14/01/2026
Last December, our Cordaan colleagues Sandra Zaal and Shannon Lagerweij, joined the AMUSE study visit in Lublin, Poland, to dive deeper into inclusive education and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in Poland.
Hosted by Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie, the visit brought together Ukrainian partners and European colleagues, including participants from Poland, Norway, Estonia and the Netherlands.
Over a few days, inclusion in practice was explored from early childhood education to cultural spaces, public services, and family support. Highlights included:
🖇️Visiting Lublin’s first inclusive kindergarten, where children with a range of abilities learn side by side with their peers, supported by educators, therapists, and AAC technology.
🖇️Experiencing MOZAIKA, a community center demonstrating inclusive adult programs - from music and arts to sailing - where AAC and assistive technologies empower self-expression and independence.
🖇️Attending university workshops and performances, showcasing innovative approaches like the Heart Rhythm Communication Method, enabling neurodiverse artists to perform Shakespeare using rhythm-based speech support.
🖇️Collaborating on the development of an AAC-based learning curriculum for Ukrainian preschools, focusing on accessible, inclusive, and hands-on methods, combining pictograms, gestures, and digital tools.
Looking back, this exchange has inspired us and strengthened partnerships, showing that inclusion is about rights, empowerment, and creativity, and that cross-border collaboration drives change.
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