ValorVIP
Valorisation of project results for blind and Visually Impaired People

project   |  aims  |  partners  |  internal  |  contact  |  download  |  FAQ  |  online coaching

online coaching

If you have any question on the projects integrated in ValorVip, you can formulate it here and add your name and e-mail-address. As soon as possible, we try to give you further information:

In order to improve the educational situation for blind and visually impaired people by reducing barriers in vocational training, the central concern of the ValorVIP project has been to record objectively and on a scientific basis innovative concepts and approaches. Therefore, the following good practice experiences were summarized during a thematic valorisation conference so that the postulate of accessibility for disadvantaged and sensory impaired people will become reality throughout Europe.

1) Accessibility and IT

• European project EATT (Equal Access to Technology training) aimed at improving the computer literacy of people with vision impairments aged over 35 and at improving access to training and employment

• 1st target group: visionally impaired people with no or basic computer skills; 2nd target group: IT-service-providers

• the project contains a ‘trainer & trainee’-package with an introductory training course on the everyday use of a screenreader and a course on the use of a screen magnifier; both courses are aimed at giving the participants confidence in improving their basic computer skills and, with regard to the trainers, in gaining the necessary pedagogical know-how in teaching these skills

• development of a ‘good practice guide’ which is aimed at comprehending basic IT-skills in easily understandable terms and which also contains information for the participants’ families and friends

• teacher-training course (for blind or visionally impaired trainers): training in assistive technology

• development of a web-page: www.eatt.org; availability of the products in six languages; a link to the European project ‘Idol’ is also available in German and Polish (www.idol-project.org)

Projekt Title :

EQUAL Access to Technology Training

Acronym:

EATT

Project Number:

n.a.

Funding Program:

Leonardo da Vinci

Website:

www.eatt.org

Project Duration:

2002 to 2004 (2 years and 3 months)

Short Description:

The project was established to increase computer literacy among older people with vision impairments.

Project Aims:

It was the aim of the project to create an IT course to increase computer literacy among older visually impaired people. We wanted to show participants that they can communicate independently using a PC with assistive software despite their vision impairment. Success, encouragement and independence are key throughout the delivery of the course. The course is available in several EU languages.

Products & Results:

Specialist introductory package to encourage IT literacy among the target group;
Good practice guide focused on supporting IT training service providers;
Website for disseminating information and possibly as a means of continuing the IT education of project participants.

:

Coordinator:

NCBI, Ireland

Contact Person:

Ms. Bláithín Gallagher

Address:

n.a.

:

Telephone:

+35 38723668302

E-mail:

blaithin.gallagher@ncbi.ie

Partners:

Arhus AMT, Denmark
SIADV, France
I.Ri.Fo.R., Italy
RNIB, UK

Other information:

In 2004, the project was shortlisted to the final 32 for the prestigious European Leonardo da Vinci award, which highlights best practice and innovation in the area of Vocational Educational Training.

• European ECDL-project offering a standard syllabus and a range of different teaching materials

Projekt Title :

European Computer Driving Licence for People with Disabilities

Acronym:

ECDL-PD

Project Number:

A/01/B/F//PP/-124.107

Funding Program:

Leonardo da Vinci

Website:

www.bfi-stmk.at/home/angebot/projekte/ecdl.php

Project Duration:

Nov. 2001 to Oct. 2004

Short Description:

At the core of this project was the attempt to open up new education and training options for blind and visually impaired people in order to facilitate their integration into a satisfying and meaningful modern working life by means of high qualifications in the field of EDP.

Project Aims:

The main aim of the project ECDL PD was to make the ECDL Core barier-free for
* blind and visually impaired people;
* deaf and hard of hearing people;
* mentally impaired people;
* physically impaired people.

Products & Results:

This pilot project aims at adapting the well-known and widespread European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) to the needs of persons with disabilities. The ECDL shall become a useful tool not only for people with disabilities, but also be generally accessible for groups who are underprivileged in the workplace (e.g. senior citizens, people with a low level of education, immigrants).

:

Coordinator:

Österreichische Computer Gesellschaft, Austria

Contact Person:

Mr. Rupter Lemmel-Seedorf, Mag.

Address:

Wollzeile 1-3, 1010 Wien, AT

:

Telephone:

+43 1 5120235-0

E-mail:

info@ecdl.at

Partners:

European Disability Forum, Belgium
Berufsbildungswerk Paulinenpflege, Germany
ECDL Foundation, Ireland
ASPHI Onlus, Italy
Media Lunde og Tollefsen, Norway
Universität Linz, Austria
bfi Steiermark, Austria

• EUROCHANCE: learning management system with a universal design; it is freely available online (www.eurochance.org); it offers reading and speaking facilities on the basis of a fully functioning computer service; it provides training on the fully functioning (see further on)

2) Accessibility and Language

• ‘Listen and Touch’ (won the European Silver Reward): coordinated by EUROFORM: addresses needs of visionally impaired people by trying to increase the employability by language training; target group: young adults; in addition, it offers learning material on challenging teaching methods in four languages and in Braille format as well as practical information on how to improve one’s reading, speaking and writing skills

• development of a ‘trainer & trainee’-package: teacher’s and student’s versions of learning and teaching materials, both in Braille format

• development of a ‘talking dictionary’: containing the pronunciation and the spelling of words and phrases in Greek, German and Bulgarian

• realization of a pilot course to test the sustainability of all developed learning methods, e.g., their usability in everyday classroom situations

• teacher training: in seminars and workshops, the teachers were invited to expand their knowledge on respective methodology for actively using it in the classroom

• development of a web page: www.listenandtouchproject.org

Projekt Title :

A Basic English Course for the Visually Impaired

Acronym:

Listen & Touch

Project Number:

9969-CP-1-2002-1-BG-LINGUA-L2

Funding Program:

Socrates Grundtvig

Website:

www.listenandtouchproject.org

Project Duration:

Oct. 2002 to Sep. 2004

Short Description:

The project is concerned with the development of a methodology for teaching foreign languages to the blind and visually impaired people. Specific teaching methods targeted at the needs of the blind people will be worked out and systematised in a teacher’s manual, which will be translated into the languages of the project partners.

Project Aims:

The aim of this project is to create a foreign language learning methodology for the blind and visually impaired. Special learning and teaching methods in line with the needs of blind people are developed and systematically presented in the teachers´ handbook.

Products & Results:

Training Material on CD-ROM following the Oxford Streamline curricula.
The courses on the CD-ROM at the two levels: departure and intermediate level; the CD-ROM includes material for students as well as for teachers.

:

Coordinator:

Euroinform Ltd., Bulgaria

Contact Person:

Ms. Diana Tsotova

Address:

19 Slavyanska Street, 1000 Sofia, BG

:

Telephone:

+359 2 987 2135

E-mail:

euroinfo@mail.bol.bg

Partners:

National Association of Blind Entrepreneurs, Bulgaria
HELLIOS, Greece
Rochester Independent College, UK
Virtua Ltd., UK
bfi Steiermark, AT

• EUROCHANCE: project on learning English and German, advanced course: English – English

Projekt Title :

English and German for Blind and Visually Impaired People

Acronym:

Eurochance

Project Number:

CZ/03/B/F/LA-168.032

Funding Program:

Leonardo da Vinci

Website:

eurochance.brailcom.org

Project Duration:

Oct. 2004 to Mar. 2006

Short Description:

The general objective of this project is to reduce the unemployment rate among blind and visually impaired people. The steps to this aim include the improvement of foreign language skills in English and German.

Project Aims:

The general aim of the project is to reduce the unemployment rate of blind and visually impaired people. By improving the skills of the people and by raising the level of awareness of the professional community regarding the skills and competences of the blind and visually impaired, this project wants to make a solid contribution to achieving this goal.

Our partnership has developed English and German language modules for the blind and visually impaired, which are available via Internet. The project seeks to increase the language and cultural skills of blind employees, whilst raising their awareness of employment possibilities and aiding further personal development.
The success of the project depends on the accessibility of the project results to a wide range of end users, even upon cessation of the Leonardo da Vinci programme funding. Consequently, we aim to use the project result as a platform for further dissemination of the modules and for the development of other European language modules. The Internet tool should become an informative and educational source for the blind community, as well as for the professional public.

Products & Results:

* English and German language modules for blind and visually impaired employees and entrepreneurs.
* Source of information concerning employment possibilities for the blind.
* Source of information for employers of blind people.

:

Coordinator:

Brailcom, Czech Republik

Contact Person:

Mr. Jan Buchal

Address:

Vysehradska 3/255, Prague 28, 12800 CZ

:

Telephone:

+420 242486008

E-mail:

kontakt@brailcom.org

Partners:

Eurovision, Czech Republic
Vysoká ´skola bá´nská Technická univerzita Ostrava, Czech Republic
MediaLT, Norway
Únia nevidiacich a slabozrakých Slovenska, Slovakia
Lawton School, Spain
Leabank Management Service, UK
bfi Steiermark, AT

• AllVIP

Projekt Title :

Accessible Language Lear for Visually Impaired People

Acronym:

ALLVIP

Project Number:

225780-CP-1-2005-1-DE-LINGUA-L2

Funding Program:

Socrates

Website:

http://allvip.org

Project Duration:

Oct. 2005 to Dec. 2007

Short Description:

The project wants to pursue new ways of language learning for blind or visually impaired people. Language learning is not only a European skill, it is also a path to education, a path out of isolation towards communication and mobility. However, there are very few adequate language learning materials available for blind or visually impaired people. It is therefore difficult to find and attend language courses, especially if there is no local training institute for blind or visually impaired people available. Computer-based, interactive self-learning courses are the solution, but these courses are usually not meant to be used by blind or visually impaired people.

Therefore, the project wants to employ a combination of force-feedback devices and 3D-sound navigation to develop an alternative user interface for language learning software that works without a screen reader and is truly interactive. This technology is then used for an English course for German-speaking learners, and a German course for English-speaking learners, both level A1-A2, that focus on communicative speaking and listening skills. These courses that will be tested and evaluated by five training institutions for blind and visually impaired people, are supported by a personal tutor and a language tandem partner.

Project Aims:

* Improvement of the accessibility to e-learning courses and e-learning environments for blind and visually impaired persons.
* Promotion of blind and visually impaired people‘s language skills in the context of lifelong learning.

Products & Results:

1. Language course “English for German learners”.
2. Language course “German for English learners”.
3. Development system for elearing software employing force-feedback and 3D-sound technology .

:

Coordinator:

Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie, Germany

Contact Person:

Mr. Thomas Deharde

Address:

Karl-Marx-Str. 2, 15230 Frankfurt-Oder, DE

:

Telephone:

+49 335 55641-25

E-mail:

thomas.deharde@daa-bz.de

Partners:

Bildungszentrum für Blinde u. Sehbehinderte (Würzburg), Germany
Bundes-Blindenerziehungsinstitut (Wien), Austria
GedonSoft (Bremen), Germany
Odilien-Institut (Graz), Austria
Royal Blind School (Edinburgh), UK
Scottish Sensory Centre (University of Edinburgh), UK
Tandem Hamburg horizont dialogo e.V. (Hamburg), Germany

3) Accessibility and Mobility

There is a trend towards an integrated vocational education. However, this does not seem to make sense for everyone.
Special mobility and access to the labour market mainly depend on available mobility training which secures the autonomy of mobility. There is definitely a demand for the ability to work in teams and for autonomy.

Good practice:

• The ISIS project coordinated by bfi Steiermark offers detailed information and counselling and provides the opportunity of a dual training system, part-time and individual, for people with disabilities in promising professions. At the same time, new working possibilities are opened up for the target group.

TeleTrading House
The TeleTrading House is a call centre integrated in the ISIS project. Partially sighted and blind employees are prepared for integration into the first labour market in a dual training system. This pilot institution runs all 'classical' business operations of a call centre, such as inbound and outbound calls, telemarketing and telesales and mailing services.
Based on well-maintained customer data, telephone and online marketing that specifically meets the customers' needs supports both the acquisition of new customers as well as the strengthening of customer loyalty. Therefore, the broad range of services (such as marketing, market research surveys, database services, back office services) particularly aims at those two areas and can be seen as a basis for individual service agreements.

Technical assistance and barrier-free web design
In Styria, the technical assistance for partially sighted and blind people has proved its worth. It provides free advice and support for employers, sponsors, public institutions, and private people with regard to equipping the target group's work places, choice of assistive technology, claiming of funds, and technical support regarding assistive technology for blind and partially sighted people. Moreover, technical assistance also offers support regarding barrier-free Internet and maintains an information platform on www.blind.isis.at.
At bfi Steiermark, ISIS offers a wide range of free services for blind and partially sighted people; it is a valuable enrichment in terms of integration in the Province of Styria.

Ongoing project focuses:

• New job opportunities for disabled people with pilot training measures in cooperation with employment agents and enterprises.

• Making accessible all vocational training measures in adult education for the target group in the Province of Styria.

• Increased networking and service cooperation among the Styrian target group representations.

• With specific tools, such as technical assistance, individual coaching and enterprise-related working experience in our TeleTrading House, the special project know-how is intensively bundled for the inclusion of transit employees on the free labour market.

Contact
Tel.: +43(316) 7270 2900
E-mail: isis@bfi-steiermark.at

4) Accessibility and Learning & Organisational Development

Computer-based learning is more and more used in education and training. Therefore, practical knowledge in using these ways of learning becomes more and more important for both the trainers as well as the (blind and visually impaired) participants. Amongst others, this demand was the trigger for the Austrian education authorities to ask bbi Wien (www.bbi.at) to set up a virtual learning platform.
Furthermore, IT-supported technology makes alternative ways of representation for sensory perception possible, especially for people with special needs.
As part of the virtual learning platforms, the so-called learn management systems, which represent a virtual educational institution, the barrier-free user interface, particularly in the Open Source area, was improved. Only the availability of barrier-free learning content on the market still needs improvement.

Since the importance of computer-supported learning for the target group has been identified in many European countries, several good practice projects in the field of alternative representation technology and e-learning can be mentioned:

Good practice (alternative ways of representation):

• AHVITED, audio-tactile teaching sheets for a tactile representation of the content

Projekt Title :

Audio Haptics for blind and Visually Impaired Training and Education at a Distance

Acronym:

AHVITED

Project Number:

2274444-CP-1-2006-UK-Minerva CPP

Funding Program:

EU Socratex - Minerva

Website:

www.ahvited.org

Project Duration:

Oct. 2006 to Sep. 2009

Short Description:

People who are blind have no access to visual graphic images and are at a substantial disadvantage in the learning process, particularly when studying in a distance learning situation with no specialist support. This problem directly conflicts with the Lisbon Agenda requiring equality of access and inclusion for all in the learning process.

This project will provide an innovative method of delivering visual graphics to people who are visually impaired by the way of touch and sound using tactile diagrams with integrated sound files.

Project Aims:

The main activities will be the development of systems currently used in the classroom for wider application in distance learning courses and the creation of three sets of pilot course materials to evaluate the proposed methodology.

Products & Results:

Outcomes will be an operation system, pilot course materials and a training manual.

:

Coordinator:

Royal National College for the Blind, RNC, United Kingdom

Contact Person:

Mr. Chris Stevenson

Address:

College Road, Hereford, HR1 1EB, UK

:

Telephone:

+44 1432 265725

E-mail:

css@rncb.ac.uk

Partners:

DCU - Dublin City University
IBOS - Institute of the Blind and partially sighted in Denmark
SREP - Romanian Society of Life Long Learning
BFI - Vocational promotion institute Styria
MC - MultiMedia Campus Pavia University

• ESP

Projekt Title :

Employment Support Practices for Vision Impaired People Project

Acronym:

ESP

Project Number:

n.a.

Funding Program:

Horizon Employment Initiative

Website:

www.aaa.dk/jobvision

Project Duration:

2 years

Short Description:

The project’s focus was on the employment support systems in Europe and on the social and professional integration of blind and visually impaired people.

Project Aims:

The aim of this project was to engage in a transnational exploration of employment support practices for visually impaired people to suggest best practice for the creation of new support systems for their social and professional integration into the labour market.

Products & Results:

The transnational working group produced a report on employment support practices for visually impaired people in the five member states. Research and exploration of five themes in relation to employment support practice took place in partner countries. These themes were:
* Job creation and support
* Job retention
* Vocational guidance practices
* Rehabilitation and assessment
* Professional training and development
The partnership also established a web page.

:

Coordinator:

NCBI, Ireland

Contact Person:

Ms. Bláithín Gallagher

Address:

n.a.

:

Telephone:

+35 38723668302

E-mail:

blaithin.gallagher@ncbi.ie

Partners:

County Resource Center for the Visually Impaired Aarhus, Denmark
Interregional Support Service for Visually Impaired Adults, France
Institute for Research, Training and Rehabilitation, Italy
Royal National Institute for the Blind Scotland, UK

Good practice (e-learning):

• E-Learn-VIP - instructions, assessments, and examples for barrier-free e-learning systems

Projekt Title :

E-learning for Visually Impaired People

Acronym:

E-Learn-VIP

Project Number:

EAC/26/04 DE004

Funding Program:

eLearning Programme

Website:

www.e-learn-vip.org

Project Duration:

Sep. 2004 to Aug. 2006

Short Description:

Although the various types of e-learning (e.g. blended learning, tele-tutoring, tele-cooperation, tele-teaching) would offer people with visually impairments a lot of advantages to participate in a modern learning technique, the lack of appropriate services exclude this target group.

System developers must be supported at an early stage of development with guidelines on methodological and accessibility requirements concerning the target group.

Project Aims:

* Improvement of the accessibility to e-learning courses and e-learning environments for blind and visually impaired persons.

* Promotion of blind and visually impaired people‘s digital literacy in the context of lifelong learning.

Products & Results:

1. Rating catalogue to assess e-learning courses corresponding to the demands of people with visual handicaps.
2. Website with database of available and rated e-learning courses for the target group.
3. Accessibility guideline for service providers and developers of e-learning courses and platforms, including samples for accessible e-learning environment.
4. Multi-Media CD-ROM with all results and products.

:

Coordinator:

Berufsförderungswerk Düren gGmbH, Germany

Contact Person:

Mr. Jüren Hüllen

Address:

Karl-Arnold-Str. 132-134, 52349 Düren, DE

:

Telephone:

+49 2421 598 238

E-mail:

huellen@bfw-dueren.de

Partners:

Berufsförderungswerk Halle gGmbH, Germany
Berufsförderungsinstitut Steiermark, Austria
Instituttet for Blinde og Svagsynede, Denmark
ARLA Instittuuti, Finland
Institut Montéclaire, France
Royal VISIO, The Netherlands

• E-COVIP - training the trainers with regard to barrier-free e-learning.

Projekt Title :

E-learning COach for Visually Impaired People

Acronym:

E-COVIP

Project Number:

2006-146-451

Funding Program:

Leonardo da Vinci

Website:

www.e-covip.eu

Project Duration:

Oct. 2006 to Sep. 2008

Short Description:

There are currently no specialist e-teaching qualifications offered at a European level and consequently, e-learning coaches who teach visually impaired learners often struggle with the methodological, administrative and technical difficulties faced by this target group. Another problem is, that those e-learning coaches will find no special source to exchange experiences, learning contents and find answers to the various technological and methodological problems, which might occur.

The project will involve the collaboration of seven leading educational institutions from around Europe who specialise in the education of people with visual impairments. They will cooperate to create an online training course and an accredited qualification for e-teaching visually impaired learners and support the implementation of a European E-COVIP network.

Project Aims:

The aim of the E-COVIP project is to improve the access blind and partially-sighted learners have to e-learning and other life-long learning opportunities by establishing special network for their e-learning coaches.

Products & Results:

1. The main product is the development of a specific training course for e-learning coaches and ICT-trainers which will qualify the participants to educate blind and visually impaired persons by e-learning.
2. A public forum where an open discussion on any issues pertaining to e-learning and visual impairment can be raised and discussed.
3. All of the materials will then be available to download free of charge from the server under the terms of the GPL licence.
4. A multimedia CD containing the blended learning course and electronic copies of all the materials produced.

Coordinator:

Berufsförderungswerk Düren gGmbH, Germany

Contact Person:

Mr. Jüren Hüllen

Address:

Karl-Arnold-Str. 132-134, 52349 Düren, DE

Telephone:

+49 2421 598 238

E-mail:

huellen@bfw-dueren.de

Partners:

ARLA Instittuuti, Finland
FISAF, France
Institut Montéclaire, France
Royal VISIO, The Netherlands
SOSW, Poland

• DICOMP-S.Net - development of a free screenreader, incl. e-learning course to train users and multipliers

Projekt Title :

Digital COMPetence Screenreader NETwork

Acronym:

DICOMP-S.net

Project Number:

2006-4412/001-001 ELE ELEB11e

Funding Program:

eLearning

Website:

www.screenreader4free.at

Project Duration:

Jan. 2007 to Jun. 2008

Short Description:

Focussing on the modern training process, the DICOMP-S.NET project mainly aims at supporting the digital competence of blind and visually impaired people in Europe. The project will, for the first time, make available a free (MS VISTA compatible) screen reader for blind and visually impaired people in Europe and, in an extensive dissemination campaign, distribute it directly to the target group.
In addition, blind and visually impaired tutors will be trained in the project to support blind people with both implementation as well as use of the screen reader. Tutor training will, partially, be done via an e-learning application.

Project Aims:

The screen reader (already available and basically functioning) will undergo intensive target group pre-testing. Necessary adaptations and country-specific remarks will be integrated into the programme code. A tutor training will be developed to allow blind and visually impaired people to work as tutors for the new screen reader. The screen reader and all texts and tools concerned will be translated into the respective partner languages. Future tutors will be trained via an e-learning-based application and in a joint face to face tutor meeting. An information campaign on the screen reader will be launched.
Finally, it is the aim to broadly use the screen reader throughout Europe and to give blind and visually impaired people, for the first time, a free possibility to participate in e-Europe.

Products & Results:

* Free screen reader in all partner languages, including all accompanying documents (menu navigation, help texts, manuals)
* Tutor training for blind and visually impaired people for the screen reader, partially via an e-learning application
* Information campaigns national
* Roadshows national for the screen reader
* International conference and symposium

Coordinator:

bfi Steiermark, Austria

Contact Person:

Ms. Claudia Hack

Address:

Eggenberger Allee 15, 8020 Graz, AT

Telephone:

+43 316 7270 - 2218

E-mail:

claudia.hack@bfi-stmk.at

Partners:

BFW Düren gGmbH
Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired (EFVI)
European Blind Union (EBU)
National Council of the Blind (NCBI)
Associazione Nazionale Subvedenti (ANS)
Unia nevidiacich a slabozrakych Slovenska (UNSS)
screenreader.net CIC

Contact:

Kathrin Krämer
bfi Steiermark
Mariengasse 24
8020 Graz
Tel.: +43(0)316/7270-1019
Fax: +43(0)316/7270-1098
e-mail: kathrin.kraemer@bfi-stmk.at

Christine Peinhaupt
bfi Steiermark
Mariengasse 24
8020 Graz
Tel.: +43(0)316/7270-1014
Fax: +43(0)316/7270-1098
e-mail: christine.peinhaupt@bfi-stmk.at