Conference ‘A world of difference’: sheltered institutions and the good life for people with intellectual disabilities

Who will join us to discuss the place that people with intellectual disabilities can occupy in our contemporary society?

Researchers Femmianne Bredewold and  Simon van der Weele present their book Een wereld van verschil ('A World of Difference') after four years of extensive research. Institutional estates and the good life for people with intellectual disabilities. They reflect on the 'unusual' lives of people with intellectual disabilities living on institutional estates in the Netherlands and discuss why this alternative is so attractive to some people. They show how institutional estates can hold a mirror up to policymakers, care managers, care professionals, relatives, researchers and scientists regarding mainstream disability care in the Netherlands and the place that people with intellectual disabilities can occupy in our society.

Expert and social domain researcher and parent by experience  Astrid van der Kooij is the first to respond to these findings. She does so from her personal experience of care in institutional settings and her broad knowledge of the social domain.

Writer and journalist Lynn Berger gaat in op de plek van zorg in de Nederlandse samenleving. Lynn is care correspondent for journalism platform De Correspondent and wrote the books Zorg. Een betere kijk op de mens and Ik werk al (ik krijg er alleen niet voor betaald). 

Visual artist and photographer Aleid Denier van der Gon  introduces her exhibition 'I invite you to come closer. Places of difference' in which she has depicted the extraordinary life on institution grounds. 

Programme (held in Dutch)

12.30 Walk-in
13.00 Welcome by  prof. dr. Margo Trappenburg
13.10 Presentation book by  dr. Femmianne Bredewold and  dr. Simon van der Weele
14.00 Response  Astrid van der Kooij and discussion on everyday care in institutional settings
14.30 Pause

15.00 Response policymaker and conversation on social inclusion policy  

15.30 Response  Lynn Berger and conversation about the place of care in our contemporary society.  

16.00 Handing over the book and closing

16.15 Aleid Denier van der Gon introduces exhibition 'I invite you to come closer. Places of Difference'.
16.30 Exhibition and drinks with snacks

Order the book

The book Een wereld van verschil. Instellingsterreinen en het goede leven van mensen met een verstandelijke beperking can be pre-ordered from publisher SWP. From 22 May, the book will be available at major bookstores. During the conference, the book will be on sale at a reduced price. 

Accessibility

Utrecht City Hall can best be reached by bicycle or public transport. Read more about parking and accessibility. The main entrance of the city hall is wheelchair accessible. The conference will take place in the council chamber on the 1st floor, which can be reached by lift. A loop is available in the council chamber for participants with hearing aids who wish to make use of it. If you have any questions or comments about the accessibility of the event, please contact the organisers at conferentiewereldvanverschil@uvh.nl.

(Co-)financing

This conference is made possible by: ZonMw (projectc number: 854011001). 

Photo banner: Stijn Rademaker.