The incorporation into the working world of People with Down Syndrome (PDS) is recent, with positive consequences: greater social integration, the promotion of personal autonomy and the fact that they can feel full citizenship Studies shown that PDS are able to improve their learning through Virtual Reality VIRTUAL DS is launched with the main objective of increasing the competences (attitudes, skills, knowledge) of PDS, Job Trainers and companies about how to exploit Virtual Reality for increasing the employability of PDS, according to the Supported Employment Model, through an innovative training program The project has the next specific objectives: • To raise awareness and motivate the full collective about the capacities for employment of PDS and the potential of VR for enhancing them. • To developed VR contents and introduce them in a global training methodology based on the SE Model. • To transfer knowledge and guidelines about how to exploit Virtual Reality as training tool. • To enhance the access of PDS to labor market. • Sensitize companies and thus facilitate the incorporation of the PDS in them. • To develop a collaborative model with commercial companies based on the SE model for PDS in order to facilitate their active incorporation. In order to cover all the needed competences, the consortium includes: • 4 entities working in the field of supporting PDS (ASINDOWN, ALDO-CET, DDSS, APPT21), involving a big collective of persons, families and professionals. These organizations have own staff and also established cooperation with experts in their countries • 1 entity specialized in Supported Employment(STATUS). • 1 company specialized in the development of Virtual Reality contents (IMAGINA RV) Through the execution of this Project the next results will be obtained; • Co-Created Methodological Guide with the direct participation of End Users, with the main objective of determining the key contents, methodologies and tools needed for creating and improving the critical competences of persons with Down Syndrome, Job Trainers and companies for exploiting Virtual Reality for increasing the employability of PDS, according to the Supported Employment Model. • Training Materials addressed to PDS, Job Trainers and Companies for facilitating the implementation of Virtual Reality for increasing the employability of PDS, according to the Supported Employment Model Training Materials will include Virtual Reality Contents will be developed including virtual scenarios for training PDS in operations and emotional intelligence. Specifications and previous preparation about selected jobs operations will be needed in order to facilitate the efficient development of VR Contents. These specifications can also become written training materials, so each job will have written training contents and VR Contents, (videos and audios are also welcome). • Experiential Training Activities will be designed; They will be the core of the Training Program and they will for enhance the practical and experiential training of PDS with Virtual Reality contents, including the optimal and oriented exploitation of aforementioned Training Materials within real environments. • Development of an e-Training Platform, including awareness, Virtual Reality Contents, Training Materialsfor supporting the implementation of the Training Methodology. • Creation of 5 VIRTUAL DSUNITS in all the Down Syndrome and Supported EmploymentAssociations of the Consortium in order to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the project after the project lifetime. • Development of Dissemination Actions addressed to the European collective related to persons with Down Syndrome. VALIDATION ACTIONS of Virtual Reality Contents Training Materials and e-Training Platform involving 20 persons with Down Syndrome, their Job Trainers and companies ‘representatives on each participant country. VIRTUAL DS will benefit a number of persons during the project lifetime: • 90 Persons with Down Syndrome (PDS), their Job Trainers and companies’ representatives will be trained (20 in Spain, Romania, Portugaland 15 Slovenia and UK), through their participation in the validation actions • 1500 persons with Down Syndrome, Job Trainers and Companies Representatives (300 in Spain, Romania, Slovenia, Portugal and UK), will be aware, through the multiplier events and dissemination actions After the project lifetime, and through the VIRTUAL DS Units, we estimate to create a multiplier effect achieving the next impact: • 75 persons with Down Syndrome, their Job Trainers and Companies’ Representatives will be trained yearly during the 5 years after the completion of the project (15 persons in Spain, Romania, Slovenia, Portugal and UK) • 1000 persons with Down Syndrome, Job Trainers and Companies’ Representatives will be aware yearly during the 5 years after the completion of the project (200 Spain, Romania, Slovenia, Portugal and UK), through the dissemination actions
The incorporation into the working world of People with Down Syndrome (PDS) is recent, with positive consequences: greater social integration, the promotion of personal autonomy and the fact that they can feel full citizenship Studies shown that PDS are able to improve their learning through Virtual Reality.VIRTUAL DS is launched with the main objective of increasing the competences (attitudes, skills, knowledge) of People with Down Syndrome and Other Intellectual Disabilities, Job Trainers and companies about how to exploit Virtual Reality for increasing the employability of PDS, according to the Supported Employment Model, through an innovative training program. The project has the next specific objectives: • To raise awareness and motivate the full collective about the capacities for employment of PDS and the potential of VR for enhancing them. • To developed VR contents and introduce them in a global training methodology based on the SE Model. • To transfer knowledge and guidelines about how to exploit Virtual Reality as training tool.• To enhance the access of PDS to labor market. • Sensitize companies and thus facilitate the incorporation of the PDS in them. • To develop a collaborative model with commercial companies based on the Supported Employment model for PDS in order to facilitate their active incorporation. In order to cover all the needed competences, the consortium includes: • 4 entities working in the field of supporting PDS (ASINDOWN, ALDO-CET, DDSS, APPT21), involving a big collective of people, families and professionals. These organizations have own staff and also established cooperation with experts in their countries • 1 entity specialized in Supported Employment (STATUS EMPLOYMENT). • 1 company specialized in the development of Virtual Reality contents (IMAGINA RV) Through the execution of this Project the next results obtained are; • Co-Created Methodological Guide with the direct participation of End Users, with the main objective of determining the key contents, methodologies and tools needed for creating and improving the critical competences of people with Down Syndrome, Job Trainers and companies for exploiting Virtual Reality for increasing the employability of PDS, according to the Supported Employment Model. • Training Materials addressed to PDS, Job Trainers and Companies for facilitating the implementation of Virtual Reality for increasing the employability of PDS, according to the Supported Employment Model Training Materials include Virtual Reality Contents developed including virtual scenarios for training PDS in operations and emotional intelligence. Specifications and previous preparation about selected jobs operations needed in order to facilitate the efficient development of VR Contents. Each job has written training contents and VR Contents, (videos, pictures and virtual tours). • Experiential Training Activities designed; They are the core of the Training Program and they are for enhance the practical and experiential training of PDS with Virtual Reality contents, including the optimal and oriented exploitation of aforementioned Training Materials within real environments. • Development of an e-Training Platform, including awareness, Virtual Reality Contents, Training Materials for supporting the implementation of the Training Methodology. • Creation of 5 VIRTUAL DS UNITS in all the Down Syndrome and Supported Employment Associations of the Consortium in order to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the project after the project lifetime. • Development of Dissemination Actions addressed to the European collective related to people with Down Syndrome. VALIDATION ACTIONS of Virtual Reality Contents Training Materials and e-Training Platform have involved a total of 64 people with Down Syndrome, 42 Job Trainers and 25 companies ‘representatives on each participant country. VIRTUAL DS benefits a number of people during the project lifetime: • 131 Persons with Down Syndrome (PDS), their Job Trainers and companies’ representatives have been trained 50 in Spain, 30 in Romania, 20 in Portugal and, 15 in Slovenia and 16 in UK), through their participation in the validation actions (See Validation Report) • More than 1590 people with Down Syndrome, Job Trainers and Companies Representatives (490 in Spain, 200 Romania, 200 Slovenia, 300 Portugal and 400 UK), have been aware, through the multiplier events and dissemination actions (See Dissemination Report).