CP-PACK 4th Newsletter

CP-PACK 4th Newsletter
November 2011
The newsletter issue 4 is a part of the informative material
concerning the aims and activities of the project. It intends to
disseminate and promote the main project outcomes.
European Commission
Lifelong Learning Programme
Grundtvig Multilateral Project
Development of Supportive Packages for Parents and Teachers
of Children with Cerebral Palsy (03-18 Age Group)
510485-LLP-1-2010-1-TR-GRUNDTVIG-GMP
Since last meeting ...
...the group has been building training modules, while the Greek group defines a common framework for its
presentation and Portuguese organize pilot course. Cultural idiosyncrasies of our countries have shown up but the
group stays together every time we meet, building the scaffold of our final product to be ready in September.
Project Meeting in Porto :: 16th to 20th November 2011
The Portuguese meeting in Porto refreshed our team spirit and represented a turning point in what concerns the
organization and development of Workpackage 6: Training Modules. In this meeting, all partners had the
opportunity to express their points of view and structure outlines and the group could at last harmonize the
different perspectives and point out what is going to be a good and collaborative work. Dates of deliveries were
also settled.
Partners also took important decisions regarding the pilot training (WP7) and rearranged the calendar and
methodology so that next meeting in Greece can be a nice and interesting experience of multiculturalism in the
European spirit.
Once again we had the moderation style of our external evaluator, Lejo Swacht , that presented his report and
helped with very useful hints from his experience in EU projects.
Digital presence of the project has also been
analyzed and the group had constructive
conversations about the role and layout of the
official site and other communication tools used
among the partners.
The social program was also interesting, with visits
to the assistive technology resource center of the
School of Education, coordinated by one of the
partners, and also to local institutions connected to
cerebral palsy, that offered a clear view of the
inclusion style of the Portuguese model for special
needs children.
The weather was not perfect, but it allowed nice
and interesting social events in the beautiful city of
Porto.
The Resource Center for Assistive Technologies
NAID, the resource center for assistive technologies of the School of Education in Porto is an
organic unit of Polytechnic Institute of Porto and was founded in 2005, following a European
Program ( Programa Acesso UMIC) sponsoring initiatives for digital inclusion and
accessibilities for persons with disabilities.
Seen as a challenge and an opportunity to the ICT Department, the Center has
developed since its beginning several types of activity in the fields of direct
support, training, assessment and investigation, together with the special
education department and taking digital inclusion as a way to social inclusion.
In the scope of Cerebral Palsy, NAID is a privileged partner, considering all
synergies and contacts gathered in some years of training to
special education teachers and parents of children with special
needs.
With a vast collection of equipments, the resource center follows
the HEART Methodology and the main frameworks of European
programs in assistive technology and is now programming many
activities regarding its participation in the CPPACK project.
APPC Rehabilitation Center of Porto Cerebral Palsy Association
The Porto Cerebral Palsy Association APPC is committed to be a valuable partner with
people with cerebral palsy or related neurological conditions, and other vulnerable
people and their families, in guidance and support of their needs regarding their full
inclusion as citizens. Its mission is to provide quality services in the areas of
rehabilitation, education and occupation, autonomy, integration and quality of life of
all persons with cerebral palsy and related neurological conditions.
The group had the opportunity to visit the rehabilitation center in Cartes, where Pedro Fernandes made a
quick presentation of the institution including its history and mission. We then visited all the units of that
specific building, including therapy rooms (physiotherapy, speech therapy, nutritionist and snoezelen room),
gymnasiums and house for training of daily living activities.
The institution provides services to individuals with cerebral palsy from the geographical area of Porto. The
services are directed to all ages from early intervention to living and occupational facilities to adults.
APPC is a distinguished stakeholder in CPPACK project and has been collaborating with the portugese partner
in many activities , represented by Liliana Araújo, who joined us in
the Copenhagen meeting.
EB 2/3 Cerco (Basic and Secondary School)
At the school of Cerco we visited the Support
Unit for Students with Profound Disabilities.
This is a typical Portuguese school generally
attended by students from 10 to 15 years
old. The students with profound disabilities
are all enrolled in inclusive classes but they
may spend a part of their weekly schedule in
the classroom of the unit for the development
of specific skills and the promotion of activities
that would not be possible in the regular classrooms. During the visit we had the
opportunity to see the support unit but also the common areas of the school, including
library and common rooms, as well as the resource center for ICT in Special Education (CRTIC/PORTO)
National network of ICT Resource Centers for special educational needs in Portugal
In Portugal, a national network of 25 ICT Resource Centers for Special Needs was launched by the Ministry of
Education in the school year of 20072008. His office was also responsible for the implementation of the
National Plan for the Integration of People with Disabilities (20062009). These Centers are located in
mainstream schools and cover schools from a neighboring district area.
This national initiative started in 20072008 with 14 centers and, in the following year, 10 more centers were
created , the last one opening in 20092010. The teams of ICT Resource Centers for Special Needs have
teachers trained in special education needs (SEN) who provide training and support to their colleagues
teaching pupils/students with disabilities. The Centre teams had startup training in AAC software in 2007/2008
and, since then, have participated in many other courses and public events regarding inclusive technology.
The main purpose of these Centers is to
·
Recommend assistive technology ;
·
Assess students with permanent SEN for the use of ICT, adapting them to their specific needs; Track
and monitor students' use of ICT observed by the team;
·
Provide support for hospitalized or pupils in special conditions in video-conference lessons ;
·
Provide information services, training, advice and documentation to the educational community;
·
Promote meetings, seminars, workshops, within the special education aimed at teachers, therapists
and parents;
·
Publicize the activities and resources of CRTIC;
·
Establish partnerships and sponsorships;
·
Coordinate with other departments and institutions;
·
Find and disseminate materials and equipment useful for students with
SEN.
Innovation and originality of the Centers results from the fact that there was no
such structure before in Portugal. Assistive technology was known and accessible
only to a few.
With two teachers trained in SEN and one in ICT, the team of CRTIC Porto has been
working with APPC on SEN pupils assessment and support and also in what
concerns de CPPACK Project.
Next in the project
Next meeting will take place in February in Greece. It will be a very important date, when finally all training modules
will be put to practice in pilot training sessions. Until then... GOOD WORK!
Vicky DETSI
Katerina KOUTLA
Contact Person : Mintaze KEREM GÜNEL
Contact Person : Pirvu IONICA
Contact Persons :
Karina RIISKJAER RAUN
Betina RASMUSSEN
Mette KLIIM-DUE