The International Child Neurology Association (ICNA) was founded to provide a global forum for neurologists dedicated to the care of children with neurological conditions. The inception of ICNA can be traced back to the late 1960s when Dr. Sabine Pelc, a child neurologist from the Free University of Brussels, recognized the need for a worldwide network of child neurologists. Her vision led her to travel extensively across Europe and the Americas, identifying and connecting professionals in the field of child neurology.

In the mid-20th century, child neurology began to gain recognition as a distinct specialty. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) started supporting training programs in child neurology in 1956. Prior to this, children with neurological conditions were often treated by pediatricians, orthopedists, or adult neurologists, resulting in inconsistent care. The establishment of formal training programs and the creation of dual Board Examinations in Pediatrics and Neurology in 1967 marked significant milestones in the development of the field.

By the early 1970s, the number of trained child neurologists had grown sufficiently in North America to warrant the formation of the Child Neurology Society (CNS) in 1972. Parallel developments in Europe, Canada, Asia, and Latin America also highlighted the global need for a unified organization.

ICNA was officially founded on September 12, 1973, at the 10th Congress of the World Federation of Neurology in Barcelona. The founding meeting, attended by 14 child neurologists from around the world, saw the election of Dr. John Stobo Prichard from Canada as President and Dr. Sabine Pelc as Secretary-General. The association was incorporated in Brussels on August 14, 1974.

ICNA's mission is to improve the quality of care for children with neurological disorders by promoting clinical and scientific research, encouraging high training standards for child neurologists, and facilitating international communication among professionals in the field. One of ICNA's primary activities is organizing international congresses every four years, providing a platform for sharing knowledge and advancing the practice of child neurology globally.