Stories of This Abled City: Experiential Dialogues on Disability in Urban Life
In June, the Rudolph Agricola School for Sustainable Development (University of Groningen) will host Stories of This Abled City: a three- day interactive exhibition and public programme that explores Groningen through the lived experiences of wheelchair users.
How accessible is Groningen in everyday practice? What does it mean to move through the city, to take part in public life, to play, learn, travel and meet others when the built environment is not designed with every body in mind? And how can stories, creative methods and shared experiences help us imagine a more inclusive and just city?
At the heart of Stories of This Abled City are the perspectives and experiences of wheelchair users. Through an interactive exhibition and a series of workshops and activities, we invite visitors to reflect on accessibility and to experience it in new ways. The event brings together pupils, students, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and the wider public to engage with questions of mobility, public space, participation and inclusion.
Throughout the three days, the exhibition will remain open to visitors, accompanied by a stop-motion workshop led by local artist Jitske Wadman. The exhibition is also suited to younger visitors, with interactive elements such as the stop-motion activity for children aged 7+. Visitors can also explore games connected to the broader This Abled City project, including the computergame Sk8Chair created by Hanze students, and the board game This Abled City: A Steampunk Story co-created with Julia Munuera Garcia and co-researchers at ‘s Heeren Loo. Together, these activities offer playful ways to engage with questions of accessibility, movement and inclusive urban life. In addition, there will be tailor-made programme items for schools, academic audiences and other interested groups.
A few highlights of the programme are:
Wednesday 10 June
The programme opens with a workshop by the Wheelchair Skills Team, in which participants are invited to explore movement, balance and wheelchair use in an active and engaging way. This session is open to both wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users, creating space for exchange, play and learning together. Fittingly, this day also coincides with National Outdoor Play Day.
On Wednesday, visitors can continue to explore the exhibition and its interactive activities, including the games and stop-motion workshop. Alongside this, the programme will offer tailored activities for invited groups, creating space for exchange between different audiences and perspectives.
Thursday 11 June
On Thursday morning, participants connected to the wider This Abled City project, including collaborators from ’s Heeren Loo, will lead a workshop on representation. This session connects directly to the project’s focus on lived experience, representation and inclusive city-making, and invites participants to reflect on how accessibility is perceived, communicated and understood.
In the afternoon, the programme continues with an improvisation theatre workshop in collaboration with Doornvogels.
Friday 12 June
The final day also includes a session focused on the connection between lived experience, professional practice and policy. Taking public transport as a timely and concrete example, this conversation will bring together different perspectives to discuss how accessibility challenges can be addressed more effectively in practice and governance.
An invitation to experience the city differently
Stories of This Abled City is not only about identifying barriers. It is also about sharing knowledge, opening up conversation and imagining alternatives. Thorugh our focus on wheelchair users’ stories and combining research with creative and interactive methods, the event offers visitors a chance to engage with accessibility in a way that is concrete, reflective and collaborative.
We warmly invite schools, students, colleagues, professionals, policymakers and other interested visitors to join us in June at the House of Connections in Groningen.