A unique and irreplaceable mark

"Leaving a mark. The ecological, social, personal and family mark of people with intellectual disabilities" was the title chosen for the 9th Family and Disability Conference organized by the Chair in Family and Disability funded by the Repsol Foundation-Down Madrid. The aim of the conference was to reflect on the impact that people with intellectual disabilities have on their environments and the importance to own it and reflect on it.

The director of the chair, Ana Berástegui, was in charge of opening the conference and welcoming the attendees, both in person and virtually. During her speech, Berástegui recalled that “every person takes an active part in the world around them and leaves a mark. With the right support, this mark can be unique and irreplaceable.” “The world is changing.” He added. “Without people with disabilities that change will be worse.” He concluded.

Mar de Andrés, director of the Social Area and Volunteering of the Repsol Foundation, and Ignacio Egea, president of the board of the Repsol Foundation-Down Madrid, partners of the chair, opened the conference with Berástegui. Mar de Andrés pointed out that the students of the Chair's DEMOS programme recieve an ecoDEMOS diploma: “it is a training that raises awareness for sustainable development.”

For his part, the president of the Board of the Repsol Foundation-Down Madrid highlighted that “everyone who has been in contact with someone with a disability knows that these people leave a deep and lasting impression, a mark.”

The inaugural conference was given by Gregory Cascante, CEO of Ingeus and founding partner of Daleph. He addressed the green transformation from a fair and inclusive perspective. Throughout the conferences, there were diverse round tables to discuss the different marks people with disabilities leave in the ecological, social, personal and family spheres.