A student testimonial on the Walking Seminar "Let's Talk About Accessibility" at the Opole University of Technology!

All participants in the walking seminar in front of Mozna Castle
Participants get a sense of what it is like to find their way around the city whilst blind
In the sports hall at the University of Opole, participants are shown the alternative means of transport available to people with physical disabilities
Elmira Nurieva at the end of the seminar with her certificate and the organisers

Walking Through Heritage: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Inclusive Space Design – this was the theme of the Walking Seminar in Poland, which Elmira Nurieva attended in September. In this article, she shares her impressions.

About a week ago, I returned from a week-long KreativEU seminar organised by the European University, entitled ‘Let’s Talk About Accessibility’, held at the Opole University of Technology, and I’m still coming to terms with everything I experienced there

I thought I already understood accessibility pretty well from my own life experience, maybe even more than I would have wished for. Having broken my leg twice, spent a few days completely blind after eye surgery, and living with a stutter, I faced different barriers firsthand. Naturally, for a long time I focused mostly on the physical infrastructure, like ramps, elevators, and wide doors.


Still, this week in Opole was a real eye-opener. It showed me that true accessibility goes far beyond physical obstacles. It is about digital spaces, social attitudes, and making every environment comfortable for everyone.
During our study tasks, I walked with a blindfold and a white cane, and tried navigating on different types of wheelchairs. Ending up with a sweaty back and aching arms gave me a deep, sincere admiration for everyone who faces these obstacles every single day.


I am immensely grateful to the organizing team, Małgorzata Nowicka-Zając, and all the participants. It was such a warm international group, and the coordination was top-tier from start to finish.
The absolute stars of the week were our experts, Marysia and Alicja Stelmaszczyk.
Hearing their personal stories, learning from them, and seeing their unstoppable optimism was deeply inspiring.


My main takeaway is simple: next time I want to help a person with special needs, I won't just jump in like a superhero. I will simply ask how I can help best first and communicate clearly.
Thanks a lot to KreativEU, Universität Greifswald, and Opole University of Technology for this amazing opportunity.


P.S. I also cannot leave out the incredible Polish cuisine we got to try in different places around the city!

Are you interested in taking part in a Walking Seminar? You can find all the information about upcoming events on this website, feel free to sign up!