We ended the RURAAC project with two great events. The first was a training organized together with our associated partners from Maria’s World Foundation. We began with a discussion with the people with intellectual disabilities from the foundation. They were invited to share their thoughts about the hike they went to in August this year. The purpose of the hike was to explore a local natural heritage site – Aramiliec park. Participants co-designed materials using alternative augmentative communication AAC tools for preparing for the hike and for spreading information about it. Now they had the chance to remember their input and tell others about the most memorable moments of their experience. The most notable feedback received was that:
Overall participants shared a lot of details about the hike
They remembered what they liked – playing games in the forest and what they disliked – the lack of internet connection
They remembered the foreseen circumstances – the fact they had to travel with a bus for 1 hour to the park, and unforeseen circumstances – the rain during the hike
The feedback shows us that the AAC materials we developed and the co-designing were very successful for the people with intellectual disabilities. It became clear these tools are applicable even for groups that are not familiar with them.
Next we had time dedicated to a short training and practical natural heritage exploration with educators of people with intellectual disabilities and others working with them. The training was a great way to pass on the RURAAC Booklet ‘’Training Modules for Educators on Alternative Augmentative Communication for Natural Heritage’’.
During the second event we shared not only the RURAAC project and its results but the way it offers accessibility. That was done during the conference Accessible-EU Bulgaria ‘’Partnership for cognitive accessibility’’ which gathered more than 100 participants from the Commission for Protection from Discrimination, NGOs, experts in social and educational centers, universities, Sofia Municipality, other municipalities, businesses, advocates and self-advocates, and others. The conference was organized as part of the project AccessibleEU supported by the European Commission.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Erasmus+ National Agency - INDIRE. Neither the European Union nor INDIRE can be held responsible for them. Project RURAAC Nr.2023-1-IT02-KA210-ADU-000152145
Commenti