Adina Ionescu “Octav Onicescu” National College, Romania Ileana Hamburg

1. Supporting the Development of Basic Skills of People with Multiple Impairments by Training and New Technologies Adina Ionescu “Octav Onicescu” National College, Romania Ileana Hamburg Institute Arbeit und Technik, Germany Marina Muscan The League for the Defence of the disabled people’s rights, Romania

2. Learning Needs of People with Disabilities • Many disabled adults do not have the opportunities to learn or re-learn basic skills. • Learning difficulties require professional teaching that is not available to many learners because of the shortage in suitable skilled and qualified teachers. • Some learners require assistive technology, but many learners are unfamiliar with the range of available software. • Some disabled people have their basic skills deteriorated and they are unable to learn in the same environment and with the same efficiency as they used to do.

3. ICT and VLE ICT and VLE together with assistive technologies can support learners with disabilities to achieve basic skills by: • giving learners the opportunity for continuous learning • engaging learners in learning activities; • offering the learners with special needs more choices about how and where to learn; • offering learning facilities such as chat discussions, conferencing, screen readers, screen magnifiers.

4. Operating systems to develop VLE • A Linux based system represents a low cost system. • The new SELinux interacts very well with the free Cvoice Control, a basic speech recognition system which allows executing Linux commands by using spoken commands. The software includes a microphone level configuration, a vocabulary model editor and a speech recognition system. • The Planning and Execution Assistant and Training System (PEAT) Software is designed to provide cueing and planning assistance for people with memory and attention disorders. PEAT combines advanced artificial intelligence software with graphic displays, extensive use of selection menus, personalized audio signals.

5. “Improvement of Employment Chances of the Unemployed and the Visual and Auditive Disabled by using Virtual Learning Applications” IECUVADVLAProject • The main aim of the project is to increase the chances of employment of unemployed seniors with visual and hearing impairments, offering them basic skills by using virtual application models. Major objectives: • To identify the labour markets requirements, the specific needs of the target group and the educational assistance by electronic means; • To make a good use of virtual learning applications by the senior unemployed with visual and hearing disabilities; • To develop virtual learning application models adapted to the specific needs of the target group.

6. “Improvement of Employment Chances of the Unemployed and the Visual and Auditive Disabled by using Virtual Learning Applications” IECUVADVLA Project Project’s activities: • National studies on unemployment situation and on visual and auditive (unemployed) disabled were developed. • A comparative report based on some short national studies about the specific needs of the target group and the educational assistance by electronic means was developed. • Two types of questionnaires were elaborated, one for the project’s target group and the other for companies or organizations that hire (unemployed) persons with hearing and vision impairments.

7. “Improvement of Employment Chances of the Unemployed and the Visual and Auditive Disabled by using Virtual Learning Applications” IECUVADVLA Project • Training modules using Virtual Applications Models on basic computer skills and employment techniques were developed. • The feedback obtained from learners during the training courses and project meetings was very useful for the evaluation of the project’s progress and results. • The percentage of the learners’ employment that will be identified to the end of the project represents another indicator of the project’s efficiency.

8. Basic Skills for People with Disabilities • The aim of this multinational project is to develop, test, and disseminate a Basic Skills Training Model (BSTM) for people with learning or multiple disabilities who are cared for in social institutions. • The model is based on national studies about Legal Framework, Statistics on Disability, Needs of the target group, Rehabilitation, Facilities for living, education and work of the target group.

9. Basic Skills for People with Disabilities The model includes: • Curriculum for Basic Skills Training for small groups of people with learning or multiple disabilities; • Methodical and didactic material; • Curricula for further education addressing professionals in psychological counseling; • Test and evaluation reports received by means of pilot groups.

10. Today’s Young Adults Integration in the European Society of TomorrowTYAEST The main objectives: • To facilitate social integration of young adults, particularly those with disabilities, according with their own aspirations by using new media. • To organize training sessions on basic computer skills and Internet using skills. • Presentation of scenarios about the use of new technologies by disabled people. • To organize discussions forum.

11. Today’s Young Adults Integration in the European Society of TomorrowTYAEST Project activities : • The use of scenario planning as a method to help disabled people to express their wishes and plan their careers. • The developing of new scenarios by students working on groups. • Presentation and discussion of scenarios during the workshops. • Training courses on basic computer skills and Internet use. • Evaluation of the process of learning basic skills about computers and use of Internet.

12. Conclusions • National and European initiatives could motivate learners with disabilities to participate in basic skills training by choosing the suitable training method and technology rather than being forced by the staff or carers to attend the training course. • Learners should have better access to specialist support staff like trainers for ICT based learning. • Trainers teaching basic skills to people with disabilities should learn some communication techniques required to work effectively with learners having different disabilities.

13. Projects web sites • http://www.improve-your-chances.de • http://www.basic-skills-training.org • http://www.srep.ro/tyaest/forum • http://www.srep.ro/tyaest

14. Thank you for your attention!