Mieke Cardol

Dr. Mieke Cardol serves as a Lecturer in Disability Studies at the Healthcare Innovation Knowledge Center of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences' Institute for Healthcare. With a PhD from the University of Amsterdam (2001) and background as an occupational therapist, she focuses on creating equal opportunities, participation, and belonging for people with disabilities in diverse society. Her work centers on the individual's interaction with various contexts (family, healthcare, society) with consistent collaboration with stakeholders.

Mieke Cardol operates from an emancipatory perspective, challenging traditional power dynamics where people with chronic conditions were talked about rather than with. Her research explores how 'disability' is constantly reconstructed, emphasizing experiential knowledge and perspectives. Drawing inspiration from Disability Studies and philosopher Gilles Deleuze, she examines participation beyond mere 'joining in' to encompass shifting agency, open dialogue, and situationally determined interactions. Central to her work is the 'HOW' of participation, which she views as constantly redefined in relation to contexts and people.

Her publication portfolio reveals strong thematic consistency across disability studies, with particular focus on autonomy, identity reconstruction (especially post-stroke aphasia), inclusive practices across healthcare and theater, aging with disabilities, and participatory research methodologies. The development of 'My Path' method represents a significant contribution to strengthening relational autonomy for youth with complex needs. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications across multiple domains including healthcare, education, housing, and the arts.

As an educator, Cardol contributes to professional development through expert teams, participates in curriculum councils, and supervises bachelor's and master's students across various healthcare programs including Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Nursing. She developed the elective course 'Healthy and well with a disability; supporting from the perspective of autonomy and inclusion' to address the limited focus on intellectual disabilities in current healthcare education.

Her research group collaborates extensively with interest groups (MIND, Ieder(in), LFB, ExpEx, Zorgbelang), municipal organizations (Rotterdam, Rotterdam Unlimited), healthcare providers (Pameijer, ASVZ, MIDDIN, GGZ Delfland), other universities of applied sciences, and research platforms like Patient Stories. This network demonstrates her commitment to translating research into practice through diverse partnerships that strengthen the connection between education, research, and societal impact.