Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland receiving EMSP delegates

This two-day conference was focusing not only on how to live independently with a chronic disease but also on the latest developments in MS Research, medicines and rehabilitation in an independent living perspective. A detailed report covering the conference and the 4 workshops will be posted soon.

Also in Reykjavik, the EMSP Council Meeting has approved a new member organization. EMSP council welcomes Jan V. Vlasov, President of the All-Russian Public Organization of Disabled People with Multiple Sclerosis and Pavel Zlobin Vice President and person with MS. A portrait of the Russian MS Society is in preparation.

The mandate of Aliki Vrienniou, EMSP Executive Committee member since 2004, has come to an end and EMSP is grateful for her dynamic and professional contribution during the mandate. The ExCom has elected Mrs Mateja de Reya from Slovenia as new ExCom member for the next 4 years.

Photo Gallery

Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland receiving EMSP delegates

Audience

Guðlaugur Thor Thordarson, Icelandic Minister of Health

Canes

Attached presentations:   What can make a difference – intelligent homes for chronically ill, Marijke Duportail, National MS Centre Melsbroek, Belgium  The Independent Living philosophy: implications for the individual, our organizations and society, Peter Anderberg, Institute for independent living, Sweden Remark: 1st part of the presentation file  Personal assistance: key to Independent Living The Swedish example of personal assistance policy, Peter Anderberg, Institute for independent living, Sweden Remark: 2nd part of the presentation file  Encounters with health and social services - Co-operative, Obedient or Excluded Citizens, Dr. Heli Valokivi, Research fellow, Department of social policy and social work, University of Tampere, Finland  Latest treatments for spasticity, neuropathic pain, bladder dysfunction and other symptoms of MS – their importance for PwMS now and in foreseeable future, Prof. Thomas Henze, Reha-Zentrum Nittenau, Germany  Rehabilitation in MS - a sustainable method to more physical and cognitive independence? Prof. Alan Thompson, Institute of Neurology, The National Hospital, UK  Rehabilitation for PwMS in Iceland – what is new? Dr. Ólof Bjarnadóttir, Iceland  The future of Disease Modifying Therapies, Prof David Bates, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK  Workshop I What MS Societies can do – training and certification of MS nurses, Margarita Corry, Lecturer in Nursing, Trinity College, Ireland; Dr. Gabriele Seestaedt, DMSG, Bundesverband e.V., Germany and Victoria Matthews, MS Trust, UK  Workshop II What MS Societies can do – support of carers and family members of PwMS, Jean Marie Eral, CEO, MS Society France and Dr. Kristin Stuke, MS Forschungs-und Projektentwicklungs-gGmbH, Germany  Workshop III Barrier free travel, sports and other aspects of mobility of PwMS, Emrys Harries, BDFA, UK; Robert Schlathau, ExCom EMSP, Austria And Renate Dirnbeck, Austrian Airlines Group, Austria  Workshop IV Creating an Inclusive Society: Mainstreaming Disability based on the Social Economy example, Ana Mohedano, CEP-CMAF Disability Group