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Breaking barriers, gaining rights, achieving dreams: doctors’ accessibility inside and outside of the working place

Hana RUFEROVÁ, Helena ALONSO VALENCIA, Irene SHAFIR, Alessio PLATANIA, Katarzyna RECZEK, Łukasz RECZEK, Nick MAMO, Marta RUIVO, Yusianmar MARIANI BORRERO and Özden GÖKDEMIR

Accessibility needs at conferences remain insufficiently understood and inconsistently met. EYFDM and WONCA Europe are developing accessibility policies, but important gaps exist: limited community awareness, variable implementation, and absence of systematic data. This workshop addresses these gaps by centering voices of individuals with disabilities, neurodivergence, and caregiving responsibilities—perspectives currently underrepresented in policy development.Educate the community on the importance of accessibility considerations; gather experiential data and feedback from diverse participants to inform policy development; amplify voices of individuals with lived experience of disability and neurodivergence; contribute evidence-based insights to ongoing development of accessibility policies.Panel discussion&symposium format: speakers from the community representing diverse accessibility needs as well as policy makers. Audience dialogue&open discussion. Structured feedback via survey. Overview of accessibility challenges in medical conferences and the rationale for developing evidence-based policies. Speaker1: A colleague from our community, who is neurodivergent and also serves as a lead within the autistic doctors international association, will share insights grounded in lived experience of attending medical conferences. The contribution will bring forward common challenges neurodivergent participants encounter and practical reflections on how accessibility could be strengthened. Speaker2: A colleague from our community who lives with a physical disability will share her experiences with the structural and logistical barriers often encountered at conferences. Her perspective will highlight issues such as venue accessibility, seating arrangements and mobility limitations, and how these affect meaningful participation. Speaker3&4: Young doctors as parents of young children will share their experiences with family-friendly efforts and policies at conferences, discussing both existing provisions and remaining gaps in childcare facilities and family accommodations. Speaker5&6: EYFDM Policy officer and WONCA Europe Policy and Advocacy member and previous EYFDM president will present the current project on accessibility policy and explain how symposium feedback will inform its refinement. Panel discussion: Open dialogue with the audience, to gather additional perspectives and recommendations.Participants will gain a deeper understanding of accessibility barriers.  Generating data to inform evidence-based guidelines.  Collected insights to shape the EYFDM/WONCA accessibility policy.This workshop (symposium) provides a platform for previously underrepresented voices. Data gathered will inform policy improvements, ensuring equitable participation for all.