Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    ASSOCIAÇAO PORTUGUESA DE MIASTENIA GRAVIS
    E DOENÇAS NEUROMUSCOLARES
Address
    Hospital de Santa Maria
    Av. Prof. Egas Moniz
    1699 Lisboa
    PORTUGAL
    Telephone: +351 1 7976882
    Fax: +351 1 7976882
Key Person of the organisation
    Manuel de Athayde Cabeçadas

An organisation of persons with disabilities that operates in rehabilitation, information/advice, assistance, research and public awareness raising. Its educational activities are addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities and cover the issues of independent living and the role of AT.

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

  • 4 non-residential training courses, addressed exclusively to a target of medical doctors;
  • 30 information activities, comprising all the public activities represented (mass media coverage, periodicals, exhibitions) and addressed exclusively to a target of persons with disabilities;
  • activities addressed to the individual, in the form of advice, information services, advocacy and self-help; addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities.

AT plays a relevant role within the training courses, and mainly concerns the fields of household activities, health maintenance and employment.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS

No titles or details are available for the seminars and training courses. The following data describe a non-residential training course and another, unspecified activity addressed exclusively to persons with disabilities, where only one teacher was involved.

Selection

These initiatives were publicised by means of leaflets and all kinds of advertisements, but personal mailing proved the most effective. Leaflets were distributed to user organisations. The public was extremely wide, since no selection criteria were adopted, while the teacher was chosen by habit.

Organisation

Educational activities took place on the organisation's premises in a place specially set up for the occasion; comfort and overall accessibility were considered in venue choice. Personal assistance was given when needed.

Implementation

The activities were based on traditional lectures followed by group discussions, supported by overhead projection and slides, and accompanied by demonstration and presentation of products.

The pedagogical stress was put on good presentation.

No information on participants or feedback was collected.

Further remarks

Over time, the educational activities have been improved through better and more effective announcement of the initiatives. These activities will be repeated in the future and communication with users improved. At least four annual seminars will be held to inform users about current knowledge and opportunities at international level.