3 December 2024

Over 500 professionals from Germany, Austria and Switzerland met virtually on 22 and 23 November to gain an insight into innovative projects and best practices relating to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

The annual ICF Users' Conference (ICF-AWK) is the central event when it comes to questions about the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in German-speaking countries. The ICF was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and serves as a standardised system to systematically describe a person's so-called functioning. It is based on a bio-psycho-social model. This means that physical, psychological and social aspects of health are considered together and in interaction.

The conference was dedicated to sharing experiences in the practical application of the bio-psycho-social model of the ICF and stimulating interdisciplinary discussions. The focus was on new approaches and further developments for working with children, young people and adults. The participants, mainly professionals from social, educational and health professions, gained insights into best practices and innovative projects.

In a total of 26 sessions, over 30 experts presented practical applications and research findings on the ICF. Topics such as the translation of instruments into the "language of the ICF", participatory goal setting, assessment features and the integration of the ICF in day care centres or early intervention stimulated an intensive exchange. Projects on "Shared Decision Making" and "ICF-based self-assessment" showed how the ICF can actively contribute to the promotion of participation and inclusion.

The conference also emphasised the importance of the ICF in teaching. At Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, the model has been taught in a practical way for many years, enabling students to acquire skills that are valued in practice at an early stage. Contributions on learning tools and guidelines emphasised the importance of methodological support for the widespread implementation of the ICF.

Thanks to the technical implementation by the university's e-learning team, consisting of Sebastian Ziegler and Marius Knodel, as well as the organisational management by Prof. Andreas Seidel, the conference ran smoothly. The team was supported by committed students who actively helped to organise the event. The positive feedback from participants confirmed the high quality of the event.

"This year's conference has once again shown how diverse the areas of application of the ICF are and how important the exchange between science and practice remains," summarises Prof Seidel, who has been researching and publishing in this field for years. "We are delighted with the high level of participation and the impetus generated by this conference."