Training of Trainers of Deafblind Assistants

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 a...

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).

Thanks to the project, each partner organisation (Empoway, AccesVisuel and GebärdenVerstehen) extended its pool of trainers with the new deafblind trainers (respectively 3 in France, 2 in Germany and 1 in Belgium). Those new trainers are now able to apply their know-how and skills in the trainings of deafblind assistants but also in the field of deafblindness. Moreover, the new training package and materials for the training of future deafblind assistants can now be used by the certified deafblind trainers in those organisations. In addition, the basic training of future deafblind assistants has been tested in each country and will be further developed/finetuned in the future trainings planned by the three organisations (Empoway, AccesVisuel and GebärenVerstehen). Finally, the partner organisations undertook dissemination activities (conferences, trainings, workshops) in the field of deafblindness and deafblind assistantship, among which the conduction of a new Erasmus+ project named “In Search of Professionalism for DeafBlind Sign Language users: exploring the existing ones and considering the missing ones” with Empoway, AccesVisuel, the EDbU, the Istituto deiSordi in Torino and DODIR (Croatia).