EASTIN 2020 Annual Meeting at the National Rehabilitation Centre “Vaivari”

On January 29 and 30, 2020, for the first time in Latvia, the EASTIN - The Global Assistive Technology Information Network (Global Assistive Technology Information Network) annual meeting took place at the National Rehabilitation Centre (hereinafter - NRC) “Vaivari”, organized by the NRC “Vaivari” Vaivari Technical Aids Centre (hereinafter – VTPC), which has been the EASTIN representative in Latvia since 2010. The meeting was opened by the Chairperson of the NRC “Vaivari” Board Anda Nulle and the Director of the Social Services Department of the Ministry of Welfare Aldis Dūdiņš.

The network is based on the EASTIN website www.eastin.eu. This website provides comprehensive information about technical aids and related assistive tools in a user-friendly and accessible manner in several languages.

The EASTIN annual meeting gathers leading professionals in the field of technical aids from various countries around the world and is noted as a significant interdisciplinary and international event in the sector. This year, countries represented included Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Israel, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Thailand, and Germany.

On the first day of the meeting, everyone was introduced to the progress of the EASTIN system's development, with representatives from each country presenting updates on their technical aids provision systems and sharing experiences and knowledge with each other to better develop their technical aids systems in their countries. 

The VTPC also introduced the meeting participants to the latest developments in the field of technical aids in Latvia. The latest studies, in which the VTPC and the Ministry of Welfare participated, were presented:

• “Situation study on the available functioning assessment systems in Latvia and abroad, development of a description of the functioning assessment system, and educational activities for specialists of interested groups”
• “Situation study on the current situation regarding the availability and use of technical aids in Latvian educational institutions”
• “Development of technical quality requirements for the manufacture of individually made technical aids orthoses”

After the presentations, EASTIN guests had a tour of the VTPC, where more detailed information about the center was provided. The meeting participants were particularly pleasantly surprised by the exhibition featuring photographs of Laima Jurča's works from the collection “Illuminated”, about which one of the participants – NRC “Vaivari” board member Mārtiņš Oliņš – provided more details.

The president of EASTIN, Renzo Andrich, acknowledges that the VTPC has significantly developed in recent years and provides high-quality services to the residents of Latvia. 

On the second day of the meeting, a discussion took place regarding the EASTIN development plan for the next 3 years, including cooperation with the World Health Organization's GATE initiative. After the meeting, EASTIN guests were introduced to the surroundings of NRC “Vaivari”, where the reitterapy department and children's playground received special recognition. Guests were also delighted by the beach and the accessibility of swimming areas for wheelchairs.

The president of EASTIN, Renzo Andrich, reveals that he returned home with fond memories of Latvia and Latvians and thanked for the perfect organization of the event, the support for guests, and the friendly and warm atmosphere of the event.