Inclusive research at Maczek Memorial with LFB, advocacy organisation by and for people with intellectual disabilities

Written bij Peter Horsten & Marco van Leeuwen

Starting with a presentation on the liberation of Breda in 1944 and the fight the Poles waged for it, various stories from this history were chronicled during a bicycle tour of historical sites and memorials relating to the 1st Polish Armoured Division and General Maczek. This was followed by a visit to the Maczek Memorial, where the Polish stories and freedom, peace and democracy were deepened through film, presentations, exhibitions and various media opportunities.

Accessibility in the leisure sector 
This was done as part of a research project on the perception and accessibility of this story and its activities. This research included five meetings between students, experiential experts and industry professionals. From the start, students and experiential experts developed the research design, implementation, analysis and presentation. The research focused on improving accessibility in the leisure sector and making the BUas student/future manager in the sector more sensitive towards special target groups.

Teaching future professionals to innovate 
The project is a continuation of the activities that took place last year around the use of experiential expertise. The starting point was to innovate the education of the new generation of leisure professionals through these activities: by training new managers and strategists in sensitivity and awareness where people with disabilities are concerned through meetings with experiential experts, new concepts and innovative forms of activity can be developed that are not only accessible to visitors who are young, wealthy and healthy, but that are more attractive and interesting for everyone. With these activities, we offer a unique opportunity for future professionals to acquire the sensitive, inclusive and innovative perspectives necessary for this.