DAPHNE  ECONOMOU was born and grew up in India. She continued her education in England and holds a degree in English Literature. She is a published writer and translator.
On her return to Greece, she worked on a National Project for the rehabilitation of elderly refugees from Asia Minor, whilst simultaneously running a children’s theatre group.
With her husband Constantine Economou, a civil engineer, she had three children, George, Marianna and Themos.  Themos suffered from cerebral palsy and this led to Daphne’s lifelong involvement with children with disability.
To address a deficit in the care of children with cerebral palsy in Greece, she and her husband, together with a group of outstanding members of Greek society co-founded Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door, in 1972.
Daphne has served Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door in many capacities, always retaining her particular interest in cultural and artistic activities and inaugurating a series of innovative artistic events for people with and without disabilities at CPG’s Open Door Centre. She believes strongly that art is a crucial factor in the life of people with disabilities, particularly when this involves people without disabilities too.
She is currently Honorary Chairperson of Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door.
She was elected President of the International Cerebral Palsy Society in 1996. Her articles have been published in scientific journals and she has spoken at many international meetings
For her work with the disabled she was awarded the Gold Cross of Bienfaisance by the President of the Greek Republic in 2002.
She is a founding member of the ELIZA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2008.
Daphne’s first book, Saturday’s Child. A journey through an Indian childhood was published in 2007, Poems in 2013, 81 Cadogan Square (in Greek and English) in 2017 and The Blind House in 2018.