Digital competence for blind people as a basis
for work and vocational education and training

Partners

Berufsförderungsinstitut Steiermark (AT)

The Berufsförderungsinstitut Steiermark (Vocational Promotion Institute Styria) is amongst the leading training institutions in Austria. It was founded and is owned by the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund) and the Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer). Bfi Steiermark has been known in the field of education and training for almost 50 years and is classified as an association, whose activities are non-profit oriented.

The main activities of bfi Steiermark lie primarily in the planning and implementation of courses and learning events within the field of vocational training and adult education.

In addition to the main field of vocational training and adult education, bfi Steiermark has high competence in active labour market policy measures such as workforce providers, vocational placement organisations, socio-economic organisations, self-help projects in the employment policy, as well as in services in the consulting sector (EDP, training and education, quality management, company consulting in terms of personnel development).

Bfi Steiermark also takes over the role of a project leader and a project partner in numerous EU projects. Since bfi has started the EU activities it has participated in more than 45 projects. Following internal testing, a lot of measures, findings and publications developed in EU projects are integrated into the seminars offered at bfi Steiermark. That way, bfi Steiermark guarantees education and training on high international level.

http://www.bfi-stmk.at

CENTER of EDUCATION &REHABILITATION for the BLIND (C.E.R.B) (GR)

The Center of Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind (C.E.R.B) is a Legal Entity of Public Law, supervised by the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, since 1979.
C.E.R.B supports visually impaired individuals from all over Greece, by offering services to visually impaired individuals such as Social Service, mobility – orientation and daily living skills, library and printing house, psychological support, dormitory, educational support for the mainstream education, e.t.c.
There are also an elementary school and a kindergarten, under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.
C.E.R.B. is also developing Research and European Union programs for the promotion of education, professional training and work opportunities for the Blind and visual impaired.

Assist Net (BG)

"Assist Net" is a small-scale dynamic training and consultancy consortium of experts in various fields of knowledge, education and training.
Our mission is “Helping People in Need!”

Our main activities are focused on the following areas:

1. Audits and training needs analyses;
2. Language teaching and learning;
3. Training in entrepreneurial, management and computer skills;
4. Training in intercultural awareness and intercultural communication;
5. Training people with special needs: disabled, disadvantaged, people at risk
6. ODL and e-learning;
7. Development and implementation of educational and training projects;

Assist Net experts have very good experience and expertise in promoting and coordinating European projects under the Lifelong Learning Programme, Phare, etc.

Ongoing projects – selection year 2008 - 2009

1. Deaf Port: European Language Portfolio for the Deaf
2. ELTACS – European Language Teacher Assessment and Certification Scheme
3. DICOMP – Transfer – Digital Competence for the Blind

http://www.assist-net.eu

Lawton School S.L. (ES)

Lawton School S.L. focuses on  vocational training through language competences, and by the use of new technologies for distance learning. The School has experience in the development of on-line vocational language courses which addresses the needs of the blind user.
Training courses in English, French, German and Spanish are geared to general language competences as well as specific purposes such as Exam Preparation, Business, Engineering, Medicine, Finance, etc. Lawton School S.L. is an Official Examination Centre for Trinity College (London), Pitman Qualifications and the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and a recognised training centre for the Dept. of Employment & Training of the Principality of Asturias. The School is ISO-9001 certified.
Lawton School S.L. has been involved in Grundvig and Leonardo da Vinci projects for over fifteen years.

http://www.lawtonschool.com

Harpo (PL)

Harpo Ltd. - the company working for the disabled people. In it's research projects Harpo seeks solutions for making lives and work of disabled people easier. The solutions are later turned into products and distributed in Poland or worldwide.
Harpo is also distributing electronic equipment and computer software for disabled people. Their resources guarantee successful completion of DICOMP Transfer project in Poland.

http://www.harpo.com.pl

Six Point Association (TR)

About Six Dots Association for the Blind Ankara Branch

Six Dots Association for the Blind Ankara Branch was eatablished by boards of association in 1991.

Aimes of  Six Dots Association fort the Blind Ankara Branch is to take an effective role for prevention of blindness in society, to try effort development for economic, societal, cultural rights and vocational skills, to increase the modern, democratic, secular education level of blind peoples and actice participation of use of effective citizenship in Turkey.

Our branch take a  very important place and effective partipation of our association and foundation activities.

Our branch gives some lessons for student that they are preparing to different kind of exams, to use of typical Turkish musical instument saz or bağlama, for use of computer, theatre, Braille Alphebet (especially for reading), to gain skills of independent mobility, for accesibility of internet and teaching  for handicraft

http://www.ankaraaltinokta.org

Screenreader.net (UK)

Screenreader.net CIC is a UK-based not for profit company which distributes the totally free Thunder talking assistive technology screenreader software package to blind and visually impaired people.
Our aim is to share this empowering software with citizens throughout Europe and the world. We understand as blind people ourselves that many cannot afford alternative commercial assistive technology tools and we welcome EU partners who share our vision and work with us.

http://www.screenreader.net