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Programme

Please note that this is a preliminary conference programme and changes may still be made.

Conference Language

The language of the conference will be English with interpretation into Spanish.

Accessibility

Real-time captioning will be available.

The venue is fully accessible.

Conference Venue

Universidad Politécnica de Valencia - Campus de Gandía, Carrer del Paranimf, 1, 46730 Gandía, Valencia

Wednesday, 14 May 2025

14:00 - 19:00

Pre-Registrations

Building G

Get your conference materials early and avoid the rush on the first day.

Thursday, 15 May 2025

08:30 - 09:15

Registrations

Building G

Registration and welcome coffee

09:15 - 10:00

Welcoming Remarks

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

  • Kirsi Konola, EASPD President
  • Salomé Cuesta, Vice-Rector for Art, Science, Technology and Society, Universitat Politècnica de València
  • Jose Manuel Prieto Part, Mayor of Gandía
  • Luis Cervera Torres, Director General for Sport, Generalitat Valenciana
  • Barbará Congost Mirón, Director General for Disability, Generalitat Valenciana
10:00 - 10:45

The Big Picture: Framing Article 30

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

Moderator: Sydney von Ihering, Facilitator of EASPD Member Forum on Arts and Culture

  • Eoin Nash, EASPD Board Member and co-chair of Member Forum on Arts and Culture
  • Jamie Armstrong, Trust Rugby International
  • Leticia Herrero, Writer and child psychologist
10:45 - 11:00

Performance

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

  • Monte Sión Choir, Spain
11:00 - 11:30

Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:45

Breakout Sessions Round 1

These workshops will take different formats, such as typical workshops, roundtable discussions, speed dating activities, world cafés, and outdoor practical experiences.

1

Hitting the right note: Giving inclusion a voice

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

Speaker: 

  • M. Silla Agustí, Catechist, Ntra. Sra. de Monte-Sión School, Spain
  • Sherezade Cabrera Pérez, Choir facilitator, Ntra. Sra. de Monte-Sión School, Spain

This project was born from the desire to unite meaningful leisure, the pursuit of spirituality, and active participation in community life. Through this choir, people with intellectual disabilities find a space for expression and connection. The proposal is based on sound as a vehicle for encounter, built on individual capacities: songs, rhythms, and dynamics are chosen based on what each person can and wants to contribute. In this workshop we will explore how music becomes a shared language that breaks down barriers and celebrates diversity.

2

Crips: A road movie of acceptance and change

Room: Sala de conferencias (Building G)

Speaker: Richárd BáderRehab Critical Mass, Hungary

Crips, the 45-minute docu road movie, confronts us with the importance of acceptance. Without taboos but with a lot of humour, it tells the story of those whose lives we don't know and perhaps don't dare to know. More than just a positive film experience, this is an action road movie which has a mindshaping effect and encourages dialogue. Come watch the film and learn about how it is being used as a tool for advocacy in Hungary.

3

Access & Me: Building our access toolkits

Room: Sala de estudios (Building G)

Speaker: Alice Christina-Corrigan, Artistic Director & Founder of LALA Arts, UK

Take a step into LALA land as we work with LALA Art's artistic director Alice Christina-Corrigan in a fun and informative session focused on building confidence and a deeper understanding of the creative possibilities of access and the role it plays in our communities, workspaces and our own identities. Through conversations, exercises and creativity come and build on your access toolkit and explore the world of access training, art, sport and the multisensory creative playground of LALA Arts.

4

Abriendo libros, abriendo mentes

Room: Aula 34 (Building A)

Please note: This workshop will be conducted entirely in Spanish with no interpretation available.

Speakers: 

  • Valentina LaraPlena inclusión, Spain
  • Maria Jesus Juarez Tebar, Public library of Gandía, Spain

In this interactive session, Plena Inclusion and Gandia Library will elaborate on how they are make literature more accessible for people with disabilities. Through the creation of book clubs, lobbying for the translation of popular novels into easy to read, and inclusion programmes, this workshop aims to show that reading shouldn't be a luxury and should be available to everyone. 

5

Supporting artistic journeys and painting new paths

Room: Aula 35 (Building A)

Speaker: Anthie Daoutaki, Artistic Director, VTC MARGARITA, Greece

This session will highlight VTC Margarita Atelier’s innovative approach to supporting artists with intellectual disabilities at a professional level. Participants will explore strategies that provide personalised guidance, artistic production planning and exhibition opportunities to help these artists develop their skills and present their work in a professional context. The session will also include a hands-on activity, where attendees will step into the roles of both artists and supporters, fostering creativity and collaboration.

6

Unlocking potential through volunteering

Room: Aula 31 (Building A)

Speaker: Sonia Fernandes, Executive Director, Pista Mágica – Associação, Portugal

This workshop will introduce the Supported Volunteering Methodology developed by Pista Mágica. This methodology uses volunteering as a powerful tool for the social inclusion of people with disabilities. Successfully tested in Portugal through European social innovation funding, the methodology is now being scaled nationally and across Europe—including in Romania—to enhance employability and participation. Participants will explore the key phases of the methodology, learn how to apply it in their contexts, and discover the tangible results it can generate for individuals and communities.

7

Training sports, coaching inclusion

Room: Aula 30 (Building A)

Speaker: Petra Riedinger-Andrä, Project coordinator, International Coaching Course- ITK, Germany

ITK is a postgraduate training programme for coaches and sports teachers from developing countries. It has played a significant role in international sports education, training over 5,800 participants from more than 150 countries. It is covering various disciplines (including Sport for people with disabilities). Courses are taught in Arabic, French, English & Spanish to break down language barriers.

8

Together we Rock!

Room: Aula 19 (Building A)

Speakers: 

  • Anu Lund, Manager of service unit, Savas, Finland
  • Arja Kauhanen, Counselor, Savas, Finland
  • Anna-Mari Kämäräinen, Manager of service unit, Savas, Finland

In this workshop, we will discover how SavasRock is redefining the inclusive music scene with a Rock festival for everyone. Accessible and designed with inclusion at its heart, this festival offers a real alternative to enjoy music and meet different people from different places in a permissive atmosphere. We will talk about SavasRock, how we did it and which idea and values are behind this practice. We will also share and discuss tips on how to implement such an event.

12:45 - 13:45

Lunch Break

Buildings D and E

13:45 - 14:30

Networking Session

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

This dynamic networking session is designed as a “speed dating” energiser to foster meaningful interaction among conference participants. The primary objective is to create a relaxed and engaging environment where participants can get to know each other better, exchange updates, and spark ideas for future collaboration. 

14:30 -15:30

Breakout Sessions Round 2

More information about the topics and the speakers will be added shortly.

9

‘The Beautiful Game’: Scoring goals for inclusion

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

Speakers: 

  • Dani Alcaraz, First federated referee in Spain with Down syndrome, Spain
  • Rebeca Tur Baja, Director, A Toda Vela, Spain
  • Daniel Martínez, Inclusive Leisure programme manager, A Toda Vela, Spain

Explore how football promotes inclusion through Dani Alcaraz’s journey as a referee and A Toda Vela's work with the Almerian Inclusive Football League. Learn how inclusive football programmes are creating opportunities, breaking barriers, and empowering communities through sport.

10

Platforming artists and celebrating talents

Room: Sala de estudios (Building G)

Speaker: Valentina Lara, Inclusive Cultural Project Manager, Plena inclusión, Spain

Plena Inclusión’s virtual space is dedicated to showcasing the artistic talent of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This initiative aims to highlight the works and careers of artists in various disciplines, such as literature, visual arts, music, dance, theatre, and photography. Join this session to see how Plena inclusión is platforming artists all over Spain with disabilities!

11

Moving beyond limits with adaptive sports

Room: Aula 30 (Building A)

Speaker: Gavriela Savvidou, Project Manager, Agios Stefanos, Cyprus

The adaptive sports programme by Agios Stephanos modifies exercises, tools and equipment to ensure the accessibility and safety of each person. In this session you'll find out more about how the programme aims to improve physical health and boost independence for individuals with physical disabilities, namely wheelchair users, and developmental disabilities.

12

The art of Trencadis: Piecing together inclusion

Room: Sala de conferencias (Building G)

Speaker: Paula Fenollar, Fundació Espurna, Spain

Become an apprentice of our masters. In this participatory Trencadís (Mosaic) workshop, people with intellectual disabilities will show how they teach this artistic technique to children in schools to foster awareness and inclusion.

13

The force behind the festival

Room: Aula 31 (Building A)

Speakers: 

  • Nikos Pagidas,Founder and Director of Nevronas Organization, Producer of Nevronas FESTival, Occupational Therapist, Cyprus
  • Popi Malesi, Co-Founder and Content Manager of Nevronas Organization, Co Producer of Nevronas FESTival, Psychologist, Cyprus

Disabled people, neurodivergent people, and ‘vulnerable’ people can effectively facilitate, serve, and assist in various settings as volunteers. Their successful participation in all three Nevronas FESTivals (2022, 2023, 2024) proves this beyond any doubt. Through a mini-documentary and interactive discussion, you’ll see disabled and non-disabled, neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals working in harmony. Let’s talk about it in this session!

14

Enhancing mobility and opportunities with the EU Disability Card

Room: Aula 34 (Building A)

Speakers: 

  • Petra Rantamäki, Development Director, Tukena Foundation, Finland
  • Mojca Vaupotič, General Secretary, NSIOS, Slovenia
  • Gašper Oblak, Professional Associate, NSIOS, Slovenia

Led by two organisations coordinating the EU disability card at national level, this insightful workshop will showcase how the EU Disability Card is implemented and promoted and can accompany efforts to raise public awareness about the social inclusion of people with disabilities. It will also discuss how people with disabilities can have their voices heard when implementing the card in different countries, and the role of supporters in all of the above. 

15

The power of the stage to unite communities

Room: Aula 35 (Building A)

Speaker: 

  • Eldina Jašarević, Goethe-Institut, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Ayla Korajac, Goethe-Institut, Bosnia and Herzegovina

This workshop introduces the ALL INCLUSIVE programme—an initiative that fosters social inclusion through dance, theatre, music, and storytelling in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Learn how the project empowers people with disabilities and marginalised groups to co-create with professional artists, build creative and professional skills, and take an active role in cultural life. The session will highlight key outcomes, methods of collaboration, and the power of performance to amplify unheard voices.  

16

Travel beyond the map with inclusive tourist guides

Room: Aula 19 (Building A)

Speaker: Ivor Ambrose, ENAT

"T-GUIDE” is a life-long training course for professional tourist guides, covering both theory and practice. Already, over 100 tourist guides have taken this certified course, raising the standard of tourist guiding in Europe. Everyone has a right to enjoy Europe’s cultural heritage! Learn about - and discuss - this exciting initiative, which is making a massive difference to visitors with learning difficulties. “Tourism for All” is not just a slogan - it is happening!

15:30

End of Day 1

19:30

Conference Dinner and Innovation Awards Ceremony

Restaurante Boga, Carrer Senill, 105, 46730 Platja de Gandia, Valencia, Spain

Friday, 16 May 2025

09:00 - 09:45

Morning Huddle

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

Moderator: Timothy Ghilain, EASPD

  •  Gabrielle Sedor, Chief Operations Officer and Foundation Director, ANCOR, USA
10:00 - 11:00

Breakout Sessions Round 3

More information about the topics and the speakers will be added shortly.

17

On Pointe: Breaking stereotypes with ballet

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

Speakers: 

  • Esther Mortes Roselló, Ballet Vale+, Spain
  • Patricia Morán Pascual, Ballet Vale+, Spain

Ballet Vale+ is a dance company linked to the prestigious Esther Mortes Dance School in Valencia. Ballet Vale+ stands out for its inclusive and socially committed approach. The company brings together dancers with and without disabilities, especially people with cerebral palsy, giving them the opportunity to express themselves through dance. This unique approach promotes integration, personal growth, and the visibility of people with disabilities in the world of art. In this workshop, participants will see first-hand how BalletVale+ demonstrates that dance is a universal language that transcends physical and social barriers.

18

Reimagining culture to adapt and include

Room: Aula 19 (Building A)

Speaker: Ruxandra Mateescu, Founder, Supereroi printre noi, Romania

In this workshop, we will explore how we can change preconceptions about disability by organising inclusive events in public spaces. We we also discuss how inclusion starts online - tips on tailored and easy-to-understand online communication, bringing together both people with disabilities and typical audiences.

19

I can also do that! -The value of volunteering

Room: Aula 35 (Building A)

Speakers: Aitor Sánchez del Río, Volunteer Coordinator, Som – Foundation, Spain

Volunteering enables people with disabilities to step outside their comfort zones and explore new interests or practice ones they enjoy. #JoTbPuc (I can also do that) is an inclusive volunteering programme by Som - Foundationthat promotes the active participation of people with disabilities in community activities, fostering autonomy, self-esteem, and social connection. This workshop will explore how volunteering can increase inclusion in the community, enhance skills and contribute to a happier social life.

20

Amplifying diversity through Rock

Room: Aula 34 (Building A)

Speaker: Javier Mojarrieta, Music Teacher and Project Coordinator, “Rock A LA PAR” - Fundación A LA PAR, Spain

Rock A La Par is a pioneering initiative seeks to form a music band composed of people with intellectual disabilities. This workshop will share practical tools and inclusive strategies for making music with people of all abilities. Through rhythm, movement, and improvisation, participants will experience how music can be a joyful, collaborative space for expression and learning.

21

Feel the music: Accessible festivals

Room: Aula 31 (Building A)

Speaker: Sandra Boertien, Possibilizer, Possibilize, the Netherlands

Revelland is a collective network of passionate artists, directors and event organisers, determined to make performing arts accessible to everyone through immersive experiences. This workshop will share how by chasing our curiosity and breaking boundaries, we can defy typical cultural experiences and explore undiscovered realms of possibilities.

22

Touring together: Adventures without barriers

Room: Aula 30 (Building A)

Speakers: 

  • Sergio Cabello, Fundació Espurna, Spain
  • Hamude Kafernawi, Fundació Espurna, Spain

In this workshopwe will explore how inclusion can be an essential part of tourism experiences. With over 20 years of experience organising camps and biweekly trips across Spain, cultural and sports tours, and annual trips throughout Europe, Fundació Espurna have created unforgettable moments that promote coexistence and inclusion. This session aims to share and listen to experiences in inclusive travel, inspire, and open new possibilities. We will cover everything from organising large group trips with the support of monitors and volunteers, to individual trips that promote autonomy, break down barriers, and make tourism an accessible experience for all.

23

Sparking community connections through culture

Room: Sala de estudios (Building G)

Speakers: 

In this workshop, we will present how the former Verdú Museum, an occupational center, has been transformed into an inclusive community cultural space. We will share the Mutare methodology, focused on co-creation and social transformation, and present the results achieved. The session will conclude with a participatory activity to generate ideas on how to incorporate culture into the daily life of occupational centers.

24

Tackling inclusion with Rugby for all

Room: Sala de conferencias (Building G)

Speakers: 

  • Ciaran Armstrong, Trust Rugby Scotland/International
  • Michael Artiles Shannon, Trust Rugby Spain
  • María Artiles, Trust Rugby International, Spain

This workshop will have the aim to introduce listeners to Trust Rugby International Spain's Rugby&Kids, but before getting there, speakers Jamie Armstrong and Michael Artiles will introduce you to TRI's history and how we arrived at the development of Rugby&Kids and its impact, which will be told by Maria Artiles. You may expect testimonies, interactive activities and learning new ways as to how to introduce inclusion in our society.

11:00 - 11:30

Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:30

Creating a Game Plan: Advancing Article 30 in Europe

Room: Aula Magna (Building G)

Moderator: Kalianne Farren, EASPD

Speakers: 

  • Mar Galcerán, Member of the Valencian Parliament
  • Alberto Duran, Fundación ONCE
  • Sophie Dowden, ENCC
  • Charo García Sabater, Fundació Espurna, Spain
  • Hanga Hegedus, EASPD
  • Theresa Shearer, Enable
12:30 - 12:45

Concluding Remarks

Room: Aura Magna (Building G)

  • Fundació Espurna, Spain
  • EASPD
12:45

End of Day 2

Friday, 16 May 2025 - Post-Conference Events

17:00

SIMS Closing conference

Promoting Inclusive Sports through Media Collaboration

This event requires a separate registration. Please register here 

Interpretation in English and Spanish

Panel Session: Promoting inclusive sports via inclusive sports journalism

Moderator: Sydney Von Ihering, EASPD

Speakers:

  • Antonio Garcia, Fundació Espurna 
  • Santiago Roca, Radio Broadcaster in Radio Marca Gandia
  • Héctor Cabrera Llácer, Spanish paralympic athlete
  • Fernando Soria Hernández, Espana se Mueve

Question and Answer Session

17:55

Closing remarks

  • Rachel Vaughan, EASPD
19:00

Members only networking event

Join us on Gandia beach for our member only networking event. Members will have the opportunity to participate in, or watch, an inclusive rugby training session with Trust Rugby Spain followed by networking drinks. 

Spaces are limited, please register here.

20:30

Networking Drinks

22:00

End of event