Inclusie Forum – An accessible platform for connection and collaboration
Customer stories | Coalition for Inclusion
The Inclusie Forum is the go-to digital hub in the Netherlands for anyone working toward a more inclusive society. From grassroots accessibility initiatives to national policy changes, this is where UN Disability Rights Ambassadors, people with lived experience, municipalities, organizations, and professionals come together to share knowledge, experiences, and practical solutions. What sets the platform apart is its complete accessibility and its design that fosters genuine collaboration and connection—because inclusion means no one is left out, not even online.
About the Coalition for Inclusion
The Coalitie voor Inclusie, facilitated by Stichting Inclusie Nederland, brings together a network of UN Ambassadors, professionals, and organizations to advance inclusive policies and practices. Their shared mission: to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and prevent exclusion. The Inclusie Forum is where they meet, share expertise, and drive systemic improvements together.
Fact sheet:
Sector: Nonprofit / Civil Society
Launch: June 2024
Users: 721 (June 2025)
Website: Inclusieforum
The challenge
There wasn’t a single online space where people with and without disabilities could collaborate on equal footing—whether practically or at a policy level. The need was clear: a low-barrier, fully accessible platform where:
Knowledge could be shared about inclusion, legislation, best practices, and accessibility;
People working on inclusion could find and connect with each other;
Users could learn from one another and spark new initiatives;
People with lived experience, government bodies, and businesses could co-create better policies and measures.
What does accessibility mean? Accessibility means that everyone—regardless of ability or background—can access information, services, and environments. Digital accessibility goes beyond technical standards; it’s also about usability, clarity, and a careful use of language, color scheme, layout and structure. For the Inclusie Forum, this means the platform works seamlessly with screen readers, offers intuitive navigation, and caters to diverse user needs. Real accessibility ensures no one is excluded—and it builds a society where everyone can participate fully.
Social media lacked the structure, and traditional websites were too static. That’s why the Coalitie voor Inclusie, together with Fellow Digitals, developed the Inclusie Forum: a digital community platform that meets the highest WCAG standards and actively promotes knowledge sharing. In this video, UN Ambassador Peter Eggen shares why the platform is so meaningful.
The solution
Fellow Digitals delivered a user-friendly platform ideal for building an engaged online community, with features such as:
Rich user profiles that help members connect based on expertise or location—easily editable and accessible;
Highlighted news stories about local and national developments in inclusion and the UN Convention;
Shareable content like flyers, brochures, and web pages;
Thematic groups for discussion, knowledge exchange, and collaboration;
A powerful, intuitive search function for finding both users and relevant content;
An events calendar with simple sign-up functionality.
The result
The Inclusie Forum is built to the highest accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2) and is designed for easy use by everyone. Fellow Digitals guided the platform’s implementation and content structure, resulting in a highly usable space where all users can participate with confidence.
Today, over 700 people are using the platform. About 40% are actively contributing—sharing events, collaborating on themes, and exchanging experiences. Users easily sign up, post their own content, and find recognition and inspiration in stories from across the country. Since its launch in June 2024, over 150 discussions have kicked off on topics like housing, employment, transport, and accessibility.
Achieving more together
The Coalitie voor Inclusie is a grassroots movement. The community itself shapes the platform’s content, keeps the momentum going, and brings visibility to progress. Technology plays a crucial role here. Fellow Digitals was chosen not only for their WCAG-certified, user-friendly platform but also for their willingness to co-create with people with lived experience and take inclusion seriously.
"There’s no such thing as ‘a little accessible’. We have to take this seriously and go all in."
The rollout began with careful content mapping: ensuring every piece of information was placed where it could be easily found—even by users relying on screen readers. Platform features were tailored to community needs, such as finding members by expertise or region. An accessible mode was also developed to avoid visual barriers like low contrast or flickering elements—without compromising the user experience.
"Designing for accessibility creates value for everyone."
Community members, including people with various disabilities, rigorously tested the platform during implementation. Their feedback improved not just the Inclusie Forum but also Fellow Digitals’ entire intranet product—benefiting many other organizations as well. Accessibility turned out to be an advantage for all users: it made navigation easier, the experience more pleasant, and the platform more future-proof.
"Fellow Digitals gave us not just a powerful platform for networking and knowledge sharing—they’re actively working with us to make sure everyone can take part. It’s a shared ambition now—and that gives us confidence and momentum."
Looking ahead
With 10 to 15 new members joining each month, the platform is growing steadily. New users arrive organically—often inspired by others’ positive experiences. While not everyone is active right away, the technical ability to participate is always there. And building an inclusive society? That’s done one step at a time.
"We’re achieving goals we once thought were out of reach. This is so much more than an intranet. It’s a place that brings together all kinds of people working on inclusion—regardless of their background."
Final note: Nominated for a Dutch Interactive Award
The Inclusie Forum is proud to be nominated for a Dutch Interactive Award in the ‘Communities’ category. Out of 160 entries, it made the top three. The jury praised the platform for its impact, accessibility, and ability to bring people together. A nomination that highlights the true value of digital inclusion.
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