Childhood Disability Meeting Recognized for Its Impact

On Wednesday, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the BestCities Global Alliance announced the winner of the 2024 Incredible Impacts Award: The European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD). The EACD was recognized for its 36th Annual Meeting held in Bruges, Belgium, and received a $20,000 grant.

The winning meeting was commended for promoting excellence in research and education on all aspects of childhood-onset disabilities and raising public awareness of the needs and rights of people with these disabilities.

The meeting extended its impact with the EACD+ program, aimed at people with a childhood-onset disability. It featured innovations such as a technology experience showcasing rehabilitation aids, a concert by children with and without disabilities, a sports festival for children with disabilities and educational workshops designed to expand the knowledge of inclusive sports.

“Each year, we read through nominations that tell stories of facing challenges, surmounting barriers, and fighting tirelessly to make the world a better place through business events. We could not be prouder to share these stories and encourage associations everywhere to consider the influence of their meetings and the ways they can help to shape a better tomorrow for everyone,” said Loren Christie, managing director of the BestCities Global Alliance.  

EACD was one of three finalists shortlisted for the Incredible Impacts Grant. The other two were the International Hip Preservation Society (ISHA) and the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). All three associations presented their submissions at the ICCA Congress in Abu Dhabi (20-23 October), where conference delegates and a panel of judges decided on the final winner.

BestCities and ICCA previously announced the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) as the recipient of a $5,000 Seed Fund Grant. The grant will support ICRS’s Global Access Fellowship Initiative, designed to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in ortho-regenerative medicine education programs. As part of the program, two delegates from underrepresented regions around the world will be able to attend a 2025 ICRS educational event and receive a two-year membership.