All living independently

"<< Background >>Most part of people with intellectual disabilities don't live independently or at least don't live as much independently as it would be possible for them. ""Living independently doesn't mean doing everything yourself or not having support: independent living (IL) is about having choice and control over your life and having the same range of opportunities as a non disabled person"". Their carers often have no idea of how to support these people in acquiring IL skills.Intellectual disabilities organisations need to be updated about achievements and practices concerning IL.These are the reasons why this project has diffused theory and practice of IL all over Europe. IL is the necessary soft skill to ""maximise"" inclusion opportunities.<< Objectives >>1) Overall objectiveContributing to the pursue of social inclusion of people with Down syndrome (DS) or with other kinds of intellectual disabilities.All the partners’ reason for being is the social inclusion of people with DS.2) PurposeIncreased effectiveness in pursuing social inclusion of people with DS by their organisations, thanks to increased awareness about independent living (IL) of people with DS - as a prerequisite for their social and job inclusion.<< Implementation >>Design, development, test and diffusion of an e-learning course on independent living of people with Down syndrome1) Design: according to needs detected and shared by partner associations2) Development: after having been presented to the other partners at the first coordination meeting, the e-learning has been developed in 4 - instead of 3, as planned at the beginning - modules, by AIPD Potenza (PZ), with contributions from all partners about activities to be implemented3) Test : there has been a pilot test, during spring and summer 2024. Some partners have translated the original English version into their languages . Then a restricted group of testers (both professionals and parents) tested the course and implemented activities with people with Down syndrome. A group of representatives from 4 European countries (people with Ds and accompanying persons) met in PZ (IT) for three days and tested many of the activities proposed by the e-learning.4) Diffusion: AIPD PZ spread the e learning to the other AIPD local associations by email and during a meeting of all AIPD professionals who deal with IL. EDSA presented the proposal at its annual general meeting (Madrid, October 2024). All partners organised multiplier events.<< Results >>The training course, an e-learning about independent living (theory and practice), is addressed to professionals, and caregivers . It consists of 4 modules and is available on EDSA website, in different versions (English and Italian, so far). https://edsa.eu/edsa-training/"