Accessibility
In terms of physical accessibility, there are a number of considerations and limitations at the Gerrit Rietveld and Sandberg. In the last few years, it has been the organising and efforts of students with disabilities themselves to address and improve the accessibility of the school that has resulted in change. There are still many more changes needed, and it is the duty of the school, not the students, to be proactive on this front. This topic is being addressed by facilities and other relevant groups in the school.
Regarding physical accessibility, we will go through each building and address the degree of accessibility:
- Gerrit Rietveld: The first floor of this building is accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, to access the workshops and departments on the remaining floors, there is a very small elevator that does not fit all wheelchairs/mobility scooters. The school has purchased a small electric scooter that fits in this elevator that can be borrowed by students. They have also created a temporary wheelchair ramp for students to be able to access the basement workshops, and are looking into options to create something more permanent such as a ramp or elevator.
- FedLev: accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users during regular opening hours via accessing the elevator through the assembly hall. Although this route through the assembly hall is demarcated, students sometimes leave their work in such a way that blocks this route. There is an ongoing effort to create a system of organisation that leaves this route clear. Additionally, in extended opening hours in the period of graduation, for example, access to this building is only granted via the exterior staircase to the departments, meaning students who need to use the elevator cannot access their studios.
- Benthem Crouwel: entirely accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
Crip the Curriculum
In 2022, Crip the Curriculum(opens in a new tab) started as part of the Extraintra(opens in a new tab) initiatives.”Crip the Curriculum is an educational platform at Rietveld Academie & Sandberg Instituut dedicated to dismantling ableist structures: for a common future that is just, accessible, and joyfully liveable, the deeply embedded ableism in society must be challenged. In approaching this shared future, artists and designers carry both responsibility and opportunity to re-think methods of creating, communicating, and caring. Crip the Curriculum encourages locating, questioning, unlearning, and dismantling of ableist patterns and biases within ourselves, our school, and ultimately our society. It strives for collective learning and community-building.”
Coordinators/Organizers/Curators:
- Pernilla Philip
- Alcide Breaux
- Harriet Foyster
- Akash Sheshadri
- Menko Dijksterhuis
Contact: cripthecurriculum@sandberg.nl