Antwerp’s dedication to creating an accessible city helped
it win the bid to host the 63rd International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS)
Annual Scientific Meeting.
The Belgian city boasts barrier-free public transport
system, tactile paving, safe crossings and city routes designed specifically
for wheelchairs. These accessibility features are necessary for easy city navigation
of the expected 1,000-plus delegates, 40 of whom are wheelchair users, who will attend
ISCoS in between 22 and 25 September 2024.
The event will bring together experts and clinicians to discuss the latest advancements in spinal cord injury (SCI) care, rehabilitation, and research.
Evelyn Bardyn from Visit Flanders Convention Bureau added: “At
Visit Flanders Convention Bureau, we want to strengthen the positive power of
conferences and events, placing a special focus on the experience of all
delegates.
“Through our pilot project 'Accessible Conferences in
Flanders' we took the first step towards enabling independent participation for
those with physical barriers. Our goal is to provide the highest level of
service, optimising the conference experience to meet the needs and wishes of
every attendee. In doing so, we contribute to an inclusive society with
facilities that are accessible to everyone.
The Antwerp Convention Bureau worked closely with VISITFLANDERS, Visit Antwerp, the
City of Antwerp, and partners such as Inter – Accessible Flanders to ensure
that accessibility is integrated into every aspect of the conference.
This has included the co-ordinaton of workshop and practical solution to ensure
accesibility for the many wheelchairs users attending the event, making the
whole city their venue.
The host venue, A Room with a ZOO, is wheelchair friendly
with meeting spaces larger than the average and all rooms accessible by
elevator ramp. It’s also one of easiest venues to reach by train being adjacent
to the international station. It’s the only convention centre in the
world with its own zoo.
Tadeja Pivc Coudyser, CEO of Antwerp Convention Bureau said:
“Our city prides itself on being an accessible and inclusive destination, and
we are confident that both our infrastructure and welcoming atmosphere will
provide the ideal environment for this important exchange of knowledge and
innovation in spinal cord injury care and research.”
