Let’s study! – development of training module about disability for VET and HE Erasmus Project

Project Title

Let’s study! – development of training module about disability for VET and HE

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) requires to enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational and continuing training.
Vocational education is the most common choice for people with disabilities (especially, the ones with intellectual disability) after school, because only a few have the possibilities to reach for higher education.

Unfortunately, in most of the countries vocational training system for students with disabilities suggests possibility to gain profession only in special classes; learners who prefer inclusive training report to lack supportive services.

The context minded while designing as well as implementing the Project meets the modern approach of inclusive education and vocational training, stating that every student is able to study with the timely provided adequate support. Attitude of inclusion is in line with the provisions of UNCRPD and it says that the educational environments should be flexible and transformative and adjust to the individual needs of a person, not contrariwise.

The objective of the Project was to increase accessibility to Vocational training and Higher education for persons with special (individual) needs and/or intellectual disability via (1) developing of applicable training module meeting the special needs of all students, (2) support means and information provision to the pedagogues dealing with persons with special (individual) educational needs.

The core principle of the methodology of carrying out the project was clear management and division of responsibilities amongst partners.
The following activities were performed: (1) Setting the outline of the training modules taking into consideration expectation of both pedagogues and trainees’ communities’ expectations, cultural and socio-economic factors of each of participating countries was led by Lithuanian partner; (2) preparation of draft training modules, setting its structure and content was led by two UK partners; (3) description of the training modules including good practice examples was led by Estonian partner; (4) preparation of the material for trainers/pedagogues – disability etiquette – material including ethical dealing with persons with different kinds of disabilities was distributed according to the specialisation of partners (kind of disability partner mostly deals with); one additional topic, not envisaged initially (on Autism Spectrum Disorders) was included; (5) Evaluation (practical probation) of prepared training modules was performed in two stages: 5.1. round table discussion to get the feedback of professionals as well as trainees were led and summarized by Italian partner; 5.2. practical probation of prepared training modules applying it at the vocational training institutions was led and summarized by Latvian partner; (6) elaboration of final versions of the training modules according to the findings of probation was led by Greek partner; (7) conclusions and recommendations for vocational training specialists and practitioners were prepared jointly by the partners under coordination of leading partner.

Seeking to pay attention to the problematics in the field of vocational training of persons with disabilities, dissemination and publicity activities were organized or Project presentations were included into other events and activities of Partners’ organizations.

Due to the abovementioned activities the following results and impact was attained: (1) the needs of learners with disabilities as well as of educators to reach the inclusive training were defined; (2) the necessary knowledge provided to the educators; (3) strengthened national cooperation between sectors as well as transnational cooperation and best practice transfer amongst European countries; (4) based on the defined needs official position requiring improvement was formulated and delivered to the policy makers (Ministries of Education and Social Affairs); (5) some of issued recommendations included into Vilnius University disability awareness strategy “University Open for Everyone”; module also included and presented at inclusive education events and in other countries.

Overviewing the longer-term benefits worth to mention awareness raised and increased sensitivity towards learners with disabilities and special needs. Received feed-back from the educators revealed that discussions, knowledge gained via training module facilitated to introduce more personalised view – individualised approach towards each situation of a learner with individual needs. These benefits contribute to making vocational training system more open for persons with individual needs. The project is important not only for project promoters or personal participants, but also to the society they represent, local communities, municipalities and finally on the country and European level.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 116880,03 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIACIJA LIETUVOS NEIGALIUJU FORUMAS & Country: LT

Project Partners

• The BumbleBee Alliance CIC
• ISTITUTO REGIONALE RITTMEYER PER I CIECHI DI TRIESTE
• SA Eesti Agrenska Fond
• AKTO S.A.
• MIDSTOD SIMENNTUNAR A SUDURNESJUM
• Polskie Forum Osob Niepelnosprawnych
• LATVIJAS CILVEKU AR IPASAM VAJADZIBAM SADARBIBAS ORGANIZACIJA SUSTENTO