Polio Survivors - World Polio Day Celebration

October 24, 2026, 9 AM - 3:30 PM

Post-Polio Life

A Virtual Celebration of World Polio Day

Supporting Global Polio Survivors

 

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A diverse group of polio survivors, some using wheelchairs, crutches, and a cane, posing together in front of a “Polio Survivors” banner surrounded by international flags.

About The Polio Survivors World Polio Day Celebration

This global event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of World Disability Advocacy, is centered on polio survivors and will be a powerful gathering of lived experience, resilience, and long‑overdue recognition. It brings together survivors from every region—voices often overlooked in modern health conversations—to share their stories, shape policy, and guide the future of disability‑inclusive care. Rather than focusing solely on the history of polio, the summit highlights the present: the realities of aging with post‑polio syndrome, the gaps in rehabilitation access, and the urgent need for survivor‑centered health systems. By elevating personal narratives alongside clinical expertise, the event becomes a platform for dignity, solidarity, and global action, ensuring that polio survivors are not only remembered but actively included in shaping the world’s next chapter of disability advocacy.

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Learn From Polio Leaders

 

The summit brings participants face‑to‑face with polio survivors and the professionals who support them. Through personal stories, expert panels, and interactive sessions, attendees gain clear insight into the lifelong impact of polio and the resilience of those who live with it.

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Hear Stories of Endurance from Polio Survivors

Participants will hear polio survivors’ stories through short, powerful first‑person moments shared in panels and conversations. Each voice offers a direct window into life after polio, grounding the summit in real experience and human resilience.

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Honoring Polio Leading Polio Advocates

Polio advocates will be honored at the Summit as the movement’s guiding voices — recognized for their leadership, resilience, and decades of service. Through dedicated acknowledgments and survivor‑led moments, the event will spotlight their impact and celebrate them as essential architects of global disability‑inclusive progress.

Polio Survivors - World Polio Day Celebration

The World Polio Day celebration will open at 9:00 AM with Dr. Martha Castilleja, Co-President of RCWDA and Chair of International Polio Day, welcoming participants from around the world and setting a tone of unity and survivor-centered purpose. Kenneth Masson, Founding President of RCWDA, will then present the RCWDA Lifetime Post-Polio Syndrome Advocacy Achievement Awards to Dr. Carles Fontcuberta, Professor Michael Kossove, Mona Arsenault, and Maureen Sinkule for their contributions to education, advocacy, and support for polio survivors. Additional award recipients for Africa and Asia are pending confirmation.

The morning program will continue with Dr. Carles Fontcuberta and Dr. Martha Castilleja presenting on aging with dignity and respect for people with post-polio syndrome. A prerecorded keynote interview with Dr. Fontcuberta will examine polio and post-polio syndrome from a global perspective. Personal testimonies from Florence Lunde, Sanjeev Agnihotri, Folaranmi Osifuwa, Nisha Jose, and an additional speaker to be confirmed will bring lived experience to the center of the program.

The afternoon will include a presentation by John McFarlane on post-polio syndrome and employment, followed by a panel discussion with Maureen Sinkule, Professor Michael Kossove, and Mona Arsenault. Author Dianne McTaggart Wall will share the journey behind Somebody Told Me I Could, and Susan L. Schoenbeck is tentatively scheduled to discuss innovations born from polio epidemics. PDG Joyce Graff will then highlight Rotary’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative before John McFarlane closes the event at 3:30 PM.

Theme: Post-Polio Life: Life After Polio
Time zone: To be confirmed

Detailed Schedule

9:00–9:15 AM — Welcome Address and Opening Ceremony

Speaker: Dr. Martha Castilleja, Co-President of RCWDA and Chair of International Polio Day, USA/Mexico.

9:15–9:30 AM — RCWDA Lifetime Post-Polio Syndrome Advocacy Achievement Awards

Honoring Dr. Carles Fontcuberta, Professor Michael Kossove, Mona Arsenault, and Maureen Sinkule for their contributions to education, advocacy, and support for polio survivors.

Presented by: Kenneth Masson, Founding President of RCWDA, Colombia. Additional award recipients for Africa and Asia are pending confirmation.

9:30–10:10 AM — Aging with Dignity and Respect for People with Post-Polio Syndrome

Speakers: Dr. Carles Fontcuberta, Advisor and Consultant, Spain; and Dr. Martha Castilleja, Co-President of RCWDA, USA/Mexico.

10:10–11:00 AM — Polio Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, and Post-Polio Syndrome: World Facts and Figures

A prerecorded interview with Dr. Carles Fontcuberta, conducted by the 2022 District Governor of Rotary in Spain.

11:10–11:20 AM — My Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome Story

Speaker: Florence Lunde, USA.

11:20–11:30 AM — My Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome Story

Speaker: Sanjeev Agnihotri, Treasurer of RCWDA, Canada.

11:30–11:40 AM — My Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome Story

Speaker: Folaranmi Osifuwa, United Kingdom.

11:40–11:50 AM — My Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome Story

Speaker: Nisha Jose, India.

11:50 AM–12:00 PM — My Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome Story

Speaker: To be confirmed.

12:00–12:40 PM — Post-Polio Syndrome and Employment

Speaker: John McFarlane, Co-President of RCWDA, Ireland.

12:40–1:20 PM — How to Deal with Post-Polio Syndrome

Panelists: Maureen Sinkule, USA; Professor Michael Kossove, USA; and Mona Arsenault, Canada.

1:20–2:00 PM — Somebody Told Me I Could: A Polio Survivor Who’s in It for the Long Haul 

Author Dianne McTaggart Wall shares her long journey as a polio survivor and the story behind her book.

Moderator: Sanjeev Agnihotri, Treasurer of RCWDA.

2:00–2:40 PM — Innovations Born of Polio Epidemics

Speaker: Susan L. Schoenbeck, MSN, RN, public speaker. This session is tentative and subject to confirmation.

2:40–3:10 PM — Rotary’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Speaker: PDG Joyce Graff, Rotary District 7910 Governor for 2024–2025, USA.

3:10–3:30 PM — Closing Remarks

Speaker: John McFarlane, Co-President of RCWDA, Ireland.

Message From The Chair and Co-President of The RCWDA, Martha  Castilleja
Portrait of Dr. Martha Castilleja, Co-President of the Rotary Club of World Disability Advocacy.

International Polio Day gives us an opportunity to recognize those working tirelessly to eradicate polio, remind families of the importance of childhood vaccination, and fight misinformation so every child can access life-saving vaccines.

This year, with the theme “Post-Polio Life,” Rotary Club of World Disability Advocacy (RCWDA) wants to shine a light on the estimated 12–20 million polio survivors worldwide who are now aging with the lifelong consequences of polio. Many live with permanent disabilities, and some are experiencing a second chapter of weakness, fatigue, and pain known as Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS).

Our message is simple: Every child deserves protection from polio—and every polio survivor deserves to be seen, heard, and recognized.

We owe survivors more than our admiration. We owe them appropriate healthcare, accessible environments, rehabilitation, assistive services, research, and healthcare professionals who understand their unique needs.

Polio survivors are not merely recipients of care. They are experts, advocates, educators, and leaders. Their lived experiences remind us why prevention matters and why the consequences of polio can last a lifetime.

Let us protect the future while honoring those who survived the past living with the consequences of the disease.

We see you. We hear you. We value you. We will not forget you.

Rotary World Polio Day 

Rotary International “End Polio Now” campaign graphic.

Every October 24, Rotary International unites the world to reaffirm one mission—ending polio forever. For more than 30 years, Rotary members have funded vaccines, supported health workers, and reached children in the hardest‑to‑access places.

The day also honors polio survivors, whose strength reminds us why eradication matters. Events like the Polio Survivors’ Summit amplify survivor voices and highlight the need for inclusive, resilient health systems.

Rotary World Polio Day is a global call to stay committed. We’re close to ending polio—now we must finish the job.

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What is Polio?

Historical black-and-white photograph of a child using a metal walking frame during polio rehabilitation.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis, most often in young children. It spreads through contaminated water or food and multiplies in the intestines before sometimes invading the spinal cord. While most infections cause mild or no symptoms, severe cases can lead to muscle weakness, breathing difficulties, and lifelong disability. Thanks to widespread vaccination, polio has been eliminated from most of the world, but continued vigilance is essential to prevent its return.

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Become An Advocate
Purple circular badge reading “I am a polio survivors advocate.”

Advocating for Polio Survivors: Practical Ways to Strengthen a Global Movement

Polio survivors around the world continue to face mobility challenges, post‑polio syndrome, and barriers to inclusion. Advocacy today means ensuring their voices, rights, and needs remain visible.

One of the most effective actions is amplifying survivor stories. Sharing their experiences through community events, social media, or Rotary programs helps shift public perception toward empowerment and dignity.

Communities can also push for accessibility improvements—ramps, inclusive classrooms, adaptive equipment, and workplace accommodations. These changes directly strengthen independence and opportunity.

Another key step is promoting accurate medical information. Many survivors struggle to find knowledgeable care for post‑polio syndrome. Educational outreach, webinars, and partnerships with health organizations help close these gaps.

Finally, supporting global vaccination efforts honors survivors’ experiences and prevents future cases. Their stories remind the world why eradication still matters.

Advocacy is simple: listen, amplify, and act. Every effort builds a more inclusive world for polio survivors.

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