Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    INFORMA HANDICAP
Address
    Viale Ghirotti, 286
    Cesena
    ITALY
    Telephone: +39 547 352789
    Fax: +39 547 352789
Key Person of the organisation
    Alessandro Capasso

This is a users' organisation made up of persons with disabilities and families which is involved in information/advice activities and public awareness raising. They also develop training activities where independent living and the role of AT are covered.

Educational activities began less than 5 years ago and those carried out thus far can be classified as follows:

  • 2 monographic seminars, addressed to persons with disabilities, rehabilitation professionals and personal assistants;
  • activities addressed to the individual, in the form of advice, peer counselling, information services, addressed to the above-mentioned target.

The role played by AT within these activities is very important, while the areas considered are: recreational activities, employment, self-care, legislation, general accessibility issues and mobility.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS
Title of the initiative
Typology
Year
Duration

(in hrs.)
Number partic.
Target
Number teachers
Ausili per la prevenzione e cura dei decubiti (Aids for prevention and treatment of bedsores) mon. sem.
1996
4
30
rehab. prof., soc. work., pers. assist.
4
Prego si accomodi…

(Please come in…)

mon. sem.
1997
5
100
pers. with disab., rehab. prof., soc. work.
4

Selection

The initiatives were mainly publicised by means of leaflets, posters and advertisements in journals, but the leaflets proved to be the most effective. These were distributed to rehabilitation centres, voluntary services, and by word of mouth. The public was the extremely wide , since no selection criteria were adopted, while teachers and tutors were chosen on the basis of their expertise in the field. No special preference was expressed for teachers and tutors with disabilities.

Organisation

Educational activities were free of charge and took place at different venues that were selected paying special attention to overall accessibility. Coffee-breaks were offered. Teachers planned their own lessons individually, so no co-ordination was envisaged.

Implementation

From a methodological point of view, the activities were based on lectures and group discussions, with the aid of educational tools such as overhead projection, slides and video. Products were presented and demonstrated during hands-on sessions. Interactivity and discussion are the key-words used to define the preferred learning style. An introductory questionnaire was distributed to collect information on the participants, and the data was used to readjust the contents and methods of the organisation's educational activity; a final questionnaire accompanied the last phase of the initiative, and this was used for further reflection. No follow-up was done.