Disabilities and innovation: the expertise challenge - Volume 1

In the 21st century, our country's policy in the area of disability entered a new era, based on solidarity, fairness and autonomy. But though there is a general consensus about the principles, much remains to be done in terms of practices. At any given time, disability affects ca.10% of the European population, and this percentage is much higher over an entire lifetime. Given the impact of disability on the lives of people and their families, it is an inescapable and multifaceted dimension of ail our lives. Above all, providing good and appropriate care requ ires expertise. And given the immense diversity of disability situations and the rapid progress in technological, scientific and medical knowledge, this expertise must be updated regularly through training supported by international scientific research, with a strong emphasis on creativity and innovation. It is high time ta bring research and practice into alignment. Creativity and innovation are the only possible responses to such challenges.