Learning to Change, a report authored by On the Move and commissioned by Skånes Dansteater as part of Europe Beyond Access, with the support of the British Council, was officially launched on the 3rd of December 2025, the international Day of People with Disabilities.
This report examines accessibility barriers faced by disabled people in higher education performing arts institutions across Creative Europe countries and the UK. It has been conducted in the context of Europe Beyond Access (EBA), an EU funded project that supports the creation of new works by Deaf and/or disabled artists across Europe. The report builds on previous EBA research which identified higher education institutions as key ‘gatekeepers’, frequently
The elaboration of the report involved multiple data collection methods, including three online surveys (addressing, respectively, disabled artists/professionals, higher education institutions and performing arts organisations), interviews and focus groups, desk research and analyses of existing practices. Thanks to this, the resulting report presents substantial evidence of obstacles and challenges that impede access to higher education and subsequent access to the professional performing arts, as well as some good practices and enabling factors. The report includes final detailed recommendations actionable at the levels of educational institutions, performing arts cultural organisations and EU institutions.
Researchers: Jordi Baltà Portolés, Sophie Dowden, Konrad Wolf
Writing: Jordi Baltà Portolés with contribution from Sophie Dowden, Marie Le Sourd and Konrad Wolf
Coordinator of the research: Marie Le Sourd (On the Move) with support by Ben Evans and Lorena Martinez Mier (Europe Beyond Access)
Assistant to the research coordination: Larissa Juni Ferreira (Europe Beyond Access)
Graphic design: Lila Sylviti | sayiteasy.eu
Special thanks to the ELIA network, Acesso Cultura and the EBA’s editiorial committee.
Below is a link where you can access the full report but also the Executive Summary of the report in English. You can also read the English Easy-To-Read version and listen to the English Audio Version and Watch in International Sign Language. The Executive Summary is also available in different languages and accessible versions: Spanish (Written Spanish, Spanish Audio File, Spanish Easy-To-Read, Spanish Sign Language), German (German, German Audio File, German Easy-To-Read, German Sign Language), French (French, French Audio File, French Easy-To-Read, French Sign Language) and Portuguese (Portuguese, Portuguese Audio File).
Get the ‘Learning to Change’ reports below, or read the related Cultural Mobility Flows’ Report on the mobility of Disabled Artists.
