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Reducing Health Inequalities for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Inclusive Research & Practice - Applications closed

The health and well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities remain critically underrepresented in professional training and research. This course offers a unique opportunity to explore key health priorities, develop advanced knowledge, and engage with inclusive practices to address inequalities.

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    General

    Course is sold out, waiting list available

    This course offers a concise introduction in intellectual disability health needs and how inclusive research and practice can help reduce inequalities. We will use health related priority areas to represent the key topic of each day and you will gain state of the art in-depth knowledge from multidisciplinary experts. You will gain inclusive research skills and insights to translate these knowledge and skills into your own research or practice. We will discuss different healthcare systems for people with intellectual disability globally and share ideas on how we can improve healthcare for people with ID. The course aims to include participants from both the research field and daily practice to ensure cross pollination between these fields. It also enables students in health and social sciences to broaden their horizon on a topic which is often not part of the curriculum. The course will enhance your interest in and engagement with intellectual disability by interactive teaching methods. The course will facilitate the acquisition of improved communication skills and habits, and provide you with access to international researchers and practitioners.

    Learning objectives

    1. Enhance your inclusive research skills and capacities
    2. Describe and critically assess the core principles of health priorities on intellectual disability and to equip others (e.g. colleagues) with your gained knowledge and skills
    3. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the course content and translate this into your own research, current practice or career perspective
    4. Enhance your transversal skills, including the ability to engage in discussions and exchange ideas with experts in relevant fields and academics

    Starting date

    30 June 2025, 8:30 am
    City
    Nijmegen
    Costs
    €888
    Discount
    15% when applying before 1 April 2025
    VAT-free
    Yes
    Educational method
    On-site
    Main Language
    English
    Deadline registration
    15 May 2025, 11:59 pm
    Maximum number of participants
    15

    Factsheet

    Type of education
    Summerschool
    Entry requirements
    This course is open to researchers, health professionals and students of health and social sciences who have a specific interest in health and wellbeing for people with intellectual disabilities.
    Study load (ECTS)
    2
    Accreditation
    Accreditation for Dutch doctors pending:
    Result
    Certificate, Edubadge
    Organisation
    Radboudumc

    Contact information

    Radboud Summer School
    Postbus 9102
    6500 HC NIJMEGEN

    radboudsummerschool [at] ru.nl (radboudsummerschool[at]ru[dot]nl)

    Monday 30 June 

    Health inequity and country profiles

    Tuesday 1 July 

    Inclusive research and inclusive research activities by co-researchers

    Wednesday 2 July 

    Understanding health needs, promotion and prevention

    Thursday 3 July 

    Inclusive practice and consultation with experts by experience

    Friday 4 July 

    Inter- and multidisciplinary collaboration

    Summer School 2025 Timetable
    Fleur Boot looking at camera

    Fleur Heleen Boot, MD, PhD, is an intellectual disability physician, lecturer and senior researcher at the Radboud University Medical Centre in The Netherlands. Her current research projects aim to develop training programs in the field of intellectual disability, health needs and stigma to reduce health inequalities for people with intellectual disabilities in differently resourced settings. Experts by experience play an important role in her training and classes. Countries she has worked in include India, South Africa, Ireland, the United States, and Chile. Fleur’s main areas of interest are Intellectual Disability, Health Inequalities, Global Health, Education and Inclusive Research. 

    Lynette Oost looking at camera

    Lynette Jessica Oost, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. She obtained her Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at Maastricht University in 2018. She then moved to Nijmegen for her PhD, where she focused on the role of magnesium deficiencies in the regulation of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

    Her current research investigates disease patterns in people with intellectual disabilities compared to the general population. She uses data from general practitioners and population-based datasets (e.g., CBS). In the long term, her project aims to provide medical professionals with better insights to improve diagnoses and optimize healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities. Lynette’s main areas of interest are Chronic Diseases, Intellectual Disability, Health Inequalities and Data Analysis.

    Kris Bevelander looking at camera

    Dr. ir. Kris Bevelander is an assistant professor ‘Citizen Science for Preventive Health’ at Radboud university and medical center. Her research focuses on the interplay between inclusive prevention research and citizen science for health, especially of - and involving - those with lower (health) literacy skills. She works at both the Preventionhub and Academic Collaborative 'Stronger on your own feet.' The latter is a long-term partnership between the research group Intellectual Disability & Health and care organizations for people with intellectual disabilities to improve knowledge exchange between researchers and health practitioners. As program leader on inclusive research, she works on research and science communication projects with PhD students, postdocs, an inclusive research coordinator and co-researchers with mild intellectual disabilities. The projects cover topics such as inclusive technology development and implementation, multistakeholder collaborations, development of health interventions, and monitoring health and well-being of people with low (health) literacy skills. She always involves citizens such as people with mild intellectual disabilities as co-researchers in every step of the research cycle; an ultimate form of citizen science.

    Jenneken Naaldenberg looking at camera

    Dr. ir. Jenneken Naaldenberg is Associate professor health in context, reducing inequities at Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She is a social scientist with a PhD in health & society. Her research focusses on the health of people with intellectual disabilities,  specifically on improving equal access to healthcare, increasing visibility of experienced health issues, and creating awareness of health and healthcare as part of the context of everyday life. Her research is embedded in academic collaborative Intellectual Disability & Health in which her research group at the Radboudumc closely collaborates with six Dutch ID care organizations: ‘s Heerenloo, Dichterbij, SIza, Driestroom, Philadelphia and Koraal. A key value in this collaborative is the development of inclusive health research in which people with intellectual disabilities actively participate in all phases of research.

    Costs

    Early bird | €754,80

    The deadline for our early bird application is 31 March 2025.

    Regular | €888

    The deadline for our regular application is the 15 May 2025.

    Includes

    Your course, coffee and tea during breaks, warm lunch every day, welcome dinner on Monday, Official Opening, Official Closing.

    Excludes

    Transport, accommodation, social events and other costs. 

    Discounts and scholarships

    There are discounts and scholarships available for our partners. Click below to find out if you are eligible. 

    Discounts and scholarships

    Admission

    Level of participant

    Bachelor, Advanced Bachelor, Master, PHD, Postdoc, Professional

    Admission requirements

    The discipline of audience includes researchers and research oriented health professionals, e.g. psychologists, physicians, social workers, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who have a specific interest in health and wellbeing for persons with intellectual disabilities and want to learn more about their health needs, about intersectoral collaboration, and inclusive research. Students of health and social sciences who want to explore a possible career in the field of intellectual disability care or research may also opt for this course.

    Admission documents

    Motivation letter.