LeTITBE project aims at evolving and scaling up the digital pedagogical experience conducted in the previous Erasmus+ DESkTOP project (2015-1-ES01-KA204-015553), where an ambitious strategic partnership undertook a digital educational pathway and developed a multilingual Mobile Application (Mefacilyta DESkTOP) as innovative learning tool for adult persons with intellectual disabilities. The didactical content and accessibility of this pedagogical Mobile App will be further developed and stepped up within LeTITBE project in a twofold perspective. Firstly, the wide range of e-learning programs for occupational activities accessible today in the Mobile App will be enriched with a new set of educational subjects for adult persons with disabilities targeting not only the employability skills of the learners, but also their social inclusion (supporting both digital and real communication and interaction with other persons) and their self-advocacy (facilitating awareness of their rights and opportunities as set out in the main international and European legislation). Additionally, adapted learning tools will be developed and tested to make the use of tablets and Mobile Application possible also for adult persons with physical disabilities (paralyzed, quadriplegic persons, etc.) or deaf-mute persons (replacing audio/voice control). Secondly, a protocol to enhance the compliance with rights of adult persons with disabilities in educational centers will be jointly elaborated and edited by partners. The LeTITBE consortium is made up of 9 partners from 7 EU Member States and is led by Juan Ciudad Foundation (Spain). The main support on development and testing of digital educational programmes and accessibility tools for mobile devices will be provided by Vodafone Spain Foundation, meanwhile the Belgian partner (Hospitality Europe) will advise on management rules, compliance with the grant agreement and secure a European visibility and dissemination of project’s activities and results, liaising with the EU Institutions and stakeholders in Brussels. The project will benefit 2 target groups: adult learners with disabilities and educators and staff from educational and care centres. Approximately 105 adult learners with disability, 35 adult educators, plus 20 additional participants (administrators, staff, etc.) at consortium level will be involved in the strategic partnership, in order to: - create a curriculum with 9 new e-learning programmes for adult learners with disabilities (3 targeting their employability skills, 3 to facilitate informal learning through social interaction and communication, 3 with didactical tools for awareness raising on rights of persons with disabilities), plus a pedagogical “serious game” to train the adult learners in moving from education to job market (playing interviews, work tests, problem solving, etc). The 9 learning courses and the pedagogical “serious game” will be accessible in the existing Mobile Application; - develop 3 innovative devices for opening the use of tablets and smartphones and the accessibility of the Mobile Application to adult persons with physical disabilities (paralyzed, hands or arms amputees) or deaf-mute persons (replacing audio/voice control); - draw a standard protocol up for the promotion and implementation of the rights of learners with disabilities inside adult education and care centres. Project’s beneficiaries will increase their understanding and familiarity with ICT, mobile devices and educational softwares, especially participating in the co-creation, test and utilization of the new learning programs and pedagogical serious game. On the other hand, the awareness raising on the rights of persons with disabilities will benefit not only at didactical level, but also the human and social relations between learners and teachers. Comprehensively, the project will produce 5 intellectual outputs, 5 transnational project meetings and 6 national multiplier events. Additionally, 6 pilot coaching sessions will be conducted at local level to test the digital educational outputs. 1 blended mobility of adult learners will be organized, giving the opportunity to persons with disabilities and educational staff to travel, meet and exchange their experiences and knowledge acquired at national level, strengthening the European project’s network. In doing so, LeTITBE project will reinforce an innovative and modern pedagogical approach at the benefit of the needs and aspirations of adult learners with intellectual disabilities or physical impairments. Integrating digital education with awareness raising on disability rights, the project will definitely contribute to boost equality in today European society. Similarly to the meaning of “Let It Be” song by The Beatles’ last album, this European project aims at becoming a statement of hope and chance for adult persons with disabilities in the educational world.
Within the framework of the LeTITBE Project, 5 intellectual products have been designed and are available through the project website. http://mefacilytaletitbe.eu/ and in the two published manuals aimed at professionals and people with disabilities who want to access and use these products in their teaching-learning processes. The first product is a digital training curriculum aimed at adults with disabilities with three different training itineraries. 1. Itinerary of training for employment made up of 6 e-learning programs for training in job skills for different jobs. 2. Training itinerary for the development of social skills, where you can find three training blocks aimed at developing communication skills, problem-solving skills and emergency management 3. Training itinerary to promote the recognition, defense and dissemination of the rights of people with disabilities, consisting of 2 training programs newly designed in digital support. Introduction to the rights of people with disabilities and Analysis of situations of the daily life where the rights of people with disabilities are respected or violated The three available itineraries share a common structure where, in addition to theoretical materials, there are evaluation activities or serious games that allow both educators and students to measure the degree of knowledge achieved in each of the content blocks. The digital materials that make up these training proposals are available in 5 languages (English, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Polish). Secondly, the LeTITBE project, the partners have worked collaboratively in the creation and elaboration of a European application protocol to improve the fulfillment of the rights of adults with disabilities in educational centers. This second Intellectual product is also available in the 5 languages afore mentioned. In addition to the above, within the framework of this project a third intellectual product has been developed where the Vodafone Spain Foundation, together with the rest of the project partners, have designed 5 templates of serious games aimed at training identified cognitive functions that allow them to train. adult students in the transition from education to the labor market. The Intellectual product 4, again led by the Vodafone Spain Foundation, consisted of the design of a network of accessibility tools to facilitate the use of tablets and mobile applications for people with mobility support needs. In this same sense, the project partners have been able to test other solutions that facilitate the communication of people with communication, language or speech disorders. Finally, and to guarantee the scalability of these efforts, the fifth intellectual product of the project are 2 pedagogical manuals that offer detailed information about the main results that act as a tutorial to them.A manual is aimed at professionals and another written according to easy-to-read guidelines is aimed at adult students with disabilities. The LeTITBE consortium has involved 9 partners from 7 EU Member States and has been led by the Juan Ciudad Foundation (Spain). The main support in the development and testing of digital educational programs and accessibility tools for mobile devices has been provided by the Vodafone Spain Foundation, while the Belgian partner (Hospitality Europe) has advised on management rules, compliance with the grant agreement and it has ensured the European visibility and dissemination of the project's activities and results, in contact with the EU institutions and interest groups in Brussels. The project has benefited 2 target groups: adult students with disabilities and educators and staff of educational and care centers. Approximately 105 adult students with disabilities, 35 adult educators, plus 20 additional participants (administrators, staff, etc.) at the consortium level have participated in the strategic partnership. The project beneficiaries have increased their skills in the use of ICTs, mobile devices and educational software. They have participated in the co-creation, testing and use of the new learning programs and serious games. On the other hand, raising awareness about the rights of people with disabilities has benefited not only at a didactic level, but also human and social relations between students and teachers. During the project, 3 face-to-face transnational meetings have been held and due to Covid-19 the other two planned have had to take place online. Likewise, 6 national multiplier events have been carried out where each partner has shared with stakeholders the results of the project where more than 100 different entities have participated showing great interest in the use of the materials and tools designed. Numerous pilot training sessions with people with disabilities have been conducted at the local level to test digital educational outcomes. In the final stretch of the project, a 5-day online meeting was held where adult students with disabilities participated in joint training sessions, being able to exchange their experiences and knowledge acquired at the national level, reinforcing the European project network. The LeTITBE project has reinforced the pedagogical innovation processes in all the centers that participate in this consortium, covering important needs and aspirations of adult students with intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities. By integrating digital education with awareness of the rights of people with disabilities, the project will undoubtedly contribute to promoting equality in today's European society. Similar to the meaning of the song "Let It Be" from The Beatles' latest album, this European project aims to become a statement of hope and opportunity for adults with disabilities in the educational world.