Four projects presented at EACD 2026 reinforce a comprehensive, specialized care model focused on people with complex support needs and their families
Aspace Catalunya Foundation has shared its clinical, healthcare and research experience in the 37th edition of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability Congress (EACD), held in Galway (Ireland), the main European congress on childhood disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The organization's participation was confirmed with the presentation of four projects that show how innovation, functional assessment, early intervention and continuous improvement they translate into more personalized, safe and effective care for children with high neurological complexity and their families.
These works reinforce the positioning of Fundació Aspace Catalunya as a benchmark in comprehensive care for people with complex neurodevelopmental disorders, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities, and demonstrate the entity's capacity to generate applied knowledge based on clinical practice.
An early intervention model that supports families from the beginning
The neuropediatrician Silvia Liendo Vallejos presented the oral communication Early Comprehensive Day Hospital Intervention for Infants with Complex and Rare Neurological Disorders: Preliminary Results from a Transdisciplinary Model.
The study includes the first results of the Petit Aspace 0-3 Day Hospital, a specialized resource for children with complex neurological disorders and rare diseases. The model combines functional assessment, the definition of individualized goals and transdisciplinary work with active participation of families.
In practice, this allows us to identify needs early, coordinate support and build interventions tailored to each child, promoting their development and participation in day-to-day life.
The relevance of the project has been recognized with the selection of the abstract for publication in the scientific journal Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
A common tool to better understand the needs of each child
The neuropediatrician Gabriela Ganc Zaslavsky, medical coordinator of the Petit Aspace Day Hospital, presented the poster Development of an ICF Core Set for a Day Hospital to Children Aged 0–3 with Complex Neurological Conditions and Multiple Disabilities: An Interdisciplinary Tool for Functional Diversity in Neuropediatrics.
The project describes the development of the Small CIF, an interdisciplinary tool based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), adapted to children aged 0 to 3 years with high neurological complexity.
This tool makes it easier for all professionals to share the same language and perspective on each child's needs. This translates into more coordinated intervention plans, better clinical decision-making, and more personalized care for individuals and their families.
Innovation to improve safety in dysphagia care
The speech therapist Gemma Mayral Hurtado, member of the Swallowing and Nutrition Unit of Fundació Aspace Catalunya, presented the communication Applying Design Thinking to Transform Dysphagia and Nutrition Care: Enhancing Patient Safety, Efficiency and Equity in the Swallowing and Nutrition Unit.
The project shows how the application of the methodology Design Thinking It has allowed the unit's care circuits to be reconsidered to offer a safer, more efficient and equitable response.
On a day-to-day basis, this transformation allows us to anticipate needs, improve the coordination of professionals and guarantee more tailored care to each situation, reinforcing the safety of people with dysphagia and the peace of mind of their families.
Clearer objectives to achieve more significant results
The case manager Anna Ortega Martinez presented the poster From Words to Action: Improving Goal Setting in Pediatric Neurorehabilitation.
The study analyzes thirty Individual Therapeutic Plans (ITPs) of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to evaluate the quality of therapeutic objectives according to the SMART model.
Defining specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound objectives allows for better targeting of interventions and evaluation of their results. For people and their families, this translates into more coherent, understandable care aligned with the needs and priorities of each moment in life.
Knowledge that generates real impact
The participation of Fundació Aspace Catalunya in the EACD 2026 demonstrates how research, innovation and clinical practice can move forward together to improve the quality of life of people with complex support needs.
The four projects presented share the same vision: promoting a comprehensive, highly specialized and evidence-based care model, where professional coordination, family participation and personalization of support become keys to promoting the development, autonomy and participation of each child.
This participation consolidates the commitment of Fundació Aspace Catalunya to the generation of applied knowledge and the transformation of care in highly complex contexts.
