Global Forum on Accessible Cities - experts' presentations

A Global Forum on Accessible Cities held in Turin (Italy) on 16^th and 17^th June 2011 bringing together experts, representatives of European disabilities groups, architects and town planning experts involved in promoting the accessibility of people with disabilities people. The Conference was organised by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD), The World Bank and the League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC). On the occasion of the conference, Fondazione CRT also hosted the League of Historical and Accessible Cities meeting.

The first day of the conference was devoted to the analysis and presentation of the general framework regarding accessibility from an international and multidisciplinary perspective. Interesting contributions were made, amongst others, by Donata Vivanti (Vice-President, European Disability Forum), Richard C. Duncan (Executive Director of the R. L. Mace University Design Institute of North Carolina, USA), Akiko Ito (Chief of the United Nations Global Program on Disability), Maria Veronica Reina (Executive Director, GPDD), Aleksandra Posarac (Team Leader, World Bank), Ivor Ambrose (Managing Director of the European Network for Accessible Tourism - ENAT), Gerald Craddock (Irish Centre for Excellence in Universal Design), Katerina Papamichail (Head of Architectural Studies Department, Workers’ Housing Organisation, Greece), and Gerry Salole (Chief Executive Officer of the EFC), who particularly stressed the importance of foundations’ role in promoting accessibility at local and national levels.

The 17 June meeting was organised as a roundtable. During the first session several experts presented specific initiatives and projects related to Universal Design, using their expertise to identify best practices and gaps in the area of accessibility and social inclusion.

Download the experts' contribution in PDF format from the right-hand panel.