Online Platform for Exchange of Special Needs Youth Work Methods

Context/background of project Our project combines the efforts of 5 youth NGOs and 1 umbrella organisation from 5 countries (BG, IT, MK, RO and SI) on crosssectoral level (youth and school education) in developing the first online platform (OPEN platform) for validating good practices in youth work that can be applied to 5 groups of youth learners with special needs: Autism, Visual and Hearing Impairments, Dyslexia, Physical Difficulties. These are the most common types of learning difficulties, acknowledged on national and European level. More and more youth work needs to address these challenges young people face. However, youth workers across EU do not have always the necessary instruments and know-how. Our project explored a possible solution to this challenge by linking special needs education specialists and youth workers in our partner countries and across Europe through the innovative OPEN platform. Our cross-country review of current situation in partner countries (BG, RO, SI, MK and IT) confirmed that to a large extent young people in the age group of 13-18, suffering from any of the above forms of learning difficulties study with the support of education professionals (e.g., resource teachers), usually stationed either within mainstream school education institutions and/or separate special needs centres. Along with majority of public supported education services, some youth prefer to use the services of private training providers. Objectives of our project Our main aim was to increase youth worker’s effectiveness in facilitating training and other activities, involving youth with learning difficulties. The main tasks to reach this goal were: To develop an online platform (OPEN platform) in 6 languages (BG, RO, SI, MK, IT and EN) for exchange of good practices in the field of youth work with young people, facing learning difficulties and conducting 2 thematic webinars; To develop an evaluation methodology for validating the good practices as applicable in one or more of the 5 areas of learning difficulties (Autism, Visual and Hearing Impairments, Dyslexia, Physical Difficulties); To conduct piloting of the platform, involving validation of 10 good practices and implementation of 2 thematic seminars; To provide ongoing dissemination of project’s results among youth workers communities in partner countries and across Europe. Number and profile of participants Our target group are youth workers, working with young people in the age group 13-18 in school and other settings. We distinguish two subgroups of workers: Facing currently learners with learning difficulties in their daily practice. Facing prospects to work with such learners in light of further intensification of the process of integrating inclusive education concept on all levels of the lifelong learning systems in partner countries and across Europe. We involved 24 youth workers and special needs education professionals in the joint staff trainings in Sofia and Ohrid. We also had 44 registered participants in the 2 thematic webinars. In addition, we will attracted at least 1050 participants in the process of the dissemination, exploitation and lobbying of the project results. Description of activities and results The following main activities were carried out within the project: Development of methodology for validation of practices, validation and completion, development of the OPEN platform, collection and evaluation of 12 best practices translated and uploaded on the platform, two trainings for inclusion of young people with different disabilities in youth activities conducted two themed webinars, with partners filming video clips that have also been uploaded to YOUTUBE and OPEN. 2 trainings of youth workers were also organized and held in Sofia and Ohrid.