Development of a training program for improving the Quality of Life of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities through the use of ICT solutions / idICT
Background
Removing barriers to accessing Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by persons with intellectual disabilities is of paramount importance. Being excluded from ICT based applications implies being shut down not only from the information society, but also from accessing essential public services, as well as from the opportunity of living an independent life, that means having choice and control over the assistance and/or equipment needed to go about your daily life and having equal access to housing, transport and mobility, health, employment, education and training opportunities. Independent living does not necessarily mean doing things for yourself, or living on one's own. The ICT opportunity for persons with intellectual disabilities can be better assessed by analysing how each type of technology access contributes to the different dimensions involved in the Quality of Life of Intellectual Disabled people.
The main barriers and challenges in this context are:
- There is a lack of technologies following the Universal Design principle. Accesibility and usability are criteria not commonly used when designing ICTs.
- There are too much technologies (apps, software…) that can be used, at least partially, for people with intellectual disabilities, but they are not known by the professionals, families and other person supporting intellectual disabled people.
- These ICTs are not related or linked to quality of life dimensions so they cannot be used with a clear purpose when families and professionals work with intellectual disabled people.
- The cost of assistive technologies are high.
- Even when they are free, assistive technologies or embedded accessibility features in commodity products might still remain unused if there is a lack of experts and professionals trained in the use of these technologies and features.
- Training and support services are insufficient.
Objective, activities, outputs
Main objective:
to develop a training methodology aimed at persons with intellectual disabilities, their families and professionals based on the practice and experience of the COPAVA and IBV.
Main activities and outputs:
- Development of suitable training materials including guidelines of use and specific application of ICTs for improving the quality of life through the use of identified and existing ICTs and tools for supporting the understanding and implementation of the training materials.
- Development of practical activities and guidelines for implementation
- Development of supporting tools, including the development of a training platform.
- Validation of the methodology, materials, activities and tools through Pilot Trainings in each participating country, involving about 30-50 persons with intellectual disabilities, families and professionals.