ATLEC (Assistive Technology Learning through a Unified Curriculum) is currently conducting a European survey on the training and usage of assistive technologies (AT).

ATLEC focuses on training people with disabilities in being aware of and being able to use assistive technologies, whilst also creating the job profile of an ICT-AT trainer, therefore giving people with disabilities another route into employment or self-employment.

Recent surveys with AT users and specialists throughout Europe have highlighted and confirmed that the lack of appropriate or sufficient training of end-users is the core barrier towards using AT. This lack of training is also subsequently recognised as the main barrier to securing or maintaining employment within a regular working environment.

A number of training initiatives already exist but they mainly address training of the trainers and professionals working with people with disabilities and not the actual beneficiaries (people with disabilities), who remain largely unaware of the huge range of available ICT-AT or of the potential it provides for them to build their skills, their employability or their independence.

To better grasp the problems with current training practices (or the lack thereof), a survey was launched that is targeted towards:

• Parent / Carer / Personal Assistant of a person with a disability.
• Support Organisations representing people with disabilities.
• Educator (Teacher/Further Education or VET Trainer/Higher Education Tutor).
• AT Provider (e.g. manufacturer, distributor, occupational therapist, etc.)
• Policy Maker (for education, disability, employment).

The survey focuses on the AT training that is available and aims to gather feedback on the quality of the training. The online survey can be found at:

• English - http://www.phoenixkm.eu/survey//index.php?sid=48879&lang=en
• Dutch - http://www.phoenixkm.eu/survey//index.php?sid=48879&lang=nl
• Greek - http://www.phoenixkm.eu/survey//index.php?sid=48879&lang=el
• Italian - http://www.phoenixkm.eu/survey//index.php?sid=48879&lang=it

Interested participants are kindly requested to complete the online survey.

Background information

The ATLEC project Team is composed by:

• Oak Field School, Nottingham (UK)
• PhoenixKM BVBA (Belgium)
• Disability Now (Greece)
• Associazione Italiana Assistenza Spastici (A.I.A.S) (Italy)
• University Of Athens (Greece)
• Greenhat Interactive Ltd (UK)

The ATLEC (Assistive Technology Learning Through A Unified Curriculum – 518229-LLP-1-2011-1-UK-LEONARDO-LMP) project has been partially funded under the Lifelong Learning program.

Further Information:

• Original news article – ATLEC Project
• ATLEC Survey