Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    CENTRO REGIONAL DE SEGURANCA SOCIAL
    LISBOA E VALE DE TEJO
    Centro de Reabilitaçao de Paralisia Cerebral C. Gulbenkian
Address
    Av. Raínha D. Amelia
    Lumiar 1600
    Lisboa
    PORTUGAL
    Telephone: +351 1 7575818
    Fax: +351 1 75899501
Key Person of the organisation
    Antonio Paulo Brito, Rosario Toscano

An organisation both of persons with disabilities and families which is mainly involved in rehabilitation, education/training, information/advice, assistance and research. Educational activities began more than 10 years ago and are addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities; they embrace the issues of independent living, coping better with disability and AT.

The educational activities carried out over the past 5 years can be classified as follows:

  • 5 non-residential training courses, addressed to a target of persons with disabilities, rehabilitation and educational professionals, and personal assistants;
  • 3 seminars, in the form of monographic seminars, addressed to a target of both users and professionals;
  • 4 information activities, covering almost all the options included except for mass media coverage, addressed to the widest possible target of potential users;
  • activities addressed to the individual, conducted on a permanent basis, in all the forms presented except for advocacy; these are addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities.

The role AT plays in all these activities ranges from relevant to important to very important, and many related areas are considered, especially household activities, employment, general accessibility issues, communication, mobility, reading/writing and learning.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS
Title of the initiative
Typology
Year
Duration

(in hrs.)
Number partic.
Target
Number teachers
Handynet - Ajudas Técnicas

(Handynet - Assistive Technology)

n/r train. c.
1992
35
25
persons dis., rehab. prof., educ. prof., soc. work.
10
Handynet - Ajudas Técnicas

(Handynet - Assistive Technology)

n/r train. c.
1995
30
24
persons dis., rehab. prof., educ. prof., soc. work.
3-4

Selection

Direct mailing was the sole channel used for spreading information about this course. Participants were chosen on the basis of their age (adults), their impairment (motor, auditory, visual), and professional experience. Teachers were selected from within the organisation itself, but also according to their level of expertise; no preference for teachers with disability was expressed.

Organisation

The course was held in different places chosen especially for the occasion, as well as on the organisation's premises, venue choice involved paying special attention to general comfort and overall accessibility. Personal assistance when needed was offered, as well as assistance with travel reservation and accommodation, and coffee-breaks. Co-ordination between teachers was ensured by preparatory meetings and the efforts of a co-ordinator; each teacher planned his/her lessons individually.

Implementation

The methods used to transmit contents were lectures, group discussions, role-playing and group work, with the aid of all possible technical equipment. The hands-on sessions were based on presentation and demonstration of products, but also on experimentation and use.

Learning by doing and interactivity are the key-words selected to describe the pedagogical approach. Information on participants was collected through a presentation form and then used to readjust contents and methods of the course; feedback came from collection of personal impressions, but also a final questionnaire. Finally, follow-up was carried out through direct contact.

Further remarks

In the future, the organisation intends to pursue the same methodology with the addition of some topical workshops. Improvement in the selection process will be made by conducting mailing via Internet.