From 11 to 15 May 2026, the 4th edition of the international project ‘In Someone’s Shoes’ took place, organised within the framework of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). The event was attended by international students and academic staff from the Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences (AWF) and partner universities, who jointly prepared and delivered the teaching programme.
The objective of the project was to develop empathy and intercultural skills, and to improve understanding of the needs of people with various disabilities and health challenges. The title ‘In Someone’s Shoes’ referred to the idea of seeing the world from another person’s perspective – their experiences, difficulties and opportunities.
The programme included workshops on accessibility, disability and physical activity.
Participants explored the challenges faced by:
- people with visual impairments – through taking part in sessions on accessible communication, audio description and ways of supporting the independence and daily functioning of visually impaired and blind people,
- people with mobility impairments – through workshops run by the Active Rehabilitation Foundation (PL: Fundacja Aktywnej Rehabilitacji), during which students learnt wheelchair techniques and the principles of safely assisting people using wheelchairs. Participants also learnt about the opportunities offered by specialist equipment, including adapted wheelchairs, which enable an active lifestyle, the pursuit of hobbies and participation in various forms of physical activity,
- seniors and people living with dementia – through participation in the session ‘Ageing, dementia and occupation: In their shoes’, during which specially designed simulations helped participants to better understand the everyday challenges, limitations and needs,
- people with hearing impairments – through participation in the ‘Feel the Silence’ workshop, which offered a chance to view communication and social relationships from the perspective of people with hearing impairments and to better understand the barriers they may face.
Check the programme day by day:
The teaching programme was designed and delivered by the lecturers and instructors from partner universities and the Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences:
- Alena Skotáková, Masaryk University, Czechia
- Zbynek Janecka, Palacký University Olomouc, Czechia
- Sofia Saraiva, Santa Maria Health School, Portugal
- Alice Pereira, University of Maia, Portugal
- Sandra Santiago, Polytechnic Institute of Maia, Portugal
- Clara Climent Oltra, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Spain
- Zofia Niekurzak, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
- Rafał Bugaj, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
- Daria Rudnik, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
- Magdalena Krygiel-Bartoszewicz, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
- Magdalena Betlewicz, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
- Tomasz Seweryniak, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
Special guests:
- Altix (Poland)
- FAR Active Rehabilitation Foundation
- Tatra National Park
- Piotr Lubicz-Miszewski, a student of the Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
The project was organised by the Erasmus Centre Team of the Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences (AWF Wrocław). Katarzyna Olszewska (project leader), Magdalena Opala and Monika Ilecka-Folcik who were responsible for coordinating and implementing the project. The team prepared and ran the programme in collaboration with international partners.