Event

EPR Annual Conference 2026 ‘Building Active & Inclusive Citizenship Together: Services and Support for Persons with Disabilities’

* The Conference was open to the public.

The EPR Annual Conference 2026 ‘Building Active & Inclusive Citizenship Together: Services and Support for Persons with Disabilities’ took place on 4-5 June in Paris, France, organised in collaboration with our French member LADAPT – the Association for the social and professional integration of people with disabilities. Over a period of one day and a half, the event offered a platform to share insights, highlight good practices, foster collaboration, and advance strategies that strengthen participation, rights and inclusion for all.

The Conference brought together EPR community of members, partners, persons with lived experience, experts and policy makers to explore a key question: ‘How can services create the conditions for participation, influence, choice, and leadership for persons with disabilities?’. Through high-level plenary sessions, dynamic discussions and thematic workshops, participants learned about both established and emerging dimensions that make active participation possible, including:

• Accessible cities, culture, sports and leisure
• Self-advocacy
• Making Inclusive Preparedness Plans
• Services Addressing Intersectionality
• Equal Opportunities in Employment
• Access to Health as a Foundation for Active Citizenship
• Advancing Equal Participation: The Role of Technology for Persons with Disabilities

Aims of the Conference

EPR Annual Conferences are central events for our network, bringing together all EPR members as well as key sectoral stakeholders and expert speakers to discuss and debate new policies, strategies and practices. Alongside interactive plenary sessions and high-level speakers, workshops enable participants to examine and apply theories, service models or engage with new trends. Good practices and innovations from among the members are also showcased. They aim to:

• To empower service providers to take a leading role in shaping the future of disability and rehabilitation services;
• To explore innovative solutions that enhance quality, efficiency, and accessibility in service delivery;
• To align service provision with emerging EU policies and funding opportunities;
• To foster peer learning and networking among EPR members, EU institutions, and key stakeholders.

Presentations

Setting the Scene: Enhanced European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Disability

• Presentation by Lucie Davoine, Head of Unit, Disability Unit at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission

Panel Discussion: What Active and Inclusive Citizenship Means for Persons with Disabilities, and the Services Supporting Them

• Thibaut de Martimprey, Commissioner for Accessibility and Inclusion of Bourges 2028, European Capital of Culture and Director of the Louise Braille Campus, France and Audrey De Oliveira, Communications and Development Officer, LADAPT, France
• Presentation by Elena Redondo, Head of Projects, Fundación Personas, & Coordinator of the “Fundación Personas Chair: Discapacidad y Futuro” at the University of Salamanca, Spain
• Presentation by Peter van Bleijswijk, Process Facilitator for Inclusive Sports, Municipality of Gooise Meren, the Netherlands

Experts by Lived Experience: Self-Advocacy

• Presentation by Clara Martínez – Fortún López, Expert by Experience, INTRAS Foundation, Spain
• Jean Fred Agius, Expert by Experience, Aġenzija Sapport, Malta
• Presentation by Claire Ward, User Forum Facilitator, The Cedar Foundation, Northern Ireland
• Presentation by José Arcadio Marín Abdilla, Mutual Support Technician (TEAM), CEEM and Day Center, SASM Foundation, Spain
• Hayleigh Keogh, Rehab Group, Ireland

Workshop: Making Inclusive Preparedness Plans

• Presentation by Antoine Verstraete, Project Manager, Disability Division, French Red Cross, France
• Presentation by Leyre Nieva Quesada, Specialist, Personal Autonomy Department of the Accessibility and Innovation Area, Fundación ONCE, Spain
• Presentation by Nökkvi Már Jónsson, Educational and Social Affairs Director, Municipality of Grindavík, Iceland

Workshop: Services Addressing Intersectionality

• Dr. Vanessa Lacey, Director, Gendercare, Ireland
• Dr. Denise O’Dwyer, Principal Psychologist, National Learning Network, Rehab Group, Ireland
• Presentation by Timo Heiskala, CEO, Autism Foundation Finland

Workshop: Equal Opportunities in Employment

• Presentation by Dr. Brigitte A.G. van Lierop, Director, Frans Nijhuis Foundation; Director/Partner, DISWORKS, the Netherlands
• Presentation by Paal Haavorsen, Senior Advisor, Work & Inclusion, Norway
• Presentation by Jean-Baptiste Thiercelin, Director of the Training and Disability Department, Kliff by Randstad, France

Workshop: Access to Health as a Foundation for Active Citizenship

• Presentation by Markaya Henderson, Senior Project and Policy Officer, European Disability Forum (EDF), Belgium
• Presentation by Dr. Deirdre Connolly, Professor in Occupational Therapy, Trinity College, Ireland
• Presentation by Breeda Doherty, Deputy Head of Employability Services, The Cedar Foundation, Northern Ireland

European Disability Employment Week (EDEW): A Leverage to Raise Awareness and Improve Employment of Persons with Disabilities (featuring interactive activity)

• Presentation by Laure-Anne Denouel, European and International Affairs Officer, LADAPT and Magalie Jarousseau, Communications Manager, LADAPT

Advancing Equal Participation: The Role of Technology for Persons with Disabilities

• Alejandro Moledo, Deputy Director and Head of Policy, European Disability Forum (EDF)
• Presentation by Sandra Torres, International Affairs Director, Marsi Bionics
• Presentation by Fanny Cohen, Director, Handilab
• Presentation by Guillaume Trouille, Executive Director, Simplon Foundation

Programme

Please find the full Conference programme below.

Venue

The Conference took place at Groupe Randstad France, a company with deep-rooted commitments to inclusive employment and disability inclusion, such as its creation of Kliff par Randstad, France’s first national temporary employment network dedicated to recruiting and supporting workers with disabilities, and active participation in European disability employment initiatives.

The venue is located at 276 Avenue du Président Wilson, 93211 Saint-Denis La Plaine, France

*A car parking is available at 15 Rue des Gazometres, 93210 Saint-Denis.