R(AE)L INCLUSION - Training adult educators for working with adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and disabilities

<< Background >>In adult education, there is a lack of representation and focus on adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and/or disabilities, who require quality educational programs suited to their abilities. This is a significant problem as adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and disabilities are even more vulnerable and at greater risk of social exclusion and poor income because they have fewer chances to find a job, and also to further improve and enhance their skills needed to participate in the labour market. The R(ae)l Inclusion project provides tools to train adult educators on approaching and responding to learners’ needs. Introducing them to the diversity of learning and behavioural difficulties and/or disabilities, enabling them to adapt their teaching methods and support adults to achieve set learning outcomes, will provide adults with disabilities a wider opportunity for learning, education, employment, and social interaction. Instead of developing new programs designed especially for people with disabilities, educators will be prepared to work with them in regular classes together with other adult learners. In this way, adult learning can become a space for socialization and interaction between a diverse << Objectives >>The R(ae)l Inclusion objectives are to:- equalize learning and education opportunities for adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and disabilities- provide support and training to adult educators facing difficulties in responding to the needs of adults with disabilities and increase their capacity to adjust the teaching process to their needs-encourage the creation of an inclusive environment within the adult education systemThe project focuses on adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and disabilities and adult educators working in different adult education programmes. Training the trainers in adult education to be able to work with a diverse group of adults with disabilities by applying an individualized approach, will contribute to increasing the quality and the offer of adult education programs for adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and/or disabilities. Regular adult educational programmes will have trained and competent teaching staff able to recognize and provide adequate support to each adult learner. Adults with disabilities will thus have a greater choice in further education, improvement of their own competencies, and active involvement in society tailored to their abilities.<< Implementation >>The R(ae)l inclusion partnership implemented the following activities in the 5 project countries - Croatia, Bulgaria, Spain, Cyprus and France:- Development, revision, translation and implementation of the In-Service Training Programme for Adult Educators- Development, revision, translation and implementation of a set of practical tasks and an e-Diary for adult educators, with continuous mentor support- Development and support of a forum and group discussions between adult educators so they can share their experiences, thoughts, and doubts with other educators and their mentors- Development, revision and translation of the Open-Source Online Site and Platform that enable any educator to take part in the training and mentoring process online in any of the project languages (English, Croatian, Bulgarian, Spanish, Greek and French)- organisation of a local event with adult education providers, organisations, educators and learners to promote R(ae)l Inclusion results as well as the importance of providing learning and education opportunities for adults with learning and behavioural difficulties and disabilities<< Results >>R(ae)l Inclusion results include:- In-Service Training Programme for Adult Educators comprising 50 learning hours. The aim is to teach adult educators about a diverse group of adults with disabilities they could encounter in their everyday work. It introduces educators to the teaching methods and strategies they could apply in their teaching. - Virtual Mirror Toolkit - a set of practical tasks and an e-Diary for adult educators to complete and reflect on their work and performance after the completion of the training programme. This will help them self-reflect on their skills and knowledge, difficulties they encounter, and ways of improving their work with adults with disabilities.- Open-Source Online Site (raelinclusion.eu) and Platform (toolkit.raelinclusion.eu) for e-learning containing 50 hours of the online training programme, a forum for networking and counselling, tasks and an e-Diary for adult educators' self-reflection. The purpose of the platform is for adult educators to increase their self-directed learning skills, share their experience, thoughts, and doubts with other educators and their mentors, and reflect on competences they seek to develop during and after the training.