Developing together: more attention for people with EMB in education

Status: On going

Girl with severe intellectual and multiple disabilities in a wheelchair, with an attendant

Attention for individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) within education for future healthcare professionals is currently limited. This research project aims to introduce students to individuals with PIMD at an earlier stage in their education in order to inspire them to choose to work with this target group. In this project knowledge circles will be developed in which students learn to collaborate interprofessional and get to know the target group.

Knowledge circles

Knowledge circles are communities in which students from different healthcare education programs work together on practice-oriented (research) topics. This way of learning strengthens the students research skills, teaches them how knowledge is developed and where reliable knowledge can be found.

For practice

– Students gain experience in interprofessional collaboration in the knowledge circles.

– As starting professionals, students are better prepared to deal with complex issues in daily healthcare practice.

– Students who are familiar with the target group, may choose to work with this target group more often and more consciously.

Cooperation partners

This project is carried out with:

Teachers from Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Alfa-College
Ergo Actief, De Zijlen and Vanboeijen
researchers from the Academic Collaborative Centre PIMD

Research team

Annelies Overwijk, Aly Waninge, Naomi Dorsman, Thura Breedt-Bruijn (Academic Collaborative Centre PIMD), Marie-José Ahlers, Debbie Kramer, Petra van Dodewaard, Linet Weening-Verbree, Heleen Abrahamse (Hanze University of Applied Sciences)

Funding

This project is funded with a grant from the Comenius program.

About the researchers

Annelies Overwijk

Knowledge broker
Postdoc researcher
Teacher social work
Hanze

What is your role within the Academic Collaborative Centre related to people with PIMD?
My research topic is lifestyle in people with a moderate to profound intellectual disability. My particular focus is on direct support professionals and the support that they can provide in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. During the research, we have already created a place for lifestyle in education of direct support professionals. In my role as knowledge broker for education I am going to expand this. In doing so, I focus on how we can create a place for the knowledge and expertise from the Academic Collaborative Centre into the education of professionals who work with people with

What do you hope to achieve?
People with PIMD have the right for a good life. Therefore, they need support, including from professionals. By embedding current knowledge and expertise from the Academic Collaborative Centre in education, I hope that professional will be better equipped to provide optimal support to people with PIMD and their loved ones.

Research projects by Annelies binnen de AW-EMB

Aly Waninge

Management Team ACC PIMD
Lector
Hanze

What is your role within the Academic Collaborative Centre related to people with PIMD?
I represent Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Management Team. I am also involved in various doctoral research projects within the ACC-PIMD as a second supervisor. These research themes include motor activation, participation and the quality of life of families who have a child with PIMD.

What do you hope to achieve?
My goal is to meet the need expressed by those involved in the day-to-day support of people with PIMD for theory-based, scientifically underpinned knowledge surrounding diagnostics and treatment. Both in practice and as a scientist, it is my strong desire to advocate for people with severe or profound visual, intellectual and motor-related disabilities. I want to contribute to the generation of new knowledge in the context of a sound scientific process that recognises the value of input from families and professionals.

Research projects by Aly binnen de AW-EMB

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