Awareness and Capacity building for ChangEs in policy SchemeS for disability towards incLusive societies-ACCESS4All Erasmus Project

Project Title

Awareness and Capacity building for ChangEs in policy SchemeS for disability towards incLusive societies-ACCESS4All

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Disabilities – special needs; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

The project ACCESS4All–Awareness and Capacity building for ChangEs in policy SchemeS for disability towards incLusive societies- includes 8 partners (FIRR, XENIOS POLIS, Tandem Plus, BildungsLAB, Center for Social Innovation, CulturePolis, SANSAT, FYG) from from 7 countries (Poland, Greece, France, Austria, Cyprus, Italy, Spain); its activities entail intellectual outputs (the Awareness and Capacity Building ACCESS4All Courses, the Assessment and Validation Tool for awareness and capacity, the Best Practices and Policy Book), national workshops and Final Conference and dissemination actions. The project addresses the ERASMUS 2020 frameworks for the priorities of a) the supply of high quality learning opportunities for adults, b) the innovative practices in a digital era c) the social inclusion.

In general, the ACCESS4All supports in a holistic and integrated approach the capacity building of key-factors/players concerning and dealing with disability in society. Statistical numbers reveal this project necessity. World Report on Disability (2019) issued by the World Health has estimated that more than 15% of the world population, are affected by some form of disability while at EU level, Eurostat reports that 37% of the EU-28 population aged 15 and over presents at least a form of disability, having (moderate or severe) physical or sensory limitations, experiencing personal and social barriers.

However, there is a lack of proper information and awareness raising in society and its reflection towards disability and the integration of these people through targeted actions and initiatives. Beyond the positive reflections and the ‘elimination’ of exclusive practices or discrimination these people face or experience, what is of high value for them is their access to the right of being equal members of the society and actively participate by having as much as possible employment opportunities or access to cultural & social life. Most of the times, these limitations are set by the limited knowledge of decision makers about how for example municipalities can act in order to create a disable-friendly and accessible urban environment.

For ACCESS4All, it is the community level and the policy makers contribution to an inclusive and reflective society at local/regional and national level, and as a follow up at EU level, constituting our target groups: as individuals, staff, or agents of policy making (individuals, groups of persons, institutions/ members of boards of local councils, administrative staff, public servants, NGOs representatives, and any other interested stakeholders need to be included for better results), policy makers are those who can act as a funnel and create relative policies serving the positive changes in the local/regional policy schemes regarding the accessibility of disabled citizens into education, training, daily life, health sector, cultural life, etc. Boosting the capacity building and awareness for them can in turn ‘create’ opportunities for the participation of disabled people in the social procedures and their actively exerting rights and roles in parallel with the accessibility standards that should be taken (at least) at the municipality level.

In this context, the main objectives of ACCESS4All are:
-To empower participants through capacity building and awareness actions on how to implement disability concern/focus policies in their area and facilitate the inclusion and quality of disabled members of community; accordingly, to provide them with skills and knowledge on campaigns/initiatives on positive, respectful and inclusive societies towards disabilities
-To establish a validation procedure of skills and knowledge for the individuals/trainees engaged in the ACCESS4All capacity building actions
-To raise awareness for people with disabilities and their needs and fundamental rights at local/regional level in order to practically enhance the life quality of our disabled co-citizens

SHORT TERM RESULTS:
-The participants-trainees will have gained the proper, necessary and update knowledge and skills on a variety of issues concerning disability and real inclusive contexts in regards with participation of disabled people in personal, labor, social life
-The trainees will have been provided with the proper tool for their skills and knowledge validation
-What is more, in regards with the wider audience, more and more people-local society members will be informed and be aware of the necessity for inclusive and non-discrimination practices with respect to the equal rights for all.

LONG TERM RESULTS:
-The people with disabilities will enjoy equal chances and the opportunities for quality participation in social, cultural, labor life
– The relevant policy makers/decision takers will have been further reinforced towards the exercising of disabled-friendly practices

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 222456 Eur

Project Coordinator

Xenios Polis. Culture, Science and Action & Country: EL

Project Partners

• Cooperativa Sociale San saturnino onlus
• BildungsLAB – Hands&Minds Learning Center
• RESEARCH AND EDUCATION OF SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION-RESET LTD
• TANDEM PLUS
• CULTUREPOLIS
• CSI CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION LTD
• Asociación Valencia Inno Hub