Programs
in
Assistive Technology Education
for End-Users in Europe
A provider of health and/or social services which is engaged in activities of training/education, rehabilitation, information/advice, and public awareness raising. Educational activities (begun 5-10 years ago) also embrace the importance of training for independent living and coping better with disability, with AT playing a certain role; these activities are globally addressed to all possible targets (users and professionals).
The educational activities carried out over the past 5 years can be classified as follows:
In these initiatives, AT plays a relevant or very important role, while among the related areas considered most are: household activities, employment, health maintenance, self-care, communication, mobility and general accessibility issues. These vary according to the kind of activity considered.
This organisation has described two different series of seminars,
which are outlined in the table below, and then described in a
detailed presentation.
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| Reagir '97
(React '97) | series of seminars | persons with disab., fam., rehab. prof., social work., pers. ass. | ||||
| Prevention des chutes à domicile
(Prevention of falls at home) | series of seminars | elderly, rehab. prof., social work., pers. ass., admin. oFF |
Selection
This initiative was publicised through different media such as leaflets, posters, advertisements in category journals, other journals and other media. The most effective forms were the advertisements in other media and the leaflets, which were distributed to the organisation's address database and to other organisations in the field. The event was free of charge, so no selection was made, while teachers were chosen on the basis of their professional experience. No teachers with disabilities were employed.
Organisation
The initiative took place on the organisation's premises, in a space already fitted out with the necessary facilities, and particular attention was paid to comfort and overall accessibility; organisation included personal assistance when needed, assistance with travel reservation and accommodation of participants, and coffee and lunch breaks. No co-ordination between teachers was considered, since each teacher planned his/her lesson individually. Participants were charged only a token fee of FF 200.
Implementation
Contents were transmitted in the form of lectures using overhead projection, slides and video, while the hands-on sessions consisted of presentation and demonstration of products. This approach is also reflected in the choice of good presentation as the best key-word to describe the learning style adopted. No information on participants was collected and no feedback collected from them.
Selection
This initiative was publicised exclusively through leaflets sent out to the organisation's address database. The target group for this series of seminars was entirely comprised of elderly persons, but like many similar initiatives teachers were selected on the basis of their professional experience. No teachers with disabilities were employed.
Organisation
The initiative, which was free of charge, took place in a comfortable place found for the occasion, and the only extra activity organised for the participants were farewell sessions. Each teacher was requested to plan his/her own lesson individually, and no teacher co-ordination was envisaged.
Implementation
Contents were transmitted in the form of lectures, with the support of overhead projection and the addition of presentation and demonstration of products. Questioning was the sole key-word chosen to describe the learning style adopted. No information on participants or feedback was collected.