During the conclusion of IFDM 2018 held in Vancouver, Canada, October 15-17, attended by 400 delegates from 30 countries, organized by the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS), the handover took place to Brussels, site of the 10th International Biennial Congress on Disability Management and Return to Work – IFDM 2020 – to be hosted by the Belgium Federal Social Security Organization, INAMI.

Attached please find the bulletin with further details with regard to the IFDMs going forward.

Over 80 Presentations were delivered by experts from 20 countries during the conference. These have been uploaded to the IFDM 2018 website. Please click on the tab marked Program on the website and click on the links provided in the titles of the Plenary presentations as well as of the Concurrent Workshop presentation titles.

To view the Gallery of Photos taken at IFDM 2018, please visit the IFDM 2018 website and click on the tab marked Gallery of Photos.

To view the Welcome videos from Federal Ministers Carla Qualtrough and Patty Hajdu and BC Premier John Horgan, please click on the tab marked Video Library on the website.

Following the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement on Disability Management issued at IFDM 2016 in Malaysia, which set out a framework of values, at IFDM 2018 held in Vancouver, Canada, October 15-17, 2018, the Canada Declaration was put forth as a practical agenda leading to demonstrable improvements, clarifying the duties of governments, employers, unions and other relevant stakeholders, providing support where needed, and putting government money to work in ways that reduce poverty and unemployment of workers with a disability.

It identifies barriers that still face workers with a disability and sets out Goals going forward.

To read the full text of the IFDM 2018 Canada Declaration, please click on the following link:
IFDM 2018 Canada Declaration

We are extremely pleased to advise that an agreement has been reached, and will be signed during the Opening Session of IFDM 2018, between the International Social Security Organization (ISSA) a UN affiliated, Geneva based organization, with over 330 members in more than 150 countries, and Canada’s National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), effecting the legal transfer of IFDM associated intellectual property, currently held by NIDMAR to ISSA.
For further details, please see the attached Third Update

Keynote Address: Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Yazmine Laroche, Deputy Minister, Public Service Accessibility, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, will be the opening keynote speaker taking place on Monday, October 15, 9:00 am – 10:00 am. Ms. Laroche was appointed to this position by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on August 7, 2018 with a mandate to lead the Government’s public service accessibility agenda. For further details, please see the attached Second Update

We are pleased to confirm the participants for the IFDM Plenary Panel taking place Tuesday, October 16, at 8:45 am – 10:15 am in the Plenary entitled:
The Disappearing Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities for Workers Compensation Systems

This distinguished Panel will be chaired by Dr. Joachim Breuer, Director General of the German Federal Workers Compensation System – DGUV of Berlin, and President of the International Social Security Association – ISSA of Geneva.

For details regarding the Panel members, please see the attached Update.

REGISTRATION is available online. To register, please go to the IFDM 2018 website at: IFDM 2018
Click on the tab, “Registration”.

To view the Preliminary Program, click on the tab, “Program”.

Planning is well underway. The website is updated.

Information re Call for Abstracts is posted detailing the conference streams and specific topic areas for presenters. Deadline for abstract submissions is February 28, 2018.

View the “Welcome to IFDM 2018” message from the Honourable Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Chancellor of PCU-WHS, host organization for the event, by clicking on the “More information” link provided below.

Hotel and venue information is available on the website, as well as information regarding discounted travel fares.

For further details, please visit the website: IFDM 2018

More Information