Academische Werkplaats Leven met een verstandelijke beperking

What Academische Werkplaats Leven met een verstandelijke beperking does

Academische Werkplaats Leven met een verstandelijke beperking (AWVB) is a Dutch academic workplace (academische werkplaats) founded in 2011 and hosted at Tranzo, Tilburg University, that develops and disseminates scientific knowledge to improve quality of life and care for people with intellectual disabilities. It operates as a structural collaboration among 17 Dutch care organizations (Amarant, Amerpoort, ASVZ, Cello, Dichterbij, Elver, Koraal, Lunet zorg, ORO, Prisma, SDW, Severinus, Sherpa, S&L, SWZ, Tragel and Zuidwester), the LFB national interest organization, and Tilburg University/Tranzo, under the leadership of Professor Petri Embregts. Its work is organized around five research themes (Eigen regie & ervaringsdeskundigheid, Familie, Kwaliteitszorg & vakmanschap, E-health, Complexe zorg) and is governed in partnership with an 8-member advisory council of experiential experts (people with intellectual disabilities) established in 2020.

AWVB's product portfolio consists of accessible web applications (Familie enzo for mapping family networks; Het Wegingskader Cliëntperspectief for assessing involuntary care), a 24-item self-report questionnaire (PBVB, commercially distributed via Hogrefe), a recognized intervention for people with mild intellectual disability and addiction ('Sterker dan de kick' / 'Beat the Kick', recognized by Erkenningscommissie Gehandicaptenzorg in 2015 and re-recognized by Vilans in 2020), a series of free mbo teaching modules (at least seven covering self-injurious behavior, self-determination, addiction, family networks, experience-oriented elderly care, sexual health, and collaborating with relatives), and practice products (Verjaardagskalender, Aangenaam kennis maken, Gids Verbindend werken, Een verdiend kopje thee). Its technology footprint emphasizes accessibility — WCAG-compliant website with ReadSpeaker text-to-speech on the makkelijk-lezen (easy-read) version — rather than advanced software systems.

AWVB is a non-profit research collaboration with no commercial revenue model in the conventional sense. It is funded primarily through Dutch public research grants (ZonMw, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport / VWS, DS Visscherfonds) and partner contributions. The vast majority of its knowledge products are distributed free of charge via awvb.nl to educators, care professionals, families and people with intellectual disabilities; selected items are orderable (trainers' manuals, printed calendars) or commercially licensed (PBVB via Hogrefe). It reaches audiences through its own website, LinkedIn, newsletters, themaochtenden and mini-symposia, podcasts (e.g., 'Puur met Petri'), vlogs, peer-reviewed publications, and partner channels (care organizations, LFB, mbo schools, MBO Raad), with international knowledge sharing at venues including the WAS congress (Antalya, Turkey), UGM (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) and IASSIDD (Chicago, 2024).

Name

Academische Werkplaats Leven met een verstandelijke beperking

Legal name

Academische Werkplaats Leven met een verstandelijke beperking

Website

https://awvb.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AWVB is a Tilburg-based Dutch academic workplace, founded in 2011, that co-creates and disseminates scientific knowledge to improve quality of life and care for people with intellectual disabilities, working with 17 care organizations, LFB, and Tilburg University under Prof. Petri Embregts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services for Disability Care

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Management Consulting Services (54161), All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54199)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance, Risk & Audit Support Services (EHS, Title IX/Clery Support, Policy Admin) (EDAEALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) & Regulatory Reference (OSHA, EPA, Risk) (EDAGAGAJ), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

Keywords

• Academic workplace disability care
• Disability care research
• Intellectual disability knowledge
• Care practice products
• Vocational care education

Headquarters

HQ city

Tilburg

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public subsidies for research: AWVB receives research subsidies from external funders such as ZonMw (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to support research projects (e.g., Sterker dan de kick development, experiential expertise research).
2. Free knowledge products and educational materials: Most knowledge and educational products (webapps like Familie enzo, factsheets, infographics, educational modules for mbo) are provided free of charge. Webapps are publicly available free of cost; teaching modules are free for educators at care organization academies and mbo healthcare programs.
3. Orderable trainers' manuals and physical products: Some products such as the trainers' manual for 'Sterker dan de kick' (password-protected workbook content), the verjaardagskalender (birthday calendar on belevingsgerichte zorg), and the 'Verbindend werken' guide are orderable, including free physical items available via email request.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AWVB is an academic workplace that develops and shares scientific knowledge about living with an intellectual disability. It translates research into accessible practice products (webapps, training programmes, questionnaires, factsheets, infographics, teaching modules, videos and podcasts) used by care professionals, people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and vocational education. The organization works as a structural collaboration between Tilburg University/Tranzo, 17 care organizations, and the LFB interest group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Familie enzo: Web application that helps people with a mild intellectual disability map their family network and have conversations about it (familieenzo.nl).
• Het Wegingskader Cliëntperspectief
• Psychologische Basisbehoeftenlijst – Verstandelijke Beperking (PBVB)
• Sterker dan de kick
• Beat the Kick
• Gids Verbindend werken

Products and services

• Familie enzo A free webapp (familieenzo.nl) that enables people with mild intellectual disabilities to map out their family network themselves by creating avatars, answering questions, and producing a visual network overview with a family portrait that can be printed or downloaded as PDF. Includes a professional guide for support staff. Data is retained for 2 years after last use.
• Het Wegingskader Cliëntperspectief An online tool (hetwegingskader.nl) with a method, short films, and examples to help care professionals determine whether care in a given situation is involuntary and to incorporate the client's perspective, with accessible explanation of different forms of involuntary care. Supports shared decision-making with clients and relatives.
• Sterker dan de kick / Beat the Kick A 10-session structured training programme for people with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning and addiction problems, designed to motivate behavioural change. Recognized by the Erkenningscommissie Gehandicaptenzorg (2015) and re-recognized by Vilans (2020). Delivered with an orderable trainers' manual and password-protected workbook; train-the-trainer sessions available via RINO Zuid. Translated into English as 'Beat the Kick' and used internationally.
• Psychologische Basisbehoeftenlijst Verstandelijke Beperking (PBVB) A 24-item self-report questionnaire that scores the extent to which psychological basic needs (autonomy, relatedness, competence) are fulfilled or frustrated in adults (18+) with mild intellectual disabilities. Suitable for repeated administration to track treatment effectiveness. Commercially sold via Hogrefe publisher.
• Verjaardagskalender over belevingsgerichte zorg voor ouderen met een verstandelijke beperking A free physical birthday calendar with practical tips for support workers on experience-oriented care for older people with intellectual disabilities. Based on Marloes Thalen's PhD research and presented to Han van Esch (former board member Philadelphia).
• Aangenaam kennis maken A pass-along booklet ('doorgeefboekje') that makes care professionals (support workers, behavioural specialists, team leaders, knowledge managers, directors) aware of their own experiential knowledge and inspires them to share knowledge. Includes recommendations for knowledge management. Based on Marion Kersten's PhD research; handed to Theo van Uum (directeur VGN).
• Een verdiend kopje thee! Denk met ons mee A free tea box containing 14 tea bags, each tagged with a statement about autonomy, relatedness or competence, co-developed with support staff and people with intellectual disabilities to spark conversation about basic psychological needs.
• AWVB Lesmodules (teaching modules) A series of free downloadable teaching modules for Dutch mbo healthcare programmes and internal academies of care organizations. Topics include self-injurious behaviour, self-determination, addiction, family networks, experience-oriented care for older people, sexual health, and collaboration with relatives. Modules require name/email registration and align with the current mbo qualification dossier.

Quantifiable outcome

• 'Sterker dan de kick' recognized by Erkenningscommissie Gehandicaptenzorg in 2015; re-recognized by erkenningscommissie Langdurige zorg van Vilans in 2020 as 'theoretisch goed onderbouwd'; translated to English as 'Beat the Kick' and given in various countries.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, minor, flagship and moderate.

• Stichting OROmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Stichting ORO, a care organization for people with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays, became a partner of AWVB on 1 July 2023. ORO's care area is in Zuidoost-Brabant (De Peelregio). The partnership brought AWVB's network to 17 care organizations, the LFB interest group, and Tranzo/Tilburg University.
• AmarantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmarant is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research. Multiple AWVB advisory council members (Malu Bekers, Pascalle van de Zilver) are from Amarant.
• AmerpoortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerpoort is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development and sharing.
• ASVZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASVZ is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration. AWVB advisory council member Jeroen Konings is from ASVZ.
• CellocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCello is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration. AWVB advisory council member Nick van Keulen is from Cello.
• DichterbijcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDichterbij is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration. AWVB stuurgroep (steering committee) includes Cecile Stallenberg (bestuurder Stichting Dichterbij).
• ElvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElver is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• GorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB advisory council member Erika Corstanje is from Gors.
• KoraalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKoraal is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• Lunet zorgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLunet zorg is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• PrismacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrisma is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• SDWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDW is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• SeverinuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeverinus is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• SherpacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSherpa is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• S&L (slzorg.nl)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerS&L is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• SWZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWZ is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• TragelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTragel is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration for knowledge development through scientific research.
• ZuidwestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZuidwester is one of 17 partner care organizations in AWVB's structural and durable collaboration. AWVB research on sexual health (PhD by Wouter de Wit) is conducted in partnership with Zuidwester.
• LFBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLFB is the national interest organization for and by people with mild intellectual disabilities. LFB is a partner of AWVB and developed the 'Naar de Top!' training program on personal growth and talent development that AWVB evaluated.
• Tranzo / Tilburg UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB is housed at Tranzo, Tilburg University (Professor Cobbenhagenlaan 125, Tilburg). Tranzo is the academic center for care and well-being research at Tilburg University. AWVB's leadership is provided by Professor Petri Embregts.
• PhiladelphiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhiladelphia is the partner organization for the PhD research project on belevingsgerichte zorg (experience-oriented care) for older people with intellectual disabilities, conducted by science practitioner Marloes Thalen (AWVB/Philadelphia) under supervision of Prof. dr. Petri Embregts and Dr. Karin Volkers. Han van Esch is former board member of Philadelphia.
• OPSY (centrum voor orthopedagogiek en psychiatrie, onderdeel van GGzE)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with AWVB on self-direction of clients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and psychiatric issues in ambulatory treatment, resulting in a joint factsheet (AWV168-Factsheet-OPSY).
• Kempenhaeghe (Epilepsiecentrum)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with AWVB on self-direction of people with mild intellectual disability and epilepsy, resulting in a joint factsheet on Epilepsie en zelfbepaling.
• RINO ZuidmoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRINO Zuid provides the train-de-trainer (train-the-trainer) sessions for the 'Sterker dan de kick' training, enabling professionals to deliver the intervention.
• MBO RaadflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with MBO Raad on the unique and structural development of teaching modules for vocational education (mbo). Frank Bluiminck (directeur MBO Raad) received the fifth AWVB teaching module 'Belevingsgerichte zorg voor ouderen' at the mini-symposium on 7 November 2023 and co-authored the publication 'Van onderzoek naar beroepsonderwijs'.
• Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, IndonesiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB professors Petri Embregts and Noud Frielink delivered an online guest lecture at UGM's Faculty of Psychology on 'Psychology of Disaster and Crisis' (17 November 2023), sharing research on experiences of people with intellectual disabilities during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Nederlandse Rett Syndroom Vereniging (NRSV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB researcher Pála Kúld presented at an NRSV symposium (3 November 2023) on how care professionals and relatives can support self-determination of people with very or profound multiple disabilities.
• Fontys Centre of Expertise HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB researcher Sanne Giesbers, experiential expert Kim Beenhakker, and knowledge manager Luciënne Heerkens gave a workshop on 7 November at the Inclusief Onderzoek symposium at Fontys Centre of Expertise Health in Eindhoven.
• Erasmus MCmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Dederieke Maes-Festen (Erasmus MC) gave a lecture at the AWVB themaochtend (2 February 2024) on a broader perspective on healthcare for older people with intellectual disabilities, marking the start of AWVB's 12.5-year jubilee year.
• VGN (Vereniging Gehandicaptenzorg Nederland)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGN is the Dutch association for disability care. Science practitioner Marion Kersten (AWVB/VGN) conducted PhD research on improving knowledge management in care organizations. Prof. dr. Wilma van der Scheer spoke at the themaochtend (23 February 2024). Theo van Uum (directeur VGN) received the practical product 'Aangenaam kennis maken'.
• Hogrefe uitgeverijmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHogrefe publisher is the commercial sales channel for the PBVB (Psychologische Basisbehoeftenlijst – Verstandelijke Beperking) questionnaire developed by AWVB.
• Avans HogeschoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB works with Avans Hogeschool on connecting research and vocational education.
• Associatie van Academische Werkplaatsen Verstandelijke BeperkingenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB is part of the Association of Academic Workplaces Intellectual Disabilities (Associatie van Academische Werkplaatsen Verstandelijke Beperkingen), comprising eight collaborating academic workplaces. The 5th Research Day of the Association took place on 4 June 2026 at Goffertstadion with around 70 experiential experts and coaches.
• Universitair Netwerk OuderenzorgmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWVB jointly developed the Wegingskader Cliëntperspectief (practical tool) with the Universitair Netwerk Ouderenzorg.
• NVO (Nederlandse Vereniging van Pedagogen en Onderwijskundigen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVO co-developed an infographic on 'Werken met talent' (working with talent) with AWVB on people with intellectual disabilities contributing in care work.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• Movisie: Movisie is a Dutch knowledge center for the social domain, producing practical products, factsheets, and training for professionals working with vulnerable groups including people with intellectual disabilities. It is comparable to AWVB as a publicly funded knowledge-translation organization targeting care professionals and educators.
• Vilans: Vilans is the Dutch national knowledge center for long-term care, including disability care. It runs the erkenningscommissie Langdurige zorg that re-recognized 'Sterker dan de kick' and curates the Databank erkende interventies; it operates in the same intellectual-disability knowledge ecosystem as AWVB but at national scale rather than at the level of a single academic workplace.
• Nivel (Netherlands institute for health services research): Nivel is a Dutch applied health-services research institute producing evidence and tools for care professionals, with research that intersects intellectual-disability care. Comparable to AWVB as a Dutch applied-research institute funded by grants that translates science into practice products.
• VGN (Vereniging Gehandicaptenzorg Nederland): VGN is the Dutch trade association for disability-care providers, of which all 17 AWVB partner care organizations are members. AWVB science practitioner Marion Kersten is jointly affiliated with AWVB/VGN, and VGN's director received the AWVB practice product 'Aangenaam kennis maken', making VGN a direct institutional peer and channel partner.

Emerging players

• LFB (Licht Verstandelijke Beperking): LFB is the Dutch national interest organization for and by people with mild intellectual disabilities and a core AWVB partner; it developed the 'Naar de Top!' personal-growth training that AWVB evaluated. Comparable as an advocacy-and-knowledge organization with lived-expertise leadership serving the same primary population.
• Trimbos-instituut: The Trimbos Institute is the Dutch national knowledge center for mental health and addiction, with overlapping expertise on addiction in people with intellectual disabilities (the topic of AWVB's 'Sterker dan de kick' training). Comparable as a publicly funded research-to-practice translation body that produces interventions, factsheets, and training materials.

Others

• ZonMw: ZonMw is the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development and a primary funder of AWVB's research (including the Sterker dan de kick RCT and experiential-expertise grants). Comparable as the main grant-making counterpart in Dutch applied health-research funding, and therefore a critical stakeholder rather than a competitor.
• RINO Zuid: RINO Zuid provides the train-the-trainer sessions for AWVB's 'Sterker dan de kick' intervention, acting as the implementation partner for AWVB's professional training. Comparable as an adjacent Dutch training provider in mental-health and disability care that extends AWVB's interventions to working professionals.
• Hogrefe Uitgeverij: Hogrefe is the commercial publisher through which AWVB distributes the PBVB questionnaire (Psychologische Basisbehoeftenlijst – Verstandelijke Beperking). Comparable as a publishing/distribution partner in psychological assessment that monetizes AWVB's IP in the test-publisher market.

Regional players

• Philadelphia Zorg: Philadelphia is one of AWVB's flagship partner care organizations and a major Dutch disability-care provider, hosting the PhD research on belevingsgerichte zorg. Comparable to AWVB in mission (improving quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities), but Philadelphia is a care-delivery provider rather than a research workplace.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/awvb-tranzo-tiu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Academische Werkplaats Leven met een verstandelijke beperking