Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    REGIÃO AUTONOMA DA MADEIRA
    DIRECÇÃO REGIONAL DA EDUCAÇÃO ESPECIAL E REABILITAÇÃO
    Centro de Informação e Aconselhamento HANDYNET
Address
    Caminho de St. Antonio, Funchal
    PORTUGAL
    Telephone: +351 91 742128
    Fax: +351 91 742364
Key Person of the organisation
    Zélia Melo e Sousa

This is an AT information centre for persons with disabilities that is devoted entirely to information/advice activities. No detailed data are available about the organisation's training activities, but the compiler did fill in the third section of the questionnaire, apparently referring to training courses addressed to educational and rehabilitation professionals in which AT plays an important role. Other activities are described as follows:

  • information activities, mainly round tables and contact with periodicals and journals, addressed to a wide public;
  • activities addressed to the individual, in the form of advice, information services, advocacy and self-help, mainly addressed to end-users.

The role played by AT in these last initiatives ranges from important to very important and almost all the related areas are covered.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS

As stated above, no details are available about the organisation's educational activities. However, the information given does attest to the fact that some such activities have been carried out.

Selection

The activity was publicised by means of leaflets and other communication channels, and the information was spread to user organisations, other organisations in the field, other AT information centres, and rehabilitation centres, as well as being handed out at congresses and exhibitions. No special criteria were adopted for participant selection, while teachers were chosen on the basis of membership of the organisation itself and their professional experience.

Organisation

The initiative took place in different places chosen for their general characteristics of comfort, overall accessibility, aesthetics and seating arrangements.

Implementation

Classical lectures followed by group discussions were held, with the support of traditional educational aids, and with the addition of substantial hands-on sessions, comprising demonstration, presentation, experimentation and individual use of products. The most suitable key-words for describing the pedagogical approach are learning by doing and questioning. Personal information on the participants was collected through a presentation form and used to readjust the initiative contents and methods on the basis of the real target, but also to readjust the organisation's methodology on an educational level. Feedback was collected through a final questionnaire and a final group discussion, and the results were used to generally re-think the organisation's educational activity. Personal contacts will be made to involve other professionals, such as engineers, architects, etc.