Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    TIPPERARY CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
    Independent Living
Address
    Cabra Road
    Thurles, Co-Tipperary
    IRELAND
    Telephone: +353 404 24236
    Fax: +353 404 24236
Key Person of the organisation
    Jim Casey, programme manager

An organisation of people with disabilities that carries out training/education activities addressed to persons with disabilities and personal assistants. These activities also consider the importance of training to independent living and coping better with disability, as well as the role of AT.

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

  • 36 non-residential training courses, addressed to a target of persons with disabilities and personal assistants;
  • 10 seminars, (no further description given) addressed to target of persons with disabilities and personal assistants;
  • 40 information activities, represented by conferences and mass media coverage, addressed to the above-mentioned target;
  • 150 activities addressed to the individual, represented by advice, peer counselling, information services and self-help; plus an activity defined as independent living.

AT plays in these initiatives a relevant or important role, while the mostly considered areas related are: health maintenance, employment, communication.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS

Although the compiler has listed some non-residential training courses, the detailed part has been described only once, probably because the different initiatives differ little in terms of organisation and implementation.
Title of the initiative
Typology
Year
Duration

(in hrs.)
Number partic.
Target
Number teachers
Independent Living n/r train. c.
1996
12
20
persons with disab.
3
Lifting and Handling n/r train. c.
1996
30
25
persons with disab.
4
Personal caren/r train. c.
1996
30
25
persons with disab.
4
Peer counsellingn/r train. c.
1996
20
20
persons with disab.
4
Communicationn/r train. c.
1996
20
45
pers.w/disab., p.assistants
4
First Aidn/r train. c.
1996
20
30
pers.w/disab., p.assistants
5
Disability Equality n/r train. c.
1996
30
10
pers. with disab.
1
Leader Trainingn/r train. c.
1996
30
10
pers. with disab.
2
Personal Assistants n/r train. c.
1996
30
20
pers. with disab.
2

Selection

The initiatives were publicised both through leaflets and local newspapers; information was spread to user organisations, voluntary services and to the National Rehabilitation Board. Teenagers and adults located in a precise geographical area were selected for the courses. Teachers with disabilities were preferred, and chosen on the basis of their level of expertise and involvement in the disability movement.

Organisation

The initiatives not only took place on the organisation's premises, in a space set up especially for that purpose, but also outside in a place found for the occasion; overall accessibility, accessibility of bathrooms and territoriality were considered as important environmental factors. Personal assistance, assistance with travel reservation, coffee and lunch breaks were included in the organisation. No co-ordination between teachers was considered, since each teacher planned his/her lesson individually. Only a token enrolment fee was charged.

Implementation

Contents were transmitted in a variety of methods, embracing all the options listed in the questionnaire. The pedagogical preferences are for good presentation together with discussion and interactivity, which suggests a traditional lesson followed by more interactive moments with the public. Overhead projection, slides video and handouts are the educational aids used, and the hands-on sessions consisted of presentation and demonstration of products. Information on participants was collected through a questionnaire and used to readjust the course contents and methods; a program manager was appointed to ensure co-ordination between the teachers. Feedback was done through a final questionnaire and gathering of personal impressions.

Further remarks

Improving delivery is the main goal for the future.