Short description:

The theme of the ISPO 21st World Congress 2027 advocates for a globally interconnected approach to promoting individual empowerment and overall well-being, positioning assistive technologies at the centre of comprehensive rehabilitation. This theme calls for unified global action to tackle the most critical challenges in rehabilitation and enhance human dignity. It emphasises that empowerment through inclusion, where every individual has the capacity and opportunity to lead a fulfilling, selfdetermined life regardless of background, ability, or circumstances, is achieved through coordinated global effort. The ISPO 21st World Congress will serve as a central forum for disseminating cuttingedge research and best practices, thereby advancing assistive technologies. This focus aims to ensure that technological advancement directly contributes to global equity by supporting universal access to high-quality rehabilitation and assistive technology services and by reducing disparities worldwide.

Full description:

The theme of the ISPO 21st World Congress 2027 advocates for a globally interconnected approach to promoting individual empowerment and overall well-being, positioning assistive technologies at the centre of comprehensive rehabilitation. This theme calls for unified global action to tackle the most critical challenges in rehabilitation and enhance human dignity. It emphasises that inclusive empowerment, where every individual has the capacity and opportunity to lead a fulfilling, selfdetermined life regardless of background, ability, or circumstances, is achieved through coordinated global effort. The ISPO 21st World Congress will serve as a central forum for disseminating cuttingedge research and best practices, thereby advancing assistive technologies. This focus aims to ensure that technological advancement directly contributes to global equity by supporting universal access to high-quality rehabilitation and assistive technology services and by reducing disparities worldwide.

• A World Connected

This pillar speaks to our global reality by addressing the need to overcome geographical and systemic barriers in an interconnected world. The ISPO 21st World Congress will serve as a hub for experts, innovators, and practitioners worldwide to exchange best practices, multidisciplinary insights, innovations, and cutting-edge research while establishing collaborative partnerships. It further encompasses technical fabrication and materials science to ensure global expertise translates into highquality, durable, and functional assistive technologies. This will facilitate knowledge exchange across a wide range of topics, from the latest advancements to the development of affordable, locally sourced solutions in emerging economies. The objective is to establish a network that ensures innovation results in practical improvements, thereby creating an integrated and effective global care system.

• Advancing Assistive Technologies for Global Equity

Advancing assistive technologies extends beyond technological innovation; it fundamentally ensures that technological progress benefits all individuals. The focus is on both dissemination and equitable access. The ISPO 21st World Congress will serve as a critical platform for sharing best practices and scalable, context-appropriate solutions that can be adapted across diverse settings, including advanced and low-resource settings. This emphasis on sustainable global equity centres discussions on the universal right to quality assistive technologies, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status.

Summary:

The ISPO 21st World Congress is the unified platform where global collaboration drives universal access. We move beyond innovation alone to address systemic barriers, ensuring that advancements in assistive technologies contribute to a sustainable future of functional mobility and equity for individuals with disabilities worldwide - today and for future generations.

Reflection on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: By advancing P&O care and comprehensive rehabilitative services, we directly contribute to universal health coverage and promote healthy, functional lives for all, particularly those with physical disabilities.

• SDG 4 – Quality Education: The focus on building professional capacity and ensuring equitable access to P&O devices enables children to attend school, while quality education for P&O professionals ensures the long-term sustainability and advancement of the field.

• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: P&O services are a vital tool for economic empowerment, enabling individuals to participate in the workforce, leading to economic selfsufficiency and greater societal productivity.

• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: By actively addressing disparities in care and promoting the social, economic, and political inclusion of persons with disabilities, we work to reduce inequalities within and among countries.

• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: The emphasis on a "world connected" indicates the critical importance of strengthening global partnerships and cooperation, leveraging diverse expertise and resources across nations and sectors to achieve shared goals for inclusion and empowerment.