When considering the future of diversity and inclusion for all in business education, I am incredibly optimistic. The subject is becoming increasingly important, and I believe that more and more people are beginning to talk about disability. Already, there are many Business Schools providing disability co-ordinators, specific disability policies and pages of support on their websites. This is an important step in the right direction. I hope that, through sharing my own experiences – alongside those of others in similar situations – I can provide a positive example of how it is possible to overcome potential challenges and that this will serve as a message of encouragement to others. International Business Schools have the power to change perceptions. They can help to puncture the idea that students with disabilities will struggle to study or to work. They can help to provide environments that are truly inclusive to everyone.
‘Emma at Work’ – so I reached out to them. Emma at Work is specifically designed to help young people with disabilities find employment. The agency started in 2006 from a project in the Emma Children’s Hospital (EKZ) Amsterdam UMC. After a year, it became an independent foundation, growing into a non-profit organisation. The agency is committed to closing the gap between young people who have a chronic illness or physical condition and the labour market. The agency helps to train and develop young people aged between 15 and 30 through its programme GAP Track. The aim is to find each applicant a job at a company that suits them. It wants to help create a society in which everyone can participate. I don’t think I would have been able to find a job so quickly without Emma at Work’s help. Thankfully, I found the agency, but I would like to see more faculty members having conversations with students with disabilities and giving them the sort of advice I received from the agency – especially when it comes to finding accessible internships.
NAOMI VERVAART
joined Nyenrode Business University in 2016, working as Programme Coordinator in the Executive Education department, responsible for participant administration. In April 2021 she became a Programme Advisor at Nyenrode. Disability inclusion is a topic close to her heart as she is a wheelchair user, having been born with hereditary spastic paraparesis. Prior to her role at Nyenrode Business University, she graduated as a teacher of Dutch sign language.
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