Day One

Friday, June 26, 2026

08:00 AM – 1:40 PM EDT  •  Opening, keynote, panels, speaker sessions, and closing remarks

Opening Ceremonies

Kick off the summit with a powerful welcome and a compelling introduction to the mission behind this global event. This opening moment sets the tone for two days focused on dignity, access, innovation, and better health outcomes for people with disabilities worldwide.

Welcome: Dr. Martha Castilleja, President-Elect and Chair of the Disability Health Summit 

Advocating Globally for Patient- Centered Care for People With Disabilities 

Keynote Speaker Tom Shakespeare

He is a British sociologist with achondroplasia whose work centers on disability rights. Educated at Radley College and Cambridge, he earned an MPhil and PhD before beginning an academic career in sociology and bioethics. He has written key texts such as Disability Rights and Wrongs, contributed to the WHO’s 2011 World Report on Disability, and is a prominent public advocate through research, speaking, and broadcasting. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2018 and appointed CBE in 2021.

Healthcare Accessibility From Policy To Practice

Strong accessibility policies matter, but real change happens when they show up in everyday care. This panel looks at how healthcare leaders and disability advocates are turning policy into practical action across hospitals, clinics, and health systems.

Panel Discussion

Promo Video: Preview of Upcoming Health Webinars

A short spotlight on upcoming health webinars and the wider summit journey still to come.

Redesigning Health Care: Centering Neurodiverse Voices in Every Decision

Healthcare works better when neurodiverse voices are part of the design, not an afterthought. This session highlights why listening to lived experience leads to more inclusive services, stronger trust, and better outcomes for everyone.

Panel Discussion

The Rise of Alternative Medicine: Transforming Pain Management Through True Patient-Centered Care

For many people living with disability, pain management is deeply personal and too often limited by conventional pathways alone. This discussion explores how integrative and alternative approaches are opening new possibilities for more individualized, dignified care.

Panel Discussion 

Technology Expanding Access, Independence, and Choice in Disability Care

Technology is changing how people access care, make decisions, and live independently. This session explores how practical, human-centred solutions are improving everyday experiences for people with disabilities — from access and mobility to communication and autonomy.

Panel Discussion 

Closing Remarks

Closing remarks to conclude the day.

Co-President Dr Aderonke Adejuyigbe, Co-President RCWDA

Day Two

Saturday, June 27, 2026

08:00 AM – 1:40 PM EDT  •  Welcome, speaker sessions, panel discussion, promo video and closing remarks

Welcome

Day two opens by reconnecting attendees with the summit’s global purpose and the momentum already building across the disability health space. It is a chance to refocus on the innovation, collaboration, and advocacy driving more inclusive healthcare forward.

Opening Remarks: John McFarlane, Co-President Elect RCWDA

Aging-Related Disabilities 

Aging and disability often overlap, but not in a simple cause‑and‑effect way. Some people develop disabilities later in life, while others age with long‑term disabilities and face different challenges. Natural changes, chronic conditions, and long‑term strain all play a role. Mobility loss, health complications, and social isolation can increase with age, but with strong support and inclusive environments, people can still age with dignity, autonomy, and purpose.

Speaker: Carles Fontcuberta, MD, Spain

                Rotarian D 2202

The Next Line of Healing: Physical & Occupational Therapy at the Heart of Patient-Centered Care for People with Disabilities

Rehabilitation is not a side conversation — it is central to independence, confidence, and quality of life. This session explores how physical and occupational therapy are helping redefine patient-centered care for people with disabilities.

• Tatiana Mesquita

• Dr Maria de Mello

Championing Patient-Centered Care: The Transformative Power of Caregivers and Health Advocates

Behind every care journey are the people who help patients navigate systems, choices, and daily realities. This panel highlights the vital role of caregivers, advocates, and families in shaping better experiences and stronger health outcomes.

Promotional Video: International Polio Day

A short interlude highlighting International Polio Day and the global momentum behind disability and health advocacy.

Health as a Key Enabler of Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities and Lifelong Health Conditions

Speaker: Dr Sylvia Roozen, Brussels

                President 2026-2027 

                Rotary Club Elsloo-Maaskant (District 1550)
                Secretary General, International Federation

                for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Move from Disease Elimination to Lifelong Dignity: How the Leading Cause of Disabilities in the World Is Being Controlled — Elephantiasis

This session goes beyond disease control to examine what lifelong dignity really means for people already affected by elephantiasis. It brings a global lens to prevention, care, and the long-term human impact of disability-inclusive health systems.

Speaker: Dr John P. Ehrenberg, MD

Closing Remarks

Closing remarks to conclude the day.

Co-President Ken Masson. Co-President RCWDA