At IT Link, accessibility is at stake as much on the web as on the tatami

At IT Link, we work on digital accessibility topics, but inclusion doesn't stop at screens. It can also be experienced in the field. It is in this spirit that we supported a weekend of introduction to handi-judo, an initiative led by one of our collaborators, Jean-Baptiste Ferlet and his club, Kawatokan.

On a daily basis, Jean-Baptiste contributes to making digital tools accessible to as many people as possible. At the same time, he practices judo with passion. Quite naturally, he wanted to make the link between these two commitments: the same objective but another framework to allow everyone to find their place, remove the obstacles and encourage sharing.

A weekend to change your perspective

This weekend was born from a simple desire: to introduce handi-judo. Through its values of mutual aid and adaptation, judo is a particularly favourable field for inclusion.

For the occasion, various profiles were brought together: sighted and blind judokas, people in discovery, practitioners with mental disabilities. The objective was not only to learn, but also to meet and deconstruct certain preconceived ideas.

“It was important to us to break the representations that we can have about adapted sport. This event was an opportunity to show concretely that judo is deeply inclusive in terms of its values and that it allows all profiles to meet.” — Jean-Baptiste Ferlet

On the program: awareness, shared practice and discovery of the sensations of tatami, in an accessible and caring environment.

A different sensory experience

To put all participants on an equal footing, a large part of the exercises took place blindly. A concrete way to change our bearings and to better understand the realities of each person.

The warm-up took place without sight, by mobilizing balance and listening. The tracking exercises made it possible to learn to orient oneself differently, thanks to sounds and contact. As for the fight, it started directly in the grip, with constant contact, requiring everyone to rely on their sensations and to anticipate the movements of their partner.

An approach that requires adaptation... and trust.

Support initiatives that move the boundaries

Supporting this project is part of a simple desire for IT Link: to support the initiatives of our Linkers and to give life, in concrete terms, to commitments that go beyond the professional framework.

“The financial support from IT Link was decisive in covering organizational and logistical costs. Without this sponsorship, an event of this magnitude, free and open to all, simply would not have been able to take place under the same conditions. We are grateful that IT Link has chosen to join it.” — Jean-Baptiste Ferlet

This weekend is a reminder of one essential thing: whether in the digital world or on a tatami, accessibility is based above all on the attention paid to others, the ability to adapt... and the desire to move forward together.

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