Topic outline
- General
- Introduction
Introduction
- The Puzzle course aims to support trainers/supporters of people with ID to empower them to live and function as independently as possible.
This “course” is founded on the understandings that emerged from the activities undertaken in the Puzzle project which was implemented between September 2015 and August 2017. The partnership involved in the process of building tools and understandings for supporting the challenging work done by trainers/supporters of persons with ID comprised of: FORTH (GR), SMIALEK (PL), JDC (LT), UEL (UK) and MTM (SE).
The work conducted with trainers/supporters within the Puzzle project suggests that trainers are in need of enriching their resources through ideas, suggestions and tools, thematically grouped, rather than following a conventional natured course. The project work has further demonstrated that persons with ID benefit most when a collaborative approach is applied between learner and trainers. Exploratory learning is supportive of the learnability potential of persons with ID.
The “course” put together here does not by any means address all the training needs of trainers/supporters of persons with ID. Such an attempt is unrealistic as the nature of their activity is diversified –driven by the level of ID, the persons with ID tacit knowledge and background, and the support system embedded in the national regulatory framework and its implementation.
On the basis of the above the Puzzle project is hereby contributing to the “learning needs” of trainers a set of four distinct dimensions for awareness development and reflection that are essential for the support of persons with ID. Specifically, learning content of this training endeavor aims to facilitate
- the drafting of texts in Easy-to-Read (EtR) format (Module 1)
- the use of Multimedia for supporting learning of persons with ID, supported with Guides and Multimedia applications (Module 2)
- the transformation of text into forms that are easily understandable by people with limited capabilities in reading: Easy-to-Understand (EtU) approach (Module 3)
- the demonstration of content development based on the EtU approach (enriched with multimedia) as examples of what a trainer/supporter can achieve through a collaborative approach with persons with ID (Module 4)
It is recommended that the content provided here is used in a sequential manner. However, if the learner is well acquainted with the Easy-to-Read method he/she can skip the first dimension/module and concentrate on the other three Modules. It is suggested to use the EtR ‘Checklist’ as a self-assessment instrument.
In case the course material do not suffice to enhance competence development of trainers/supporters of persons with ID, the Puzzle team is open to assist individual learners in any way deemed necessary so as to equip them to integrate the knowledge base, understandings and tools/applications to accommodate the learning needs of their trainees/supporters.
Please contact us for any specific requests and we will support your efforts: Andy Minnion minnion@uel.ac.uk (RIX, UK), Kathy Kikis-Papadakis katerina@iacm.forth.gr (FORTH, GR), Lina Trebiene dienos_centras@hotmail.com (JDC, LT), Wojciech Dużewski duzewski@gmail.com (SMIALEK, PL) or though Get involved.
We hope that the developed material is informative and useful for you and your learners. We invite you to share any resources that YOU produce with us (please contact your national partner or through Get involved).
The main ‘proof’ that your effort is successful will be its co-production and testing with YOUR learners!
- Module 1: Easy-to-Read
Module 1: Easy-to-Read
Material about how to write easy-to-read information
This module aims to facilitate the drafting of texts in Easy to Read (EtR) format. The module consists of two parts: In Part 1 of this module one can expect to get acquainted with the EtR method and how to implement it to produce text people with ID can read and understand. Part 2 aims to facilitate the transformation of EtR text to Easy-to-Understand (EtU).
Part 1 - EtR
Get acquainted with the EtR method and how to implement it
Describes in detail the stages of creating text in a form suitable for people with limited capabilities in reading.
Serves as a self-assessment tool
Part 2 - EtU
Get acquainted on how to transform EtR text to Easy-to-Understand (EtU)
It is recommended to access the resources below but revisit these once you have studied Modules 2 and 3
Describes the evolution of EtR text to EtU
Guides trainers on how to organize and run a workshop for staff and other professionals on EtR and the concept of EtU
Note: All the resources above are also available in Greek, Polish and Lithuanian and are accessible through the respective national sections on the Puzzle platform (GR, LT and PL).
Support on Module 1 can be sought by the Puzzle expert partner Ulla Bohman, Swedish Agency for Accessible Media (MTM, SE).
- Module 2: Working with Multimedia
Module 2: Working with Multimedia
This module aims to facilitate the use of Multimedia for supporting learning of persons with ID, supported with Guides and Multimedia applications.
Get familiarized with innovative ways of using ICT and multimedia technologies to engage people with ID actively in learning in new and accessible ways.
How to use new media tools and EtR information in an effective way that serves people with IDs
How to Guides
A series of seven Training Guides to engage people with IDs actively in learning in new and accessible ways.
Video Lectures
Eight videos presenting different aspects of Multimedia Advocacy are available through the project’s YouTube Channel
Note: All the resources above are also available in Greek, Polish and Lithuanian and are accessible through the respective national sections on the Puzzle platform (GR, LT and PL).
Support on Module 2 can be sought by the Puzzle expert partner Andy Minnion, RIX Research & Media, University of East London (RIX, UK).
- Module 3: The Easy-to-Understand approach
Module 3: The Easy-to-Understand approach
This module aims to facilitate the transformation of text into forms that are easily understandable by people with limited capabilities in reading. The module introduces “Easy-to-Understand” (EtU), an approach developed within the Puzzle project as a solution to the information challenges that our learners with ID face in relation to understanding their Human Rights. EtU is an inclusive ‘co-production’ approach that upgrades the EtR method by enhancing information presentations with use of Web, multimedia and digital tools –in other words, different modes of communication and not just reading. EtU requires the active engagement of persons with ID.
Get familiarized with the EtU approach to transform texts into forms that are easily understandable by people with limited capabilities in reading.
An example, based on Human Rights, of the 5-step PUZZLE Approach supplements, with the description of the approach
Provides useful information on implementing the Puzzle Approach
Developed during the Puzzle Symposium by persons with ID /self-advocates themselvesNote: All the resources above are also available in Greek, Polish and Lithuanian and are accessible through the respective national sections on the Puzzle platform (GR, LT and PL).
Support on Module 3 can be sought by any of the Puzzle partners or through Get Involved.
- Module 4: Examples of Human Rights materials
Module 4: Examples of Human Rights materials
This module demonstrates content development based on the EtU approach (enriched with multimedia) as examples of what a trainer/supporter can achieve through a collaborative approach with persons with ID.
Demonstrated are informative documents on Human Rights, co-developed by the partner organisations of the Puzzle Consortium from Greece, Lithuania and Poland with their learners.
This material includes advisory content, learning session plans and self-learning materials in various media formats on Human Rights. The information provided is designed to be easily understood by adults with ID and they have helped to develop the materials.
These resources serve as good examples of the PUZZLE approach being put into practice. Professionals can use these innovative educational tools directly, adopt these to their needs or get inspired by the examples and lesson plans to work with their learners in similar ways and develop further this new way of working.
Provide information on:
- What do we mean by ‘Informative Documents’;
- How many important documents on the issues of
Human Rights are adapted to the needs of people with ID;
- How can professionals
help people with ID to access easy to read and easy to understand information
on the issues of Human Rights?
Informative documents
Examples of good practice that will inspire people with ID and professionals working with people with ID in other countries and organizations to make their own EtR and EtU products
Informative documents in RIX Wiki format
RIX Wikis are simple, accessible, secure and easy to build websites that have been designed to help people to create and share Easy to Understand information in multimedia format. Wikis are largely used by people with ID to create multimedia person-centred plans and personal portfolios of content to help them to communicate about themselves with people who support and educate them. They are also a popular tool for the creation of Public Information Websites that are easy to understand. Wiki builders can use pictures, words, video clips and sound clips to capture the voice, skills, aspirations and needs of the individual as well as to present information in highly accessible form.
A travel guide on a visit to the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania. [Article 20. Personal Mobility]
Ένας οδηγός για άτομα με ΝΙ για το πως να χρησιμοποιούν το σύστημα δημόσιων συγκοινωνιών στην Αθήνα. [Άρθρο 20. Μετακίνηση]
Ένας οδηγός σχετικά με το δικαίωμα να έχεις ένα σπίτι, να ζεις ανεξάρτητα με οποίον θέλεις και να έχεις την υποστήριξη που χρειάζεσε. [Άρθρο 19. Ανεξάρτητη διαβίωση]
Ένας οδηγός για άτομα με ΝΙ για το δικαίωμά τους να ψηφίζουν και πως να το ασκούν. [Άρθρο 29. Ανάμειξη με την πολιτική]
Strona internetowa WIKI zawierająca informacje na temat podstawowych praw człowieka z uwzględnieniem potrzeb osób niepełnosprawnych.
Tai savarankiško mokymosi įrankis, padėsiantis sutrikusio intelekto asmeniui geriau suprasti savo teises. keliauti savarankiškai. Vadovaujantis Jungtinių tautų teisių konvencijos 12 str. Lygybė prieš įstatymą.
Informative documents in other formats
Resources that includes advisory content, learning session plans and self-learning materials in various media formats (video, PowerPoint presentations, EtR documents) on human rights. The resources - developed in English, Greek, Lithuanian and Polish - are available on Puzzle Project website.We hope that the developed resources and the approaches promoted by the Puzzle project will be interesting and useful for you and your learners and we invite you to share any resources that YOU make (please contact your national partner or through Get involved).
- Complementary resources
Complementary resources
The Complementary resources include:
- A study, conducted in the frame of the Puzzle Project, for better understanding the needs of people with ID
- Materials from the International Symposium: ‘Easy to Read becomes Easy to Understand!’
- Self-assessment Tools
Needs assessment to identify people with ID requirements for information and their background knowledge regarding Human Rights issues.
The Project PUZZLE Symposium (Heraklion, Crete, on June 8 2017 –followed next day by two half-day workshops) focused on innovative practices aiming to facilitate greater access to information and promotion of Human Rights for persons with ID.
Puzzle Project resources that can serve as self-assessment tools for professionals / trainers / supporters