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Exploring Inclusion/Independent Living through Play: Escape Room
Exploring Inclusion/Independent Living through Play: Escape Room
Teave
This activity invites young people and youth workers to explore the themes of institutionalisation, disability rights, and independent living through a symbolic and interactive experience.
Using the online escape room “Escape the Institution”, participants will engage with powerful personal and political narratives and uncover the barriers that people with disabilities face – as well as the solutions young people have co-created through this digital experience.
By completing this activity, you will:
- Deepen your understanding of institutionalisation and its impact on people with disabilities.
- Reflect on stereotypes, biases, and the barriers to inclusion that exist in society and youth work.
- Explore how digital tools can support youth engagement, education, and advocacy.
Get inspired
"Escape the Institution" is a youth-designed online escape room experience that challenges you to navigate the life of a fictional teenager named Eva. Hidden within the story and puzzles are real-life issues about exclusion, institutionalisation, and the fight for independent living. Created by young people with and without disabilities, the escape room uses symbolic storytelling and creative problem-solving to spark empathy, awareness, and dialogue.
This activity draws inspiration from the Independent Living philosophy and calls attention to the realities of (non-)deinstitutionalisation in Europe today. Despite progress on paper, many people with disabilities remain isolated in institutions – even when these are disguised as “community” services.
Take action: activities for different roles
Explore the escape room on your own, or bring it into your youth work practice. Here’s how:
- Young people can experience the room individually or in small groups, then reflect on what they learned using guided discussion prompts.
- Youth workers can use this as a tool to raise awareness, build empathy, and discuss human rights and inclusion in youth groups or workshops.
- Youth organisations can use this project as inspiration to co-create similar interactive tools that highlight social justice issues and promote digital creativity among young people.
Suggested follow-up activities include
- Group discussions on inclusion and de-institutionalisation.
- Sharing personal stories of exclusion and empowerment.
- Workshops on digital storytelling, game design, or accessibility in digital tools.
Claim open badge recognition
Participants can earn digital badges by completing and reflecting on the escape room experience, gaining recognition for competencies in:
- Using digital tools for human rights education and awareness.
- Understanding institutionalisation and the philosophy of independent living.
- Designing inclusive, youth-led digital experiences.
Who created this resource?
This activity was created by young people as part of the project Escape Room – Pobeg iz inštitucije, co-funded by the City of Ljubljana - Youth Department. The project was led by YHD Society for the Theory and Culture of Disability with two supporting partners: ODTIZ Institute and TiPovej! Institute. It was developed through workshops and creative processes inspired by the Independent Living movement and disability justice.
The room was designed by and for youth aged 14–29, with and without disabilities, exploring ways to challenge discrimination and claim visibility through play and digital innovation.
Next steps: Click the silver trophy in Eva’s room to begin your journey (+ open online translator, as challenges are written in Slovene language). Then reflect, discuss, and create your own digital adventures that inspire change.
Let this experience be the start of something bigger – for your group, your organisation, and your community.
Resources
Get activity badge
Inclusion Navigator: Escaping the Institution, Imagining Independence Get this badge
Awarded for participating in the Escape the Institution online activity and reflecting on institutionalisation, inclusion, and the philosophy of independent living. This badge recognises your ability to engage critically with systems of exclusion and imagine more inclusive futures.
By earning this badge, you show awareness of the challenges faced by disabled individuals and a commitment to breaking down stereotypes and advocating for choice, autonomy, and equity.
Skills and experiences gained
- Awareness of ableism and systemic exclusion
- Empathy and inclusive thinking
- Critical reflection on institutionalisation
- Understanding of the philosophy of independent living
- Creativity and problem-solving through interactive storytelling
This badge demonstrates your curiosity and capacity to learn through creative, youth-led digital experiences. It shows your engagement with real-life social justice topics in an accessible, meaningful way.
Märgi saamiseks tuleb lõpetada 2 ülesannet
Ülesanded
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: self-approved
Play the escape room “Escape the Institution” and experience the symbolic and emotional challenges represented in the story.
Task no.2
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Reflect on what you experienced, by responding to questions below:
- What moments in the game made you reflect the most?
- How did the escape room represent real barriers faced by disabled people?
- What does independent living mean to you after this experience?
Task no.3
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Share or Act on Your Learning. You can choose one of the following tasks:
- Write or create a visual/multimedia piece (e.g., poster, drawing, audio) expressing what inclusion or escape means to you.
- Identify one way you or your community could support more inclusive practices.
- Interview someone with lived experience or read/watch their stories, and summarise what you learned.
Organiseerijad
Digital Youth Work Resource Hub
Badgecraft käitab veebi taristut Õppimise linnade ja regioonide jaoks. Euroopa konsortsium arendab seda platvormi kaasrahastusega Euroopa Liidu programmist Erasmus+.
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