for this service
How to Reach the Resort by Public Transport
- From Venice Marco Polo Airport – Google from Venice
- From Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport – Google from Bologna
Travelling by Train: Reservations and Assistance
When travelling by train in Italy, persons with disabilities or reduced mobility can request assistance through Sala Blu – RFI:
Assistance options:
- Online/App: Sala Blu platform or Sala Blu+ app (iOS & Android)
- Telephone:
- 800 90 60 60 (toll-free from landlines in Italy)
- +39 02 32 32 32 (from mobile phones or from abroad)
- In person: at one of the 16 Sala Blu offices at major railway stations
For Italo trains, please contact Pronto Italo (+39 06 07 08) at least 36 hours in advance, especially for intermodal travel.
Ticket Reservations
- Trenitalia: Standard online booking or via Sala Blu; priority seats are available in dedicated carriages
- Italo: Online booking + contact Pronto Italo to reserve wheelchair space
At the Station
- Please arrive at the agreed meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure
- RFI staff will assist with orientation, boarding, and disembarking
Useful Contacts
- Sala Blu – RFI: 800 90 60 60 / +39 02 32 32 32
- Pronto Italo: +39 06 07 08
- Trenitalia Call Center: +39 06 5210550 (option 1 for English)
Discounts
There is no single set of general rules governing discounts; each company applies its own criteria.
For Trenitalia, passengers must hold a European Disability Card marked with the letter “A”, which certifies the need for high-level assistance. In this case, the accompanying person travels free of charge.
More information:
🔗 https://www.trenitalia.com/en/information/passengers-with-disabilities-or-reducedmobility.html
Congress Fee and Payment
Congress fees (per person):
- Delegates (max. 2) of ESCIF member organisations & accompanying person: €450
- Participants of a member organisation & personal assistant: €525
- Patron/honorary members & personal assistant: €525
- All other participants & personal assistant: €600
Congress fees include:
- Accommodation and meals during the congress
- Bed linen and towels, hairdryer
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the swimming pool
- 1 beach umbrella + 2 sunbeds per unit
- Parking space
- Tourist tax
The congress fee is based on double occupancy.
Single occupancy surcharge: €100 per room.
An invoice will be issued after registration and sent by email from secretary@escif.org.
Registration is considered complete only after payment of the congress fee.
Registration Deadlines
- Early bird registration: until March 30
- The fees listed above are early bird rates
- Regular fees: + €50
- Final registration deadline: April 30
