Assistive Technology Work in Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Assistive Technology Work in Europe

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Disabilities – special needs; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

AT work in Europe – is a knowledge transfer partnership to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers, therapists and technologists in the support and delivery of assistive technology (AT) services for learners with disabilities undertaking vocational education, training and work.
The partnership consists of four partners who have expertise in working with learners with disabilities but in a range of education and training contexts. Partners from Finland, Greece, Croatia and the UK span the length and breadth of the EU and represent different methodologies and approaches to using technology to support learners with disabilities. Two teachers, therapists or technologists for each partner organisation who work with learners with disabilities will share best practice and transfer their skills and knowledge through reciprocal visits. 32 professionals will be involved in knowledge transfers. Each hosted visit will involve a two day seminar workshop exploring assistive technology use in learning , how it is delivered and by whom. Delegates will explore different technology solutions and meet and hear from learners who are using technology to support their work. Two further days will be spent shadowing and working alongside assistive technologists or support staff working with technology understand assessment methodologies and the nature of the role. The final day will be working with specific technology and listening to learners in order to see the impacts of technology in practice. Case studies of effective practice will be developed following each knowledge sharing visit by participants. These will be available on a project website. An expert management group will meet for three days to develop an outline of the assistive technologist role, outline different assessment methods for assistive technology and relate these to the case studies. Four national dissemination events will be planned to showcase the project outcomes and promote the assistive technologists role. These will involve a minimum of 30 delegates (Teachers, Therapists, support personnel and managers from organisations working with learners with disabilities). A project report will describe the the impacts on the professionals that have been involved and how they will develop their roles in supporting learners in their use of assistive technology. These resources will be available for downloading fro the project website of which a link will be available on Erasmus + on-line platforms for dissemination across the EU.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 50580 Eur

Project Coordinator

National Star Foundation & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Oppimis- ja ohjauskeskus Valteri, Mäntykangas
• Sveuciliste u Zagreb, GRAFICKI FAKULTET
• MANPOWER EMPLOYMENT ORGANISATION