IT&C - A gateway to future for disabled people

The Final Product is ready!

2007-09-19T02:30:00.001-07:00

The final product of the project is ready! A nice product, too, I would say, based on the reactions already received from professionals and fellow colleagues.

The content of the CD is also published on the Esperando Association web site, at:

www.esperando.ro/g2-itc

After two years of work, we are proud to present this compendium to the world! We hope everybody will enjoy it and find it usefull!
Congratulations to everybody who contributed to the CD and to all the good partners! Good work!

Daniel Filipas

Final project meeting

2007-09-19T02:24:00.001-07:00

The final meeting of our project took place in Italy, again, in Potenza, at the beginning of June 2007. It was the special request of our Italian partners, who arranged a meeting with the Sky TV crew for a special documentary on our project.
All the partners were present: 3 people from Turkey, 3 from Bulgaria, 1 from Netherland, 2 from Lithuania and 2 from Romania (together with the Italian hosts).
It was a very good meeting. Esperando presented the draft design of the CD that will be the final result of the project. We all discussed on it. We decided on further improvements and things to be put in the compendium. The partners also presented further developments of the project on their countries, and also came with more contributions to the CD.
We had two sessions of interviews, filming and discussions with the TV crew. They tried to their job without interfering to much in the meeting. It was both interesting and motivating for all the participants.
We also talked again about the continuation of this very nice partnership in the future. Some project proposals were discussed and some ideas for possible projects.

2007-05-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

MINUTE of the 2nd partners meeting
Pravetz, Bulgaria
22 – 26 March, 2007

Participating partners
- Dost Egitim Special Education Center (Turkey) – 3 people
- Association Esperando (Romania) – 2 people
- NGO “John Atanasov” (Bulgaria) – 3 people
- Lithuanian Welfare Society for Persons with Mental Disability “Viltis” (Lithuania) – 2 people
- ATRIUM Research & Innovation Ltd. (Netherlands) – 1 person

Topics discussed:
Compendium structure and contents;
Future collaboration, open call of proposals, etc.;
Other issues;
Study visits to Bulgarian organizations.

1. Compendium structure and contents

Speaker: Daniel Filipas, project coordinator.

Organizations have to send information, which they want to be in. Also, send photos to be uploaded in groupware.

As compendium is to be multilingual, information in national language will be included in the product. Translation of the materials will be necessary till the end of May.

It is necessary to put in examples how IT is used in your organization or organizations you work with.

Deadline for sending all material to be send to Daniel – 15 May, 2007 or this material have to be uploaded in the groupware.
Material includes:
Presentation of partners, 0,5-1 page
Compendium contents, 0,5 page description of IT&C tools, means, equipments etc for the education of disabled people
Examples of your own work or experience in this field, or of your partners
Dissemination we had.

Draft of compendium should be ready before the next meeting. Next meting in Potenza 7-11 June, 2007

Deadline for uploading materials for translation – 30 May, 2007

Compendium will be in a CD format, and will be released in each country separately. Each partner will translate the compendium into its own language, additional to the English version. Daniel will centralize all the versions and add them into the CD.

Dissemination of the project, and information obtained on of the key activities. Think about ways to disseminate information.

2. Future collaboration, other project

Maya proposed to participate in other European projects for our target group – people with disability, which would include introducing and informing about European Union.
Also, discussion about eligibility of the actions to be taken has taken place, what kind of projects could be developed. There is a necessity to come with new ideas for the projects of European funds.
Joost proposed to apply for Grundvig Multilateral project on adapting portfolio. Joost would need information on staff daily rate for a manager, a researcher/developer, an administration worker/workers, teachers, a technical assistant. Joost presented a review of possibilities to apply in Life Long Learning program.
Antonino invited to participate in a new project on scientific about Online encyclopedia. And also, he proposed to fill in application for the Grundvig 2 project on European citizenship. It was asked to give the input from partners during the meeting.

3. Other questions

What is done: Lithuanian partners presented their plans for the upcoming conference on application of the IT and communication in education. Joost presented achievements in the ONLINE project, particularly improved Mentor Training Manual.
Turkish partners had a press meeting on the project.
Website of the NGO “John Atanasov” is made. Website address http://jango.pravec.org. Maya made a comment that it is necessary to teach people of disabilities to talk for themselves, to exchange their ideas with each other
Final report. Prepare as much as possible for final report for the meeting in Potenza
Prepare for the SKY CHANNEL broadcasting during the meeting in Potenza.

4. Study visits to Bulgarian organizations

Organizations visited:
- Day Center disabled people (adults and children) in Pravetz
- Sheltered living center for elderly people in Pravetz
- NGO “John Atanasov”
- Educational Center

Also, on the first day of the partners’ meeting a reception at Pravetz municipality took place, where project partners and Pravetz Mayor had discussions on possible collaboration in development of activities and projects in Pravetz region.

Minute prepared by
Kristina Vrubliauskaite
Lithuania Welfare Society for Persons with Mental Disability “Viltis”

Minute of the meeting in the Netherlands

2007-05-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

IT&C – gateway to the future for people with disabilities
2nd year

Netherlands – Joost Thissen, ATRIUM Research & Innovation Ltd.
Italy – Antonino Imbesi, Euro-Net
Romania – Daniel Filipas and Andrada Craciun, Esperando Association
Lithuania – Kristina Vrubliauskaite, Lithuanian Welfare Society for Persons with Mental Disability “Viltis”, and Valerija Liaudanskiene, Educational Center “Viltis”
Turkey – Sitki Yildiz, Mehmet Erkal Dincer, Seda Dincer, Tarik Mesut Ayin, Oguz Mevlut Ercan, Dost Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre
Bulgaria – Maya Arnaudova, Angel Uzunov, Christina Tzanova, Petar Petrov, NGO “John Atanasov”

Achievements

In the beginning the proposition on the change of place for the last meeting was made by Antonino Imbesi. TV channel SKY would like to disseminate information on the project Europe-wide. Everybody agrees on the proposal, in general, but that should be agreed with NA as well. Answers concerning this should be forwarded to all partners as soon as possible.

Arrangements for the next meetings:
Meeting in Bulgaria - 2007 March 22-26, Pravetz
Meeting in Italy – 2007 June 7-11, Potenza

Joost Thissen talked about another project “ONLINE”. Atrium developed a manual “Mentor training” for this project to train people who work with people with learning difficulties. It is a part of the project. Project location http://www.on-line-on.com/ will be totally accessible for people with disabilities, in ETR. Parts like “My life”, “My portfolio”, “My learning’. Name of the website “Learning incubator”. Another part is IT application. Parts on the website in easy-to-read language, include guidelines how to learn to use IT (e-mail and so on…). It will be translated into 6 languages: English, Dutch, German, Latvian, Czech, (?) Launch of the website will be announced by Joost.

Antonino Imbesi made presentation on a broadcast that they prepared for TV channel to disseminate information about Socrates projects, as many people don’t know what it is.

Maya Arnaudova presented their work on involvement of community: ICT and citizenship, how they are creating community with the activities of their organization, programs and strategy on training people with disabilities and elder people on skills of being active in their own life, starting their own business, and so on
Also, they do work in training for people with intellectual disabilities introducing to English and ITC. They have plans to go to Turkey for piloting their program internationally.
Peter has presented a remote control that he has developed to make connection with computer easier for people with disabilities.

Turkish partners told about what they did during the period:
- Article “A Gateway for disabled”
- Training courses for children, and teachers on computer skills and internet usage
- Publishing information on the activities in Turkish National Agency’s magazine
- Purchase (planning to buy) an “Intelligent Board” – a tool and software that could be used for better communication, teaching and training in an easy way and for different groups (disabled children,

Lithuanian partners had made some good links with organizations providing software and hardware for people with intellectual disabilities to facilitate their educational process. One of these is British company “Widgit software”. Society “Viltis” was invited to take part in project aiming to make application of ITC in educational process systematic and Lithuanian-wide. Proposed ITC was presented in British Embassy in Lithuania. Project foreseen involvement of such institutions as distributors, NGOs, schools, Ministry of Science and Education
At the moment, English course for workers of “Viltis” is taking place. Also, planning for accommodating English course for young people with complex disability (cerebral palsy, mild intellectual disability) is being planned, and should start in January 2007. Now, the material for training English is bought, and specialists work on it to make it understandable for young people with disability.

Joost Thissen also presented a speech he and Daniel Filipas they made in conference Helsinki, Finland. Presentation will be either uploaded in groupware or sent by e-mail by Joost.
It was noted that in ITC project we focus more on the technologies for learning, not for daily usage.
Joost presented the front page of the ONLINE website.

Daniel Filipas talked on dissemination of the information on the project. Dissemination is one of the main parts of the project. One of the best ways to do that is during various conferences like in Turkey and Romania or Helsinki.
All partners are asked to make their input to the development of the Weblog and groupware,
Survey in Maramures about the usage of IT&C in education has been done. The results show that at least in this region of Romania, there is no big experience in using of ITC, so there is a big platform for work.

2. Work for the 2nd year - compendium

Concerning compendium, all material should be organized in some structure. Attention should be focused on:
Equipment
Advantages of using ITC for people with disabilities
Proposed parts of the compendium
TOOLS
I. Tools
hardware (adapted mouse, screens, and so on…)
software (simple, for kids, basics, sophisticated, portfolio, and so on)
mixed (hardware + software)
internet-based tools
II. ITC tools used for different training programs
First steps (how to…)
For education (art, language, etc.)/development (personal)
Career oriented [training]
III. What that mean for the life of the person
Assistive technology – allow to use technology
Developmental/opportunities – giving opportunity for personal development
Job-oriented/business – allow to earn for living.

Advantages that ITC gives
This is the other thing we look at.
What it is to use technologies
- inclusive
- equalizes/increases chances/opportunities. This gives people with limited opportunities to have possibility to learn
- compensate for things they don’t have:
o their own things for own usage
o environment – not accommodated enough, but with ITC a person could work at home
o society - attitudes
o system. Education, administrative system: possibility to influence the system by e-mailing, paying taxes via internet
- dissolves distances, barriers, and sometimes (?) prejudice
- creates/builds bridges btw people with special needs, and “normal” society, politicians, institutions, etc., communities (real, e-groups, weblogs, other intenet-based), and new opportunities.
- Gives back the individual dignity, self-confidence, trust/belief in the future, in people, and joy of life, learning, creating and so on. So it’s more fun. It is important that people with disability need to understand what they are learning instead of trying to memorize difficult expressions and words. This knowledge has to be able to put that in practice in daily life, otherwise, there’s no point of doing it.

It is necessary that all partners work on the material that will be put in the compendium. It was decided to make compendium in digital format due to easier dissemination. To make it of less space, photos can be turned in .jpeg file by Paint program

3. Plan of tasks to be done

31st of January, 207 – uploaded structure, and contribution to the compendium into the groupware, and contribution on weblog
29th of February 2007 – discussion on the intermediate report.
10th of March 2007 – deadline for information on the meeting in Pravetz: travel, agenda, hotel and so on.
31st of May 2007– there should be draft of the compendium. In Potenza meeting, last points will be cleared out.
1st of June 2007 – all information on the arrangements should be sent by Antonino concerning meeting in Potenza.
15th of July, provide the information for the final report.
By the end May, it would be good to have draft of final report as well. Discussions on the final report will take place during the last meeting in Potenza

Daniel will send participation confirmation template to those arranging partnership meetings.

4. Future cooperation

Discussion on the new projects to develop took place. When new information about “Life-long learning” comes, the one who have it will pass to the others
Call of proposal from Antonino on European citizenship was announced. Information will be sent as soon as possible. Request of documents needed will be asked by Antonino in the beginning of January. Letter of intent will be needed and regional support letter would be sufficient.

Information on the deadline on submitting the proposal for LLL program should be figured out.
Joost suggest to submit his half-made proposal on e-passport as a follow-up of ITC project. If deadline is not the 1st of March, he could prepare application, but if it is the 1st of March, he won’t be able to do as he is obliged to write follow-up for the project “Social return” and preparing proposal for MATRA programme with Bulgaria

5. Last points
upload the material in the groupware
contributions to the blog and groupware
everybody is asked one more time to make inputs into every structural part of the compendium.
concerning dissemination, apart from all the means that are used (communities, weblogs and so on), it is necessary to upload the material on the events, and invite NA representative, or representatives of EU commission. Official presentation of the final product would be very good.
A link to the project page should be put into the website of the partner.
It was asked to clearly state all the problems, or needs to know it as soon as possible to the project partners
Interim report should be discussed via e-mail; final will be discussed in Italy

Visit to Lithuania

2006-08-08T23:52:00.000-07:00

Painfully as it was, we had to cancel our plane tickets to the meeting in London! So, the partners did it without the coordinators! And they did it well!!
But we still had to work on the project, to see what was done their, to plan the end of the first year. That's why we decided to travel to Kristina, in Vilnius.
It was a nice journey, and we had some very good days. We almost felt like we were in London, thanks to the talks with Kristina. We also had the opportunity to visit Viltis Special Education Centre, where we could see live the IC&T tools presented by the Lithuanians in London just theoreticaly. It was a very interesting experience and we are sure it will have consequences in the future.
But that was not all! Kristina also took us to a shop where a centre for disabled people was presenting/ selling the products made by their beneficiaries! For our occupational therapy activities, this was a very good example to follow!
To make a long story short, we still regret that we couldn't attend the meeting in London, but we are gald we were in Vilnius!
Andrada and Daniel

London Meeting Photos- 22-24 June 2006

2006-06-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

IT&C - A gateway to future for disabled people

2006-06-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

IT&C - A gateway to future for disabled people

Potenza Project Meeting

2006-06-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

We were looking forward to meet each-other again. And to know the Italian and UK partners, who couldn't attend the meeting in Baia Mare.
After long and tiring trips, here we were on the hills of Potenza! So, we started with introducing ourselves again, and than we were on our IT&C talks.
Each partner came with its experience and the research work he did, and with the good ideas they found.And, as I was expecting, the big differences among the partners and their work was perfectly reflected in the significant differences shown in the materials preared for the project.

Again, everybody was happy to be in this project. we established the further steps for it, but also we started the first talks for future common projects and cooperation.

Paul started already to prepare the next meeting, in London. We established together the dates, and he informed us about the possibilities there. So, when we left, we had again something to look forward to...

Daniel

more photos - Botiza Esperando Occupational Therapy Centre

2005-11-05T03:52:00.000-08:00

The return from Botiza - Barsana Monastery

Halis is doing a great job

Infront of the Centre - Botiza

The surprise: on our way to Botiza, we met a horse-rider prepared for a traditional weding in a vilage, with the horse decorated

At the Esperando Day Care Centre and work sessions in Baia Mare

2005-11-05T03:44:00.000-08:00

At our Day care Rehabilitation Centre

Halis, Muzzafer, dr. Faruk and Andrada

In the Day Care Centre, activities room

Joost at the physiotherapy section of Esperando Day Care Rehabilitation Centre

First meeting photographs

2005-11-05T03:35:00.000-08:00

Muzzafer's presentation of DOST EDUCATIONAL CENTRE

Joost is presenting his company - ATRIUM

First session, first day, first contacts

Josst, Mariana, Kristina and Maya; Muzzafer is trying to solve the technical problems...

Andrada, Daniel and Muzzafer

1st Meeting - Friends Together

2005-11-04T22:27:00.000-08:00

So, we had our first project meeting! We expected it anxiously, because we wanted to meet you, to get to know you and to establish the direct conection and relation. But it was also the other side of the expectation: will we do it good enough? will the reunion be a succes? will the partners/ participants be satisfied? or will they regret it wasn't organized in Bucharest, after all? These were some of the questions that made our sleep... light during the days before the meeting.
Well, it's up to you to judge now! From where we stand, the meeting was good enough. We did our part of the job together, we have our future steps of the project established and we have our doors and windows opened. But, most important, we know each other now, and we have a better idea about what we are doing, each of us, and what our organizations look like. So, the main objectives of the meeting were accomplished.
As far as the meeting itself, your reactions and kind words made us believe that we did quite well. It made our day to see that you were all happy and you enjoyed your days here. We realy think it was genuine and not only a diplomatic reaction. As for the visits to the Esperando Centres, we were just so happy to see that our work there is appreciated and that now we can use this also as a strong point in our future steps in the project.
We are sure that soon the first products of our project will be visible. More than this blog, Joost will have his huge contribution with the groupware, and we will than be able to work even more eficiently. And from that point on, "the sky is the limit"!
A word for our friends that couldn't make it to Baia Mare: we were really waiting for you and looking forward to knowing you. It was sad to see all those cancelations... We count on you, however, for the entire way of this project, and we hope to meet you in the future project meetings. We are sure your contribution will be very valuable and appreciated. Again, we are so sorry that you couldn't come!
As you could and can see, I tend to speak a lot. Too much. So, I will stop here. We will make the minute of the meeting here, if Joost will say it's not possible to have the groupware established very soon. If not, we will have it directly there. What do you think, Joost?
So, dear friends, wherever you would be, have a nice time, do something good for the project and remember Baia Mare...
Yours always,
Daniel

2005-09-10T03:46:00.001-07:00

Just me, myself and I

2005-09-10T03:46:00.000-07:00

our logo

Welcome!

2005-09-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
As promised, we start our project's weblog. It will be the place to post information, opinions, materials and thoughts. I hope you will find it attractive. I also hope it will serve us in many ways and days...
It is a pleasure to see we are on our way with the projecct. please, start thinking of the steps and the starting issues. feel free to make coments or to post materials. Fell free to ask for assistance or for support.
I am looking forward to see you all and to make this a wonderfull experience! You are all great people and come from splendid organizations. Be proud and be happy!
So, dear friends, welcome and good luck! And get to work!
Yours always,
Daniel