EACD / IAACD Heidelberg 2025

Outpatient & inpatient rehabilitation centers in China in our #InternationalVoices series! Dr. Wu Meifen from Guangzhou explains how rehabilitation centers are transforming into family-centered hubs, combining day care and hospital services. He emphasizes the growing focus on early assessments, interventions, and integrating care into families and communities. 👉 Watch more: https://lnkd.in/djXBDMYh

Meet our keynote speakers: Prof. Dr. Janbernd Kirschner, University of Freiburg, Germany. Prof. Dr. Janbernd Kirschner is an experienced paediatric neurologist, specializing in neuromuscular disorders. He serves as the head of the Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Germany. With a focus on improving diagnostics and therapies for rare genetic diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Prof. Kirschner has been instrumental in advancing clinical research and care standards in these fields. He is actively involved in leading international collaborative projects and registries, such as EURO-NMD, SCREEN4CARE, and SMArtCARE, which aim to enhance long-term outcomes for patients. A dedicated researcher and clinician, Prof. Kirschner has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is committed to integrating innovative therapies into routine care to benefit patients.

Comprehensive rehabilitation at one of China’s largest pediatric centers, linked to the Guangzhou Medical University! Dr. Li Zhibin discusses the interdisciplinary team’s work in CP and ASD, focusing on psychosocial comorbidities, early recognition, and innovative treatments. In this sense, a speech therapist highlights evidence-based tools for communication therapy and the key role of parents in language development. She also addresses parental concerns about non-verbal tools and assistive devices, emphasizing their proven benefits. 👉 Watch more in our #InternationalVoices series: https://lnkd.in/drucRtab #EACD2025 #IAACD2025

Meet Li Na & Hu-Hao Cougar, scientists and parents of two children, one with CP and complex needs. They study genetic methods to identify and understand the causes of CP and other neurodevelopmental disorders, like ASD. With family support, they balance groundbreaking research and parenting challenges. 👉 Watch in #InternationalVoices: https://lnkd.in/dUkh9X4M

Join our #InternationalVoices journey to hear caregiver stories from Xian, China! 💬 Mrs. Wong and her daughter Yang-yang (10), who has cerebral palsy. With the support of family and multidisciplinary care at Xian Hospital, she hopes Yang-yang can live as independently as possible. 💬 Mrs. Li, mother of Jang-Jang (5), finds strength in her family as her son with intelectual disability and speech delay receives treatment. She celebrates his progress in communication and development! 💬 Grandfather Lu cares for his grandson Wai-Wai (7), who has Autism Spectrum Disorder with behavioral and language challenges. Thanks to his dedication and care from Xian Hospital, Wai-Wai's communication and behavior have improved. Lu dreams of a happy, independent life for him. 👉 Explore these inspiring stories: https://lnkd.in/dY2SXimU #EACD2025 #IAACD2025

🌏 Join our #InternationalVoicesjourney through China! Dr. Wang Fui focuses on supporting parents of children with intellectual disabilities. He highlights the importance of early assessments and daily living skills. He Yuan, director of the Speech and Language Department, emphasizes standardized, effective treatments and introduces new methods to address complex needs. 👉 Explore their inspiring work: https://lnkd.in/dNPnDNaH

Join our #InternationalVoices journey in #Xian 🌐! Prof. Song Hujie, CEO of China’s largest rehabilitation hospital in Xian, highlights their integration of modern rehabilitation and traditional Chinese medicine to support children with disabilities. With a vision for global partnerships, they aim to advance research, talent development, and technology, while promoting early detection and reducing stigmas in rehabilitation. 👉 Explore his insights for #EACD2025-#IAACD2025: https://lnkd.in/dNBBvsvy

Thanks for your amazing response to the abstract call for EACD/IAACD 2025. We received 1011 submissions for posters and orals: 784 different main authors from 71 countries. We're screening them all and will let you know our decisions soon! #EACD2025 #IAACD2025

Join our #InternationalVoices journey through China! Today, Professors Xiaojie Li and Guorong Wei discuss China’s advancements in pediatric rehabilitation, focusing on equitable services for urban and rural regions. Professor Li shares approaches to enhance remote rehabilitation services, while Professor Wei focuses on child abilities and building family partnerships. Their efforts are expanding equitable rehabilitation access and quality in China. 👉 Watch their insights at #EACD2025 - #IAACD2025 International Voices. https://lnkd.in/dkKQftwU

Introducing our keynote speakers: Kath Benfer, PhD, MPH, BSpPath Dr Katherine Benfer is a Paediatric Speech Pathologist and Senior Research Fellow with the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, a National Centre for Research Excellence at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Her Post-Doctoral work has focused on the development and testing efficacy of community-based early detection and early intervention for infants at high risk of Cerebral Palsy in cross-cultural contexts (First Nations communities in Australia; and in Low- and Middle-Income settings in West Bengal India, Sri Lanka, and Georgia, Eastern Europe). Kath was based in Kolkata, India (2017-2021) where she implemented evidence-based surveillance for CP in > 750 infants and undertook the largest (n=153) and first effective randomised controlled trial of the early intervention for CP (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents) (Benfer Pediatrics 2024).  Kath has spent over 5 years living in low-middle income countries during her career, including Bangladesh, Uganda and India. Her PhD explored oropharyngeal dysphagia, gross motor function, growth and nutrition in population-based cohorts preschool children with cerebral palsy, in both Australia and Bangladesh (comparing cohorts in high and low resource settings, (Benfer Pediatrics 2014, 2016). Within these varied contexts, her work has spanned population-based epidemiological studies, measurement development, clinical trials, codesign and implementation science. Kath’s work has been recognised in the MacKeith Press Promising Career Award (AACPDM 2023), Queen Elizabeth II Award given to the top female researcher (Australia, 2016), MacKeith Press Best Speaker Award (EACD 2018) and an Australian NHMRC Early Career Researcher award.