Rannveig Traustadóttir          Chair of the Conference Committee	Snæfríður Þóra Egilson             Chair of the Abstract Committee

On behalf of the NNDR Conference Committees we warmly welcome you to Reykjavík and to the 11th NNDR research conference. NNDR, Nordic Network on Disability Research, was established in Fredrikshavn, Denmark in 1996 and has, in a relatively short time, grown into a large vibrant research network. The NNDR conferences bring together researchers, policy makers, activists and practitioners to share scholarship and ideas, and provides a forum for Nordic and international collaboration in disability studies. NNDR is a multidisciplinary network of researchers exploring disability from social and cultural points of view with an increasing emphasis on human rights perspectives. Stimulated by the disability rights movement, the demands for full and equal human rights for disabled people have been confirmed in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). While we have welcomed a wide range of contributions at this conference, we have particularly encouraged those focusing on the UN CRPD; how it is implemented and used to promote and protect the full human rights of disabled people.

During the last two decades, there has been a tremendous increase in disability studies internationally with a growing number of scholarly associations, journals, conferences, university programs and courses devoted to the interdisciplinary study of disability. We are proud to say that this conference reflects this vibrant diversity.

NNDR conferences rotate between the Nordic countries and many of us have fond memories of the beautiful places where these inspiring conferences have been held. This is the second time the conference takes place in Iceland. We wish you a wonderful stay in Iceland and a stimulating conference.