Inclusive Adult Education „Learning like others“

F2 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Organisation Profile Lebenshilfe Graz und Umgebung – Voitsberg as the coordinator of the I AM 2003 project is one of the biggest service providers in the south east part of Austria.

F3 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Organisations Vision  Live And Work Like Others  Support and accompaniment of people with disabilities according to this principle  Opportunities to build a self- determined and normal life

F4 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Main Services  early childhood intervention  respite care  family and partner counselling  full-time, part-time and mobile living assistance  work, occupation and vocational training in day centres,  workshops, companies and special training projects  educational, recreational and holiday possibilities for people with disabilities

F5 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Adult Education  15 years tradition in offering adult education for people with disabilities, especially for people with intellectual disabilities

F6 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Following the “inclusion concept”  Lebenshilfe wants to go a step further concerning adult education  Lebenshilfe intends to enable people with disabilities to participate in general adult learning programs (public)

F7 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania The European I AM 2003 project was started in October 2003 under the Soctrates Grundtvig programme. (Coordinated by the Lebenshilfe Graz und Umgebung – Voitsberg) Start: October 2003 End: September 2005

F8 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Collaborating partners were  Association DIA-Sport from Bulgaria  Club 82 from Germany  Comune di Colleferro from Italy  CONVELOP and the Styrian Chamber for Employees and Workers from Austria  Center Janez Levec from Slovenia  NIVE from Hungary

F9 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Background of the project  Most of public educational services are not intended and designed for people with mental disabilities.  Inclusive adult education shall promote education and lifelong learning for all people whether they have disabilities or not.

F10 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Target groups of the project  People with disabilities (predominantly with intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties).  Adult education providers and adult education trainers.  Professionals in the disability field (disability care workers)

F11 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Aim of the project …is to open up adult education seminars (offers) for the participation …is to offer people with special needs the possibility of education and lifelong learning …is to support them on the way to a self- determined life (with all the helpful technology)

F12 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Main products of the project 1. Fundamental advice and support for adult education centres (Handbook) 2. Preliminary training to people with disabilities who want to participate in public educational measures. (Curriculum for Basic Qualification)

F13 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Main products of the project 3. Qualification of assistants enabling them to accompany and support disabled people (Curriculum for Educational Assistants) 4. Additionally Learning CD for people with disabilities to further train Basic Qualification at home.

F14 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Idea of the Inclusive Educational Model Parameters on three levels need to be fulfilled for a successful implementation.  Level of the adult education organisation Handbook – criteria list  Level of the client Basic Qualification  Level of methodology Learning Assistants

F15 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Basic Qualification – AIMS and STRUCTURE Preparation of participants for public education through the acquisition of basic skills.  Improving educational options for people with disabilities. Curriculum development in cooperation with persons with disabilities.  The curriculum consists of 42 units grouped into three main modules.

F16 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Basic Qualification – TARGET GROUP  People with intellectual impairments  Slow learners, who are being prepared for public learning opportunities through basic qualification.

F17 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Basic Qualification – CURRICULUM OVERVIEW Module I: “Reading and Writing” Module II: “Communication” Module III: “Useful training for daily life – organizational skills” Module IV: “Useful training for daily life – administrative skills”

F18 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Basic Qualification – CURRICULUM OVERVIEW Module V: “Useful training for daily life – social skills” Module VI: “Computer knowledge” Module VII: “Foreign language / English”

F19 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania The role of the LEARNING ASSISTANT  Offering need-oriented support  Accompanying persons with disabilities to adult education events  Supporting persons with disabilities in their efforts to achieve a self-determined life.

F20 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania Results and summary of the project  Persons with disabilities have a very high interest in lifelong learning.  It allows disabled people to expand their school knowledge, develop their social competence and increase their chances in the labour market.  They can improve their self-reliance and achieve greater personal independence.  This strengthens their self-esteem and self- confidence.

F21 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania  Empowerment of the target group  Individual assistance offers individual development opportunities for persons with disabilities  So-called ‘soft skills’ are important conditions for jobs

F22 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania  The ‘I AM 2003’ project can be seen as an important step towards achieving equality of rights and a self-determined life for persons with disabilities.  Basic qualifications and facilitating their access to further education, the "I AM 2003" project can be seen as a support measure for the integration of persons with disabilities in the labour market.  For successful integration in the labour market personal competencies are just as important as professional ones.

F23 PASS IT ON - Alpha Transilvania THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!