Accessible Work for All Erasmus Project

Project Title

Accessible Work for All

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Access for disadvantaged; Inclusion – equity; Disabilities – special needs

Project Summary

People with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed (53% to 33%) and more vulnerable to the poverty trap (30% to 22%). People who are deaf are particularly vulnerable. The problem starts at birth – 90 per cent of deaf children are born to hearing parents, which means they lack an adult language model at home. Lack of bilingual instruction in schools means that most deaf children try to learn to write without reference to their first language (sign language). For deaf school leavers, written texts with complex vocabulary constitute a barrier to understanding. Linguistic exclusion leads to actual exclusion.

Accessible Work for All aims to promote equality, non-discrimination and diversity through the
innovation of providing information on employment and employment regulations in accessible digital formats. Deaf job seekers looking for online support have access to information in their first language – sign language – on video with plain text subtitles and visual support in the form of drawings and animations to assist understanding.

The outputs facilitate self-study, self-determination and empowerment – deaf job seekers can access information unaided and without communication assistance or interpretation. Moreover, the provision of online digital tools contributes towards reducing disparities in access to and engagement with digital technologies in non-formal education for deaf job seekers.

(IO1) “Analysis and Abstract” comprises a digital survey, analysis and transnational report (or
abstract) to ascertain attitudes and knowledge levels regarding employment regulations among deaf job seekers.

(IO2) “Accessible Toolkit” is a collection of fully accessible information videos on employment
regulations which combine sign language, plain text and visual images.

(IO3) “Information is Empowerment” is a blended learning training package including digital
handbook which is piloted by 40 deaf job seekers.

The project is innovative for 3 reasons: participation, accessibility and empowerment. The direct target group is deaf job seekers – 120 deaf job seekers actively participate in the project. Associated organisations working with deaf communities and providing support, counselling, career guidance and employment services will also participate.

Accessible Work for All is implemented in Austria, Germany, Italy and Poland. Multiplier events take place in all four countries hosted in sign language by deaf job seekers themselves who present the project and the outputs to an invited audience.

Project Website

http://www.accessiblework4all.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 284170 Eur

Project Coordinator

EQUALIZENT SCHULUNGS UND BERATUNGS GMBH & Country: AT

Project Partners

• Fondazione Istituto dei Sordi di Torino ONLUS
• Polska Fundacja Pomocy Dzieciom Niedoslyszacym -ECHO-
• UNIVERSITAET ZU KOELN