We wanted to achieve three objectives by implementing this project: 1. The main objective of the project was to expand the pool of deafblind trainers in the partner countries (Belgium, France and Germany) with 6 deafblind experts who have been trained in this project in order to become trainers for their respective organisations (Empoway, AccesVisuel and GebärdenVerstehen). 2. The second objective of the project was to set up a training of trainers in the field of deafblindness in the three partner organisations (Empoway, AccesVisuel and GebärenVerstehen). The training of trainers of Deafblind assistants could be developed during the project thanks to the complementary contribution of the trainers and experts from the partner organisations. 3. The third objective of the project was to develop a basis training on deafblind assistantship. This short training of Deafblind assistants has been given by the trainees in each country under the supervision/mentorship of the respective trainer(s). Moreover, the partner organisations could share information and suggestions to other organisations active in the field of deafblindness in Europe as well as to some educational instances (some universities and adult education centres).
The target group of this project is composed of deafblind persons living in Belgium, France, and Germany, and who are sign language users. The project answered to their needs as follows: six of them gained expertise and knowledge to become trainers of deafblind assistants (trainees in our project) and many more benefited indirectly from this project thanks to the provision of new deafblind assistants in their country (especially in Belgium where several trained deafblind assistants are regularly working for deafblind persons as their assistant/interpreter). The project also responded to the needs of the partner organisations (Empoway, AccesVisuel and GebärdenVerstehen) as follows: those organisations can nowadays offer more trainings in different topics related to deafblindness, among which on deafblind assistantship, thanks to the addition of the trainees (of this project) in their pool of trainers. And especially they can provide expert trainings of future deafblind assistants in their respective countries.