The project aimed to solve the communication problem regarding the nature of illnesses and disabilities of students, children, and adolescents among teachers, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the students themselves. Different professional figures use different styles and approaches in their work, but they need to communicate with each other, with caregivers, and, above all, with the children. The latter need help to be able to accept themselves as they are and to communicate with their peers in a simple way without feeling discriminated against. The general objective of the project was to collectively determine the best ways of communicating among the different professionals who work around the child, to share good practices and methods currently used. The specific objectives were to share the best practices of the partners to design a common guideline based on day-to-day experience; to create (and test) an engaging asynchronous online course to share this guideline, addressing all target groups (teachers, professionals, caregivers, students).
Inclusion is a complex issue that involves several aspects of the lives of students and young people with disabilities, particularly in terms of communication and social interactions. Homogeneity in the way of communicating with them is fundamental to help them develop the necessary skills to connect with the world, establish self-esteem, and communicate with their peers without feeling discriminated against. This key aspect, communication, is not considered in university curricula for care professionals. In educational science training programs, specific communication in the field of 'managing disabilities/special educational needs' is not addressed. Obviously, caregivers and students do not receive specific training on this aspect either. This project aimed to cover this dimension by creating an online course that target groups, including professionals, parents, and caregivers, could follow to share a common foundation on this aspect. Since it is a self-education course, it will always be available and not too demanding for students and professionals.