ECDL for People with Visual Disabilities in Greece

Acronym of the case:

ECDL for Blind

Web address of the case:

http://www.ecdl.gr/el/Pages/index.aspx

Country of the case:

Greece

City/region:

national territory

Posting Date:

28 July 2009

Last Edited Date:

10 August 2009

Author:

Alessandra Devitofrancesco (ECDL Foundation Brussels)

einclusion | eAccessibility | eSkills

Type of initiative

Project or service
Strategic initiative

Case Abstract

From 2007 to 2010 ECDL Hellas is providing free training and certification in entry-level ICT skills to 750 blind or visually impaired people in cooperation with the Pan- Hellenic Association for the blind. Within the context of emphasis that the European Union places on socially vulnerable groups and the people with disabilities (PD), the mission of the project is to provide equal opportunities to the blind or visually impaired and to ensure their access in knowledge and offer employment opportunities.

Description of the case

Domain

eInclusion

Topic

Digital literacy and competences | eAccessibility

Sector

Education, Science and Research | Local/Regional Community Development

Start date - End date

January 2007 (Ongoing)

Date operational

January 2007

Target Users

People with disability

Target Users Description

The project specifically targets people with visual disabilities, therefore approximately 10 000 blind and visually impaired people and any other known associations for the blind and visually impaired throughout Greece have been approached through this initiative. However, the principal communication of the project has been conducted by Vocational Training S.A. which advertises in daily newspapers of national circulation in order to achieve a wider outreach. Due to ECDL being the only certification incorporated in this project, ECDL Hellas has also communicated the scope and significance of the project to its extended network of Test Centres, through articles and relevant press releases in the media.

Scope

National

Status

Operation

Language(s)

Greek

Policy Context and Legal Framework

The project is part of the governmental Operational Program "Information Society" (IS). The implementation of this programme is undertaken by Vocational Training S.A., a subsidiary of the Greek Organization of Manpower (OAED), and belongs to the public sector. The company was founded in order to undertake the responsibility of vocational training and to manage any such EU funded projects. ECDL Hellas S.A. is the only organisation that participates in the certification process of this project.

ECDL Hellas' success in the project is the result of a series of intensive efforts, as part of the organisation's 5-year Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy (CSR), aligned with the i2010.

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Inclusive services of general interest

Overall Implementation approach

Partnerships between administration and/or private sector and/or non-profit sector

Technology choice

Proprietary technology

Funding source

Public funding national | Private sector

Project size

Implementation: Not applicable/not available

Implementation and Management Approach

ECDL Hellas is actively involved in the administration and delivery of the ECDL certification for people with visual impairments and has committed to providing the best possible testing experience for these candidates.

In September 2005, ECDL Hellas started its collaboration with the 'Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece' in Athens; on that occasion examination-related matters were discussed in order for the ECDL test material to be modified to meet the needs of people with visual impairment.

At the same time two trainers, one of whom is almost blind himself, received the appropriate guidance and support from ECDL Hellas to provide high quality ECDL training to persons with visual impairment. ECDL Hellas was also supportive of the creation of appropriate training material for the preparation of the candidates.

In December 2005 the first examination with 10 candidates was administered. The examination was successful and most candidates received high marks.

In March 2006 the president of the 'Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece' attended the annual ECDL congress where ECDL Hellas stressed the value of certification as well as the value of computer skills for all, without discrimination towards the physical abilities of any candidate.

In April 2006 examinations in ECDL Module 3 took place in the 'Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece' with the same success both in terms of procedures and the candidates' results.

In May and June 2006 the examinations, for Module 4 and Module 7 respectively, took place.
At that point the development of the appropriate training materials concerning the applications most used by people with visual impairment had been completed.

During the school year of 2006/2007 another school for the blind and visually impairedpeople, the 'Helios' School for the Blind of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki, became an ECDL Testing Centre.

Examinations 1 followed in December 2006 with 40 candidates. This examination signalled the start of the administration of ECDL tests for people with visual impairments in Northern Greece as it was the first examination outside Athens and it was followed by a great number of examinations through which dozens of candidates with serious visual impairments or blindness have
been involved in the ECDL certification process.

From the summer of 2006 on, ECDL Hellas cooperated with the Pan-Hellenic Association of the Blind in order to improve its Automated Test Evaluation System features, functionality and tests, to ensure that the candidates with visual impairments could also be tested through this system.

To date, ECDL Hellas is the first and only certification body in Greece with an approved automated testing system that allows people with visual impairments and/or blindness to be tested without external support and assistance during the examination.

Equality and ECDL
Foundation Guidelines

ECDL Hellas has followed the strict guidelines established by ECDL Foundation for all its examination procedures, including those for the blind and visually impaired people. The equal treatment of people with visual disabilities is manifested in the fact that they are not aided during the examination by an external helper, but are provided with extended time: more specifically, candidates are offered 75 minutes instead of 45.

Test Evaluation
System and Examination Content

At the beginning of the project several examinations were administered by using the manual test system. However, at the later stage the in-application Automated Test Evaluation System was improved to meet the special requirements for the examination of the blind and visually impaired people and has been used for the testing of people with visual disabilities since then.

Technology solution

At the beginning of the project several examinations were administered by using the manual test system. However, at the later stage the in-application Automated Test Evaluation System (in-ATES) was improved to meet the special requirements for the examination of the blind and visually impaired people and has been used for the testing of people with visual disabilities since then.

Both the current in-application Automated Test Evaluation System inATES 5.0 and the Examination content used for the ECDL modules "2 - Using the Computer and Managing Files", "3 - Word Processing", "4 - Spreadsheets" and "7 - Information and Communication" are fully compatible with the most popular screen reading software used, such as JAWS and HAL/SuperNova, and have been approved by experts on behalf of the Pan-Hellenic Association for the Blind.

Furthermore, inATES 5.0 has taken into consideration the specific requirements of the blind and the visually impaired and includes added functionalities activated through the keyboard, such as "submit", "undo", "ignore", as well as the ability to enlarge the question in a separate screen for better clearness. These added functions place inATES 5.0 in a position to operate and conduct examinations for the blind and the visually impaired without the need of external aid.

An extended version of the inATES 5.0 Demo, with inactive questions provides people with visual disabilities with more material to be trained on.

Impact, innovation and results

Impact

By 2007, approximately 100 blind people acquired the ECDL certificate in 4 modules through the ECDL Hellas' cooperation with the Pan-Hellenic Association for the Blind and the 'Helios' School for the Blind of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki.
Further effort towards the smooth outcome of the project was ECDL Hellas'
initiative to train and certify two ECDL Certified Training Professional (CTP) trainers from and for the Pan-Hellenic Association for the Blind and the visually impaired, one of whom is nearly blind.

Based on the quality of the training, the candidates received high marks in the ECDL examinations with the overall success rates close to 90%.

The testimonials by the candidates given after the acquisition of their ECDL certification demonstrate that ECDL was able to meet their expectation to achieve the knowledge and skills required to strengthen their communication with their peers, to develop their social skills and to be more extrovert, widen their professional prospects and, summing up, brighten their way of living. In particular, candidates emphasized that with the ECDL certificate they acquired 'a strong professional asset', gained 'new knowledge', increased self sufficiency and 'developed faith' in themselves. This illustrates how the ECDL certification facilitates the day-to-day lives of the participants, strengthens their self-esteem and, above all, provides them with the required qualifications, skills and abilities to advance in the employment market.

By the completion of the project in 2010, all 750 blind and visually impaired individuals are expected to be certified according to the ECDL standard. People facing vision insufficiency or total lack of, have equal rights to benefit from technology and to use it to best effect, both in their personal day-to-day life as well as for their work. With the finalization of this project, and as a substantial percentage of blind and visually impaired participants will be certified to the ECDL standard, ECDL Hellas believes that a critical mass of blind people can diffuse ICT knowledge to other visually impaired individuals.

ECDL Hellas firmly believes in the ECDL certificate's added value and that it will be an accelerator to the inclusion of visually impaired people into the workforce. Within this framework, the ECDL Hellas Board of Directors decided that all funds will be disbursed to the Pan-Hellenic Association for the Blind, to be used for future charitable actions for the benefit of the blind and visually impaired.

Appendix: Candidates'
Testimonials

The main reason for my participation was to certify my knowledge in ICT through an internationally recognized and valid certificate whose Brand name is identified with top quality ICT standards, providing me with a strong professional asset.
Undeniably, certified ICT skills are a prerequisite when entering the labour
market.
For me this experience was truly unique, a step forward, as I acquired new knowledge and enriched my existing skills in ICT
As I always wanted to be occupied within the ICT training and education, through this programme and certification I was able to augment my to-date knowledge and have an in-depth glance in the education approach. It is my belief that I now have the required skills to follow my dreams and to be self-sufficient. Having said that, even as a person I feel that I have enhanced my competencies and I have developed faith in myself.
In my opinion, all the modules in question are equally important and useful as they provide the stepping stones for a successful knowledge.
Undoubtedly I would recommend and encourage my friends, either in full sight or with visual disadvantages, especially those intending to enter the jobs market, to follow my steps. Today's employers have high standards and demands, whilst candidates have high expectations from themselves. This means that in order to possess the basis for a successful career, you have to invest in knowledge

Lessons learnt

Marginalized groups can be hard to reach and motivate, however multi-stakeholder
partnerships with public authorities, specialised NGOs are very successful, in particular when the programmes are tailored for the specific target audience.
Basic e-skills increase the employability of visually disable people and increase their opportunities to enter the job market, matching the demands of employers. To obtain an internationally-recognized certification which is identified with top ICT standards strengthens the professional assets of certified people.
The acquisition of ICT skills increases visually impaired people's communication competences and social skills through acquiring and enrich their ICT skills; this helps them to be more self-confident and self-sufficient, and facilities their everyday personal and professional life.

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