Kazakhstan’s National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation will host the International Scientific and Practical Conference, “Interdisciplinary Dialogue in Children’s Rehabilitation,” in Astana on 28–29 May 2026, bringing together specialists working across paediatric rehabilitation, orthotics, physical medicine, early intervention and multidisciplinary care.
The conference is being organised by the National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation in cooperation with the ONALTU National Association of Rehabilitation Centers, with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is positioned within the context of the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 agenda, which calls for stronger rehabilitation systems, improved service access and better integration of rehabilitation into health systems.
For the orthotics and prosthetics community, the event is notable because it places orthotics within the wider paediatric rehabilitation pathway. The programme identifies modern approaches in physical medicine and orthotics as a key area of discussion, alongside early intervention, continuity of care, evidence-based practice, digital technologies and the development of professional competencies.
This reflects a growing regional emphasis on comprehensive rehabilitation for children with complex needs, including children with neurological conditions, developmental disorders, mobility limitations, autism spectrum disorders and other conditions requiring coordinated medical, therapeutic, educational and social support.
The conference aims to bring together rehabilitation physicians, paediatricians, neurologists, general practitioners, occupational therapists, special education professionals, psychologists, healthcare managers and non-governmental organisations. This broad multidisciplinary focus is important for paediatric orthotic care, where clinical outcomes often depend on collaboration between prescribing physicians, orthotists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, educators and families.
Orthotics has a particularly important role in children’s rehabilitation, especially in areas such as cerebral palsy management, gait support, postural control, contracture management, neuromuscular conditions and developmental mobility support. By including orthotics within a national and international rehabilitation conference, Kazakhstan is helping to reinforce the role of assistive technology and orthotic intervention as part of long-term paediatric rehabilitation planning rather than as a standalone device service.
Another key theme is workforce development. The conference programme includes training and professional competency development, reflecting one of the central challenges facing rehabilitation systems across the IMEA region: the need for more skilled personnel able to deliver high-quality, evidence-informed services. In paediatric rehabilitation, this includes not only clinical knowledge but also communication with families, interdisciplinary planning, outcome measurement and long-term follow-up.
The focus on robotic and digital technologies also signals Kazakhstan’s interest in modernising rehabilitation delivery. Digital rehabilitation tools, robotics, assessment technologies and assistive devices are increasingly being integrated into paediatric rehabilitation programmes worldwide. For orthotic and prosthetic services, this trend aligns with broader developments in digital assessment, 3D scanning, CAD/CAM, outcome monitoring and data-led clinical planning.
The conference will include plenary and sectional sessions on 28 May, followed by master classes on 29 May at the National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation in Astana. Participants will also have the opportunity to publish abstracts and articles in the conference proceedings.
For Central Asia and the wider IMEA rehabilitation community, the event highlights Kazakhstan’s growing role in paediatric rehabilitation development. Its focus on orthotics, interdisciplinary practice and workforce training reflects priorities that are increasingly shared across rehabilitation systems: earlier intervention, stronger professional education, better access to assistive technology and more coordinated care for children and families.
As rehabilitation continues to gain recognition as an essential health service, events such as this provide an important platform for strengthening professional networks, sharing practice models and advancing the quality of paediatric rehabilitation across the region.