Improvement of Digital Skills of People with Intellectual Disabilities

<< Background >>During the Covid crisis, our efforts to support people with intellectual disabilities revealed their limited digital knowledge and skills, hindering their ability to effectively utilize digital technologies and enhance their quality of life. We also discovered that individuals with intellectual disabilities who access the internet are highly vulnerable to deception and the potential for significant harm, as they lack awareness of online dangers and misinformation. Furthermore, we identified a lack of digital proficiency among caregivers, limiting their ability to provide efficient support.Our search for suitable education and training programs for people with intellectual disabilities highlighted a significant gap, with a lack of dedicated and customized courses tailored to their specific needs. Recognizing that digitalization is a key priority for the EU in the coming years and acknowledging that people with disabilities cannot be left isolated, we decided to develop and implement an educational and training program.The proposed program aimed to empower caregivers to educate people with disabilities in the field of digital skills, equipping them for the use of digital technologies in their daily lives. << Objectives >>The objectives of the project were as follows: To train associates of non-governmental organizations working with people with intellectual disabilities in teaching digital technology skills to enhance the social inclusion, independence, and quality of life of individuals with disabilities. To align the project with the horizontal priority of Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education by empowering the target group to teach people with disabilities and include them in education and training activities.To address the horizontal priority of Addressing digital transformation through the development of digital readiness, resilience, and capacity by equipping the target group with digital knowledge and skills that can be transferred to people with disabilities, ultimately improving their quality of life. To enhance the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the local community by acquiring digital skills, in line with the priorities of bridging intercultural, inter-generational, and social divides and fostering community cohesion.<< Implementation >>There were three activities implemented in the project:Development of Educational Program and Material involved analyzing the needs of the target group, exploring the current state of the field covered by the project, and developing a training program. The main output was a comprehensive handbook that covered essential topics, including how to effectively teach and train people with intellectual disabilities, the significance of empathy for successful education and inclusion, and digital skills necessary for their inclusion.Development of the Web Platform consisted of several tasks. First, there was a focus on ensuring usability and accessibility. This involved analyzing user needs, conceptualizing the platform accordingly. A software requirements specification was then created to outline the features and functionalities of the platform. A prototype was developed and tested. Pilot Education: In this activity, preparations were made for pilot .The pilot education was conducted in accordance with plan and program developed in the previous project activity. Throughout the pilot phase, valuable feedback from participants of the education program was gathered and utilized to improve the educational materials and the web platform.<< Results >>The outputs are as follow: : A specialized training program was developed for individuals who support people with intellectual disabilities. The program aimed to enhance their skills and knowledge in effectively assisting and guiding people with intellectual disabilities. A comprehensive handbook was created specifically for educators involved in the project. This handbook served as a practical guide, providing valuable information, A web platform was designed and developed in accordance with principles of usability, accessibility, and the software requirements specification. Extensive testing was conducted to ensure its functionality and effectiveness. The project involved the implementation of pilot education activities. These activities included preparing the necessary conditions for conducting face-to-face and online training, selecting representatives of the target groups in Croatia and Slovenia, organizing blended education that combined online and face-to-face components . The successful realization of the above-described outputs and achievements has made it possible to fulfill the main objectives of the project, which include the education and training of caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities.