Programs in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe

Name of the organisation
    AELDREMOBILISERINGEN
Address
    Nyropsgade 26
    Postboks 1790
    1602 Kobenhavn V
    DENMARK
    Telephone: +45 33 972600
    Fax: ++45 33 972604
Key Person of the organisation
    Hugo Tietze, project leader

The organisation's name suggests the concept of mobilisation, which in this case means getting together and focusing on the elderly. This is a users' organisation (the elderly in a broad sense, not only old persons with disabilities) involved in a very wide range of activities: training/education, care, information/advice, pressure group activities and, public awareness. Educational activities (begun 5-10 years ago) also cover the issues of independent living and coping better with disability, and are addressed to the elderly, personal assistants and professionals.

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

  • 30-50 training courses, both in residential and non-residential form, addressed to the elderly, to rehabilitation professionals and social workers;
  • 10 seminars, in the form of monographic seminars and topical workshops, addressed to the same target;
  • 100 information activities, in all the proposed forms, addressed once again to the same target;
  • activities addressed to the individual, peer counselling, advice, information services, addressed exclusively to a target of elderly persons.

The role played by AT is described both as "relevant" and confined to "brief information". Self-care, legislation, general accessibility issues and mobility are the AT-related areas covered.

TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS

Details about the organisation's courses and seminars are listed in the table below, but only one general description has been filled in; it is reasonable to assume that these activities are similar from the organisation and implementation point of view.
Title of the initiative
Typology
Year
Duration

(in hrs.)
Number partic.
Target
Number teachers
Grundkursus for ældrerådsmedl.

(Basic course for members of the Municipal Councils for the Elderly)

res. train. course
1991-1997
48
15-25
elderly, technicians, other
4
Ældre hjælper ældre

(The elderly help the elderly)

res. and n/r train. c., top. work.
1996-1997
8-12
20-50
pers. with disab., elderly, soc. work.
4-6
Ældre og teknologi

(The elderly and technology)

other
1997
2-6
5-10
elderly, educ. prof., pers. ass., other
2-4
Kursus I,II for artivitetsmedarbejde

(Course I, II, III

Activity initiator workers)

res. train. course, top. work.
1995-1997
144
20-35
rehab. prof., soc. work., pers. ass., other
6
Demenskursus

(Dementia)

res. train. course, mon. sem.
1996-1998
48
25-35
rehab. prof.
4
Aktiv i den 3 Alder

(Being active in the third age)

res. train. course, top. work.
1997
24
200
elderly, soc. work., adm. oFF, other
8
Korselskoordinering/Handicapkurse

(Co-ordination of transport for the disabled and the elderly)

mon. sem.
1995-1997
10
10
pers. with disab., elderly, rehab. prof., adm. oFF, other
2
Hjemmeplejen

(Home care)

mon. sem.
1997
24
50
elderly
5
Dagcenter/Aktivitetscentre

(Day centres, activity centres)

res. train. course
1991-1997
24
25-100
pers. with disab., elderly, rehab. prof., pers. ass., other
4-6

Selection

The initiatives were widely publicised through leaflets, journals and other specialised journals. The leaflets were sent out to a wide public, represented by the organisation's address database, but also to users' and voluntary organisations, and other organisations in the field; they were also handed out at congresses and exhibitions. Participants were selected by age (only the elderly), but also according to professional experience and personal interests. Teachers were selected in-house according to their level of expertise, while no preference for teachers with disabilities was considered.

Organisation

The various initiatives were held in different places defined and located on each occasion, as well as on the organisation's premises; one special venue used for some of the events is the school for continuing education. In any case, environmental aspects such as comfort, overall accessibility, seating arrangements and the general service level were considered in venue choice. Coffee and lunch breaks were organised, as well as welcome and farewell sessions. Participants had to pay a fee ranging from DK 100 to 2.500 according to the initiative. Co-ordination was ensured both by a co-ordinator and preparatory meetings for the teachers (probably for different initiatives).

Implementation

Contents were mainly delivered via lectures and group discussions, but also through work groups, supported by the aid of overhead projection and handouts. Good presentation and discussion are the best key-words to describe the pedagogical approach chosen.

Participants filled in a presentation form and this information was then used to readjust the contents in line with the real target. Feedback is collected both through a final discussion and personal impressions, and also this information is used to reflect on the effectiveness of the educational activity.