epractice.eu - eInclusion Community

ePractice Mid-Term workshop

Sun, 18 May 2008 22:00:00 UTC

On May 19, 2008, one year after its launch, the ePractice.eu portal will celebrate a Mid-Term workshop. The one-day event will be held in Brussels, in the European Commissions premises, with the presence of high-level officials responsible of the eGovernment, eInclusion and eHealth European policies and relevant experts from the private and public sectors.

ICT skills of people with intellectual disabilities

2008-06-10 21:26:56

People with intellectual disabilities like to surf the internet, send mails, chat,.... as much as we all do. They enjoy being part of our society. Their own intellectual disability is not the only barrier they have to overcome. They need to get passed inaccessible websites and complex interfaces. Even if they can read a little, the language used on websites is far to difficult. There is a lot to be done to make the internet e-inclusive for them! And what can they do themselves? They can get skilled! The EasyICT project (www.easyICT.eu) is setting up a framework to assess basic ICT skills, especially aiming at people with intellectual disabilities. Only basis skills like: starting up a computer; using the mouse; starting the browser and using links; the basics of e-mail.... are tested. Based on the results, tutors can made a personal development plan to get the skills to the next level. The first release of the test environment will be made available in English, Polish, Dutch, Italian and German. If other parties are interested in joining, this would be a good time to come forward. Based on possible interest, we will be in touch in the fall and see how we can work together. We are also interested in any good example of online content that is accessible for this target group. This content can be used as attractive learning material to develop skills. This community has been very silent so far. Let's get some life into it ;-)

Nederlands aan het Werk

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:28:29 UTC

ITpreneurs has demonstrated risk-taking behaviour and leadership to develop an innovative and effective learning solution for the target audience of the new Civic Integration Act in the Netherlands. Within the new Integration Act there are two types of exams for two different target groups: one with the work profile and the other with the child-raiser profile. In 2007, ITpreneurs developed an innovative solution, "Nederlands aan het Werk", to prepare immigrants in the work domain for the Integration Exam. This blended course, a combination of e-learning, television, classroom, practical assignments, coaching and an Exam Preparation Guide and is currently recognised as the most effective way to learn and prepare for the exam. Over 20 major educational institutes in the Netherlands use NAHW to educate their learners. In 2008, ITpreneurs developed another course to prepare immigrants for the exam (child-raiser domain). Besides the proven, successful basic elements used earlier e-learning, television, etc. we also introduced new elements aimed at enabling child-raiser participation in Dutch society. To achieve this, we developed an innovative environment and learning material that includes a virtual neighbourhood, a participation game, a participation guide and a measurement tool.

EU: Study on Multi-Channel eGovernance (MC-eGov)

1258388801

Description (short summary): This study, launched by the European Commission, analyses the state of the art of multichannel delivery of public services throughout Europe, and the progress made towards achieving the goal to ensure that 'no citizen is left behind'. It provides useful recommendations and identifies further actions, which will be needed over the next few years.

Some 30% of European citizens (about 150 million people) experience some form of social exclusion and these people are in danger of being excluded from society. At the same time, they make up the greatest number of public service users. This places significant demands on the resources of public service providers, both in terms of the number of people requiring a service, and of the costs of providing these services. Within those contexts, this Study was challenged by the Expert Group to identify how multichannel access to inclusive eGovernment services could contribute to delivering sustainable outcomes for socially excluded groups. The key outcomes from the study show that inclusion is not achieved simply by giving people access to public services though a wide range of electronic channels such as computers, mobile phones, digital interactive TV, or public kiosks. They also show that sustainable delivery of services to socially excluded people is not simply a matter of electronic services in conjunction with non-electronic channels. Rather, the outcomes show a variety of partnerships and operational models that include people as active participants in problem solving assisted in ways that suit their needs.

Number of pages: 92

EU/US: Impact of Technology Trends on e-Inclusion Policy and Practice

1213308000

Description (short summary):
An adaptation of a report written for the US National Council on Disability, this document is aimed at reconsidering the e-Inclusion effort. It presents emerging technology trends that affect the technologies used by people with disabilities.

Several of the technology trends presented in this paper show opportunities for universally designed products and for improved availability, usability, and affordability of assistive technology that can have significant impact on the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Original URL:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=3936

Number of pages:
112

ES: Survey on ICTs & vulnerable groups

1191967200

Authors:
Observatory of Telecommunications and the Information Society and the Vodafone Foundation Spain

Description (short summary):
The present study has been elaborated by the Spanish Observatory of Telecommunications and the Information Society (red.es Observatorio) together with the Vodafone Foundation Spain. Based on the opinion and needs of a series of impaired or socially vulnerable groups (the visually and auditorily impaired, the physically or mentally impaired, but also the Elderly and victims of gender violence), the document analyses the potential and effective added value of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the daily life of those groups of citizens.

A major finding is that the surveyed groups do consider that ICTs are essential in order to overcome the limitations they face. For ICTs to fully play this compensatory role, the report also stresses the need for policies that promote better accessibility -both technical (design for all) and financial-, but also improved coordination between all actors involved, trainings for the targeted audience, as well as more pragmatic legislation having incentive effect on the development and implementation of accessibility criteria.

Related articles(s):
ES: Disabled turn to IT

Copyright information:
© 2007 Fundación Vodafone España

Original URL:
http://observatorio.red.es/

Languages available:
ES

Number of pages:
172

EU: Council Resolution on the health and well being of young people

1227567600

Description (short summary):
This resolution emphasises that:

there are strong links between the health and well-being of young people and their social inclusion and level of education;
it is necessary to assist young people in becoming more responsible for their own health and in raising their self-esteem and increasing their autonomy, in particular by raising young people's awareness of the positive effects of a healthy lifestyle and of the risks related to their health.

Original URL:
http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/news/default.asp?idnews=3975

Number of pages:
4