The Success Story of the 8th World Disability & Rehabilitation Conference 2023
(WDRC 2023)
The Success Story of the 8th World Disability & Rehabilitation Conference 2023 (WDRC 2023) held from 09th – 10th November in Colombo, Sri Lanka in hybrid platform. WDRC 2023 was organized under the theme “Global Empowerment through Collaboration and Exchange: Advancing Disability Rehabilitation Worldwide.” The conference was organized by The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), Sri Lanka.
The conference united diverse researches and case studies from all over the world, in parallel sessions while offering many networking and publishing opportunities. Moreover, the conference welcomed 70+ Academics, Researchers, Scholars, Activists Industry Leaders and Professionals from 30+ 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 and from 25+ different universities across the globe.
Inauguration Ceremony and Keynote Speech
The opening remarks of WDRC 2023 were made by the Conference Convener. Mr. Isanka P Gamage (Co-Founder & Managing Director – The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), Sri Lanka) and the Conference Chair Dr. Loren O’Connor (President of WDRPA, Former University Assistant Vice Chancellor, Office of Accessible Education. and/or Kolpin & O’Connor Global Consultants, LLC.), USA). Hon. State Minister Anupa Pasqual, Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Sri Lanka was the Chief Guest of the WDRC 2023.
The keynote speakers were Prof. Theresa Lorenzo (Head of Division, Programme Convenor for Disabity Studies Doctoral Programme, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa), Prof. Luc de Witte (Research Group Technology for Healthcare, Centre of Expertise Health Innovation, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Air Vice Marshal (Dr) L R Jayaweera, VSV, USP, MBBS (SL), Msc (D&SS), Dip Av Med (USA), psc and Prof. Wesam B. Darawsheh (The school of rehabilitation sciences, The University of Jordan, Jordan).
Abigail O. Akande, Ph.D., CRC (Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation & Human Services, The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College, USA) was a plenary speaker.
Story Tellers were Ms. Preethi Srinivasan (Founder of Soulfree, Tamil Nadu, India) and Mr. Ishan Jalill, Founder/Executive Director, Ability for Action, Sri Lanka.
Participants from over 30 Countries WDRC 2023 brought together over 70 participants from more than 25 universities around the world, including from: United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Mauritius, Germany, Bangladesh, Ukraine, South Africa, Malaysia, Maldives, India, Kenya, Australia, Sri Lanka, Poland, Czech Republic, Morocco, Turkey, Philippines, Austria, Thailand, Indonesia, Uganda, Iraq, Taiwan among the many nations represented. The Conference provided an opportunity for participants to share their valuable knowledge from various perspectives. This conference had the representation of almost every continent and region from across the world and provided a global platform to share views and ideas in the fields of Disability and Rehabilitation, as well as to network with international colleagues.
Resource Persons
Conference Chair
Dr. Loren O’Connor
President of WDRPA, Former University Assistant Vice
Chancellor, Office of Accessible Education. and/or Kolpin &
O’Connor Global Consultants, LLC.)
Chief Guest
Hon. State Minister Anupa Pasqual
Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment
Sri Lanka
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Theresa Lorenzo
Head of Division
Programme Convenor for Disabity Studies Doctoral Programme
Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Luc de Witte
Research Group Technology for Healthcare
Centre of Expertise Health Innovation
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Keynote Speaker
Air Vice Marshal (Dr) L R Jayaweera
VSV, USP, MBBS (SL), Msc (D&SS), Dip Av Med (USA), psc
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Wesam B. Darawsheh
The school of rehabilitation sciences
The University of Jordan
Jordan
Plenary Speaker
Abigail O. Akande, Ph.D., CRC
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation & Human Services
The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College
USA
Guest Speaker
Ms. Isabel Mavrides-Calderon
Disability Justice Activist, ACLU Organizer,
Teen Vogue 21 Under 21, Public Speaker
New York, United States
Guest Speaker
Story Teller
Ms. Preethi Srinivasan
Founder of Soulfree
Tamil Nadu, India
Story Teller
Mr. Ishan Jalill
A Business Development Consultant
Sri Lanka
Technical Sessions
WDRC 2023 comprised nineteen (10) Technical Sessions and two Poster Sessions. The Technical Sessions were under the below themes:
- ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESSIBILITY
- DISABILITY RIGHTS, ADVOCACY, AND INTERSECTIONALITY
- HEALTH SYSTEMS, SERVICES, AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
- EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- EMPOWERING DIVERSITY: INCLUSION AND DISABILITY PERSPECTIVES
- INCLUSIVE RESEARCH AND HEALTH INNOVATION FOR DIVERSE ABILITIES
Overall Best Presenters
Special Features of WDRC 2023
Publication Workshop
The Publication Workshop was moderated by Publication Workshop by Prof. Luc de Witte (Research Group Technology for Healthcare Centre of Expertise Health Innovation the Hague University of Applied Sciences).
Workshop
This workshop was moderated by Dr. Thierry Kolpin, Kolpin & O’Connor Global Consultants, LLC.USA.
Workshop on "Empowering Inclusion: Advancing Disability Rights and Counseling"
Workshop “Empowering Inclusion: Advancing Disability Rights and Counseling” was moderated by Dr. (Mrs.) Hemlata, Director at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India.
Workshop on "Building Bridges of Empowerment: Enabling Resilient Communities through Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation"
Workshop “Building Bridges of Empowerment: Enabling Resilient Communities through Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation” was moderated by Mr. Joe John George, Disability Inclusive, DRR Expert from India.
Workshop
This workshop was moderated by Mr. Nekram Upadhyay, Head, Department of Assistive Technology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre & PhD Scholar at Delhi Technological University, India.
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion on “Global Empowerment through Collaboration and Exchange: Advancing Disability Rehabilitation Worldwide” was moderated by Dr. Loren O’Conner and Dr. Dr. Thierry Kolpin. The Panelists were Christina Cassady, Dr. Deepthi N. Shanbhag, Dr. Lynn Rose, Dr. Bunsung Heng, Dr. Bridget Johnson, Ms. Mariyam Ashfa Hamdi, Mr. Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman.
Session Chairs
- Jeganish A, St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore, India.
- Piotr Szukalski, Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych, Warsaw, Poland.
- Muna AlHammadi, College of Education, Zayed University, UAE.
- Dorota Kobus-Ostrowska, University of Lodz, Poland.
- Selahattin Aydin, Istanbul Kent University, Turkey.
- Christopher Wijesingha, Goulburn Valley Health, Australia.
Evaluation Panel Members
- Loren O’Connor, President of WDRPA, Former University Assistant Vice, Chancellor, Office of Accessible Education. and/or Kolpin & O’Connor Global Consultants, LLC.), USA
- Thierry Kolpin, Vice President of WDRPA, Kolpin & O’Connor Global Consultants, LLC.), USA
- Kokila Abeykoon, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
- Hemlata, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi, India.
- Muna AlHammadi, College of Education, Zayed University, Dubai, UAE.
- Sujeewa Weerasinghe, National Cancer Institute Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.
- Dorota Kobus-Ostrowska, University of Lodz, Poland.
- Selahattin Aydin, Istanbul Kent University, Turkey.
- MD Zulfikar Ali, Shailkupa Government College, Bangladesh.
Scientific Committee Members
- Kokila Abeykoon, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
- Shahanaz Parvin, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
- Sujeewa Weerasinghe, National Cancer Institute Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.
- Dorota Kobus-Ostrowska, University of Lodz, Poland.
- Fairus Fariza Zainudin, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia
- Dr Maria Agnieszka Paszkowicz, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski, Poland.
- Yuleinys A Castillo, Wydział Mechaniczny Wydział Mechaniczny, USA.
- Wesam Darawsheh, The University of Jordan, Jordan.
- Md Zulfikar Ali, Shailkupa Government College, Bangladesh.
- Nuri Attagour, Consultant Geriatric and Rehabilitation Medicine Freelance Peer Reviewer Southport Hospital
- Fairus Fariza Zainudin, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia.
- Lynn Rose, Director of Disability Studies, CGDS & Professor in the Social Sciences, AUIS.
- Muna AlHammadi, College of Education, Zayed University, Dubai, UAE.
- Hemlata, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi, India.
- Abigail O. Akande, The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College USA
- Selahattin Aydin, Istanbul Kent University, Turkey.
In Corporate with Our Official Partners
Hosting Partner
World Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals Association (WDRPA)
Academic Partner
University of Lodz,
Poland
Academic Partner
Mahatma Gandhi University, India
Academic Partner
St John’s Medical College Hospital,
South India
Academic Partner
University of the Western Cape,
South Africa
OUR NETWORK
LISTEN TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY
We take pride in developing positive relationships with our participants and hearing positive feedback about our Conference. Read on to find out what they have to say about ICFA 2023!
Don’t forget:
August
28 -29, 2025
BANGKOK, THAILAND
Reach Us
The International Institute of Knowledge Management
- +94 117 992 022
- +94 765 733 737
- isanka.gamage@tiikmedu.com
- www.tiikm.com