Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    ELO SOCIAL
Address
    Av. Dr. Alfredo Bensaúde
    Lisboa
    PORTUGAL
    Telephone: +351 1 8540360
    Fax: +351 1 8540361
Key Person of the organisation
    Antonio Martins

An organisation of persons with disabilities whose main activities are training/education, rehabilitation, and production/sale of products. Educational activities began 5-10 years ago and recognise the importance of training for independent living and coping better with disability, while AT also plays a certain role; these activities are addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities and professionals.

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

  • 3 residential training courses, addressed to a target of persons with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals;
  • 3 monographic seminars, addressed exclusively to a target of rehabilitation professionals;
  • 8 information activities, represented by conferences, round tables, and exchange of experiences; addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities;
  • activities addressed to the individual (extremely numerous) represented by advice and self-help, addressed exclusively to adult persons with disabilities.

AT always plays an important role in these initiatives, and the main AT- related areas are: household activities, employment, self-care, communication, mobility and general accessibility issues.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS

While various activities were listed in the table below, only one comprehensive description was given, probably reflecting general similarity in organisation and implementation.
Title of the initiative
Typology
Year
Duration

(in hrs.)
Number partic.
Target
Number teachers
ELO Social - Uma via na integração

(ELO SOCIAL A route towards integration)

series of seminars
1994
16
400
 rehab. prof.
24
Curso de formação agents de reabilit.

("Rehabilitation agent" training course)

n/r train. c.
1992
400
12
rehab. prof.
8
Curso de formação de tecnicos de apoio social (Training course for social support technicians) n/r train. c.
1995
600
15
rehab. prof.
12
Novas Rotas

(New ways)

n/r train. c.
1996 1997
800
15
persons with disab.
6

Selection

This organisation's initiatives were mainly publicised through leaflets and posters sent out chiefly to user organisations, and both means proved to be effective. Participants were selected on the basis of the type of impairment (cognitive) and disability, as well as territoriality, personal interests and knowledge level, while teachers were selected according to their professional experience and personal interest. No teachers with disabilities were employed.

Organisation

The initiative took place either on the organisation's premises, in a space set up especially for the purpose, or elsewhere, in a place chosen for the occasion paying particular attention to comfort and overall accessibility. Personal assistance was offered when needed, and the event included coffee and lunch breaks, together with welcome and farewell sessions. Teacher co-ordination was ensured by the efforts of a co-ordinator and through preparatory meetings.

Implementation

Contents were transmitted using various methodologies, from lectures to discussions but also including simulation and group work; practical training at the workplace was sometimes organised. Lessons were also supported by educational aids such as overhead projection, slides, video and handouts, while hands-on sessions were based on experimentation of products. In any case, the pedagogical accent is on learning by doing and discussion. A presentation form and self-presentation on the opening day were the methods used to collect information about the participants, and this was used to readjust course contents and methods but also the organisation's educational activity as a whole. Feedback was collected in the form of guided and open final discussions, together with a final questionnaire; in addition, the organisation evaluates its educational activities on a continuous basis. Follow-up was carried out by direct contact.