Dominika Zawadzka – academic teacher at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, originator of the project
The end of April concluded another edition of our Erasmus “accessibility” week under the motto: “IN SOMEONE’S SHOES”. The preparatory time was very intensive, after last year’s successful formula, the program grew even more for us, partners and institutions “multiplied” and we wondered how to fit all that we had planned into just one week….
A summary of the entire project was posted on the main website of the university, so on the pages of “Academic Life” I will not repeat this content – I thought I would “paste” into my text the thoughts, reflections of the organizers and participants. Admittedly, I did not ask our foreign guests to write a summary, they did it themselves, spontaneously thanking us, the organizers, on Facebook, so I thought I could share these words.
We always try to teach our students based on a reflective system, they very often share their thoughts after various events and projects.
Programs that are “inclusive,” that integrate, that allow us to pay more attention to the other person…this is what we focus on. Each of us will someday be a person with increased needs, will be less able to move, less able to hear and see,, may not fully understand the reality around him. Let’s prepare ourselves for this stage of life, let’s teach future CADRE, let’s bet on educating young people – our students, who will know how to help us later. Let’s do it for them and … for ourselves.
Rafał Bugaj – academic teacher at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
In one of the TV shows, Sister Margaret Chmielewska said: “Knowledge of things begins with experience.” Learning through experience turns out to be more effective than acquiring theory, and it also gives more lasting educational results. That’s why, in our Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program, we offer students a diverse set of tasks related to entering various disability-related roles. This seems especially important at the beginning of professional development. This is because it allows you to empathize with the situation and needs of people with disabilities.
On the other hand, the care and support of students by an international team of teachers and tutors makes it possible to link the participants’ experiences to the competencies needed to provide support, improve accessibility and promote the inclusion and rights of people with disabilities. We believe that these types of programs are proving essential in building a holistic and coherent approach in all professions related to health, physical activity and rehabilitation in the broadest sense, both medically and socially.
Madara Lapsa – academic teacher at Liepajas University, Latvia.
The Intensive Blended Program “In someone’s shoes” at AWF Wrocław completely justified its name – it was both very intensive and provided an opportunity to experience “stepping into someone else’s shoes.”
During the week, the students gained theoretical knowledge about diversity and inclusion, visited various institutions and organizations that provide services to people with special needs, and tried moving around indoors and in urban areas on their own, experiencing various of imitation of limitations – loss of vision, etc.
We also visited a Day Center for people with intellectual development disabilities – the work created by the Center was amazing!
We had the opportunity to attend the opening of the “XII Lower Silesian Swimming Meeting of the Special Olympics” (XII Dolnośląski Mityng Pływacki Olimpiad Specjalnych).
It was very exciting to visit a company that produces specialized and personalized wheelchairs.
We will also remember the great sports activities (and more) – team games, Kangoo jumping, Greek dancing, Tai chi and more.
Great organization of the event by a great team of organizers, thank you: Dominika Zawadzka, Monika Ilecka-Folcik, Monika Kleszcz, Yevheniia Yekaterynina, Rafal Bugaj!
Incredibly responsive, positive, smart and empathetic group of young people!
It always amazes me how young people from different countries (in this case Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Poland, Latvia and others) in a week can become inseparable friends and shed tears as they say goodbye.
Irena Kuc – Sierpińska – manager of Środowiskowy Dom Samopomocy. Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Dzieci i Osób Niepełnosprawnych, Milicz
On behalf of the entire team of Środowiskowy Dom Samopomocy I would like to thank you, Dominika, for the study visit and we invite you to come again, but for longer, because this time it was too short to present everything to you. Greetings.
Marta Maryniaczyk – Occupational Therapy student at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
Participation in the Erasmus program “In someone’s shoes” gave me another opportunity to gain knowledge and experience, providing a broader perspective through people from different countries. The most important aspect that was brought up in the first conversations in the international groups was accessibility. We discussed disability, exclusion and inadequacy in relation to the countries and cities we live in. It is important for the future to learn from others and strive for the best possible solutions around the world. During the lectures and workshops conducted by the tutors, there was also plenty of room for exchanging ideas, thinking outside the box.
We had a chance to confront our insights during the “Urban Game” playing the roles of people with different disabilities. It was amazing how much we discovered as people who have not yet learned to function with their disabilities. It gave us a picture of their everyday life and the barriers they face every day. Overcoming barriers is an integral part of life for wheelchair users, who have to adapt to a completely different way of getting around. This knowledge was shared with us by Fundacja Aktywnej Rehabilitacji of Boleslawiec. The instructors who work with people facing the reality of wheelchair driving are themselves people with mobility impairments. They prove and show by their own example that everything can be done, but what is important is the adapted space in which we live, starting with the very selection of the wheelchair and learning to ride it, dealing with any situation. They showed us both how to ride a wheelchair properly, but also how to help the person riding it, as we can often unknowingly do harm.
The program was very busy, but there was no shortage of time for conversation, networking, fun and sightseeing. Tears were shed at the end, but we were left with new friendships, experiences and memories that we will live for a long time to come.
Maria Chojcan – a student of Occupational Therapy at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
After last year’s participation in the Blended Intensive Program , “In someone’s shoes”, I thought that this year nothing more would surprise me, it turned out differentely. Once again, the organizers put all their heart and commitment into the project, which contributed to the quality of the entire event. The opportunity to work with people from other countries meant getting to know more and more perspectives and experiences related to disability and the accessibility that goes with it, both from the organizers and people from the places where we had the opportunity to visit, as well as participants from different corners of Europe, such as: Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Latvia and Belgium, broadened my perspective on occupational therapy and the needs of others that often go unnoticed by society.
The most valuable thing for me this week was the opportunity to learn about other people’s points of view, their stories, and their experience in the topics of disability and adaptations for people with disabilities. We touched on the topics of exclusion and stigma, which in conversations made us sad at first, but over time motivated us and triggered creativity – how we can develop and educate ourselves so that everyone has the opportunity to have or use the right adaptations and solutions to live with dignity. From every place we had the opportunity to be and every workshop we were able to attend, we learned about the lives of people with disabilities, the challenges they face at every step and in many moments of their lives. Each meeting was valuable and brought with it a great deal of wisdom , thanks to the diversity we were able to see different perspectives and the solutions that followed. After everything there were reflections, the conclusion of which was always the idea that accessibility, of any kind, begins with the other person and that we have a real impact on the fight against exclusion.
This year, the motivating element, even more so, was the people – ambitious, creative, open, willing to work and share their stories and insights. Due to the intensively scheduled program, there was not much time after classes, nevertheless we wanted to spend this time getting to know each other and our cultures. Relationships that formed after a week of hard work will stay with us for a long time, tears at the farewell, warm words and difficulty at parting mean that this was not our last meeting.
The project , “In someone’s shoes” for the second time showed me how important it is to notice the needs of another person, the ability to listen and generally understood, empathy and respect for people. I gained valuable competencies that influenced my self-confidence and motivation to expand the acquired knowledge. International cooperation, getting to know the perspectives and points of view of people from outside Poland’s borders aroused in me an incredible curiosity to continue learning about people and their cultures and how occupational therapy is developing in the world.
Maria Elisabete Vieira – Psychology and Nursing student at Maieutica Cooperativa de Ensino Superior CRL, Portugal
“In someone’s shoes”. This program was very interesting and complete. You could get an insight of the day of a disabled person and learn how we can help them to have a better life. We visited institutions and many wonderful people. Thank you very much.
Monika Ilecka-Folcik – coordinator of the Erasmus program at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
Co-creating, organizing and helping to carry out the event “In someone’s shoes” drained a considerable amount of energy and time from me, but it also gave me a great deal of satisfaction, contentment and joy. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate my creativity and organizational skills. And “backstage” is my middle name.
I was driven to action by the people we invited to the project and the participants of the event. Their enthusiasm and willingness to work, their smiles, their multiculturalism and language diversity – great working conditions.
The Erasmus program supports inclusivity and diversity activities, and I believe that such activities are meaningful and necessary for all of us.
Nikolina Tomasic – a student of Physiotherapy at Veleuciliste Ivanić-Grad, Croatia
Wonderful experience and wonderful people made these 5 days pass quickly and will be forever in my memory. Thank you all and I hope to come to Wroclaw again someday.
Karolina Wowk – Occupational Therapy student at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Science
At the end of April I took part in the second edition of “In someone’s shoes” organized at AWF Wrocław within the BIP Erasmus+ program. The event was targeted mainly at students and teachers of occupational therapy or physiotherapy from different countries.
“In someone’s shoes” was aimed at showing us the world from a different perspective, or more precisely, different perspectives. We tried our best to take on the role and step into the proverbial shoes of a person with a disability. We practiced moving in an active wheelchair, using orthopedic crutches or with a cane while blindfolded. We had the opportunity to experience someone’s everyday life. Especially when we were given the task to use public transportation we understood that a wheelchair user still faces many barriers. Often it is poorly adapted infrastructure or a complete lack of it. It was also felt that many daily activities like shopping in a store get in the way of independence. The shelves were too high, or aisles were too narrow, or a delivery was blocking the aisle. During this week, all our senses were working at increased speed, and a list of things to improve was forming in our heads so that daily activities would not stand in the way of independence for people with disabilities.
In addition to “stepping into someone else’s shoes,” we also visited several facilities that operate in Wroclaw and Lower Silesia. These included “Milickie Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Dzieci i Osób Niepełnosprawnych” which offers a holistic approach and has a whole range of programs or therapies that put the children with disabilities first. They help them and their parents develop and offer the support they need.
Despite the many activities throughout the program, there was also time for integration. During EDUball activities, we competed in groups during various competitions, often overcoming the language barrier. We also tried Kangoo shoes, which made everyone dance. On the last day of the program, we went to the exhibition “The Mystery of Banksy,” where we were able to confront the social themes Banksy addresses in his art. We also paid attention to the technical preparation of the exhibition and aspects of accessibility that could be improved on it.
It was 5 very intense days. There was a lot going on, but it was a time of many new experiences. I saw Wroclaw from a different perspective and began to see what barriers people with disabilities face in their daily lives. I became more sensitive to their needs. In addition, I also gained experience working in an international team, where we walked the streets of Wroclaw together with students from other countries. Despite some language barrier, we managed to get along and establish many new relationships. I remember the whole program very well, but the highlight was the people who were committed to their tasks and were open to dialogue and helping the other person. Thanks to them it was a unique experience.
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