Disability Inclusion at Dutch Campuses: Responsibilities for Facility Management and Implications for Society

Background and Aim. Facility management (FM) is pivotal in creating spaces and services that foster equitable and cohesive societies. A role that becomes even more critical as one in four adults in the European Union is disabled, with 52% experiencing discrimination (Eurostat, 2025). Despite the EU’s 2007 ratification of the United Nations Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), local
initiatives have yielded disappointing results, causing the “medical model” for disability inclusion to prevail and the anticipated “social model” to await its turn. The aim of this paper is to identify how FM can drive a transformation from the medical to the social model, by applying a hospitality perspective.
Methods and Data. This paper integrates personal viewpoints with literature to identify key challenges. By taking the case of Higher Education (HE) on Dutch campuses as a reflection of a diverse society, the hitherto invisible impact of hospitality on inclusion becomes apparent.
Findings. The discussion on the role of FM within disability inclusion is progressing slowly, as research on the topic remains limited. This paper exemplifies the impact of FM and seeks to inspire FM-professionals to adopt hospitality-driven approaches towards disability inclusion.
Originality. Researching inclusion from a hospitality perspective offers a new perspective on inclusion and enriches FM, strengthening the importance of the field while actively contributing to positive societal change.
Practical Implications. This paper fosters awareness among future facility managers and designers to prioritise and embed inclusion into their practices, giving FM the opportunity to strengthen its field and positively impact society.