European project European project ALL4WELLALL4WELL

Nr. Nr. 2013-1-IT1-LEO05-2013-1-IT1-LEO05-0404004040

Berlin Nov. 2014Berlin Nov. 2014Authors: Prof. Antonio QuatraroAuthors: Prof. Antonio Quatraro

Ms. Lisa BuccioliniMs. Lisa BuccioliniUnione Italiana ciechi ed Unione Italiana ciechi ed

ipovedenti – Firenzeipovedenti – Firenze

Social inclusion, a challenge Social inclusion, a challenge for Europe:for Europe:

Accessible language Accessible language Learning and job Learning and job

opportunities opportunities The case of visually The case of visually impaired persons.impaired persons.

IntroductionIntroduction

This paper summarizes efforts deployed by This paper summarizes efforts deployed by ALL4WELL consortium aimed at improving ALL4WELL consortium aimed at improving language accessible learning for Visually language accessible learning for Visually Impaired persons in the wellness sector, in Impaired persons in the wellness sector, in the perspective of promoting social inclusion.the perspective of promoting social inclusion.

The situation taken into consideration The situation taken into consideration (Visually impaired persons), as well as the (Visually impaired persons), as well as the methodology adopted to decipher the main methodology adopted to decipher the main problem and to develop sustainable solutions problem and to develop sustainable solutions are hopefully applicable to a certain number are hopefully applicable to a certain number of situations characterized by high level of of situations characterized by high level of criticality.criticality.

FrameworkFramework

Sight firstSight first World Health Organization classifies World Health Organization classifies

blindness as the heaviest invalidating blindness as the heaviest invalidating disease.disease.

Visual impairment has an impact on all Visual impairment has an impact on all development areas of the individual: development areas of the individual: mobility, communication, environment mobility, communication, environment control, abilities and skills, job control, abilities and skills, job opportunities, social relationships.opportunities, social relationships.

Sight & concept buildingSight & concept building

We know what we seeWe know what we see 80% of our concepts / knowledges 80% of our concepts / knowledges

are based on visual information.are based on visual information. This statement can bring us to This statement can bring us to

imagine that our environment is a imagine that our environment is a sort of source of sensorial stimula, of sort of source of sensorial stimula, of which 80% are of visual nature.which 80% are of visual nature.

The world is richer than we The world is richer than we imagineimagine

Scientific studies and everyday Scientific studies and everyday observation tell us that our observation tell us that our environment is full of sensorial stimula, environment is full of sensorial stimula, and that a normally sighted person and that a normally sighted person uses only a part of those stimula, uses only a part of those stimula, leaving aside others, which are taken leaving aside others, which are taken into consideration in specific into consideration in specific circumstances (e.g. the dark camera, or circumstances (e.g. the dark camera, or by sommeliers), or, like in our case, by by sommeliers), or, like in our case, by visually impaired persons.visually impaired persons.

Natural compensation Natural compensation processprocess

Our brain is built in such a way as to Our brain is built in such a way as to compensate in some way sensorial compensate in some way sensorial deficits, due and effective education / deficits, due and effective education / rehabilitation though play a rehabilitation though play a determinant role.determinant role.

Using the right spectaclesUsing the right spectacles

Although we give for granted that reality Although we give for granted that reality [wirklichkeit] is independent from our perceptions [wirklichkeit] is independent from our perceptions (e.g. a sunny day, a piece of ice, thunder sound, (e.g. a sunny day, a piece of ice, thunder sound, etc.), especially in human contexts, what we call etc.), especially in human contexts, what we call “reality” depends on some "mental spectacles" “reality” depends on some "mental spectacles" through which we perceive what is around us.through which we perceive what is around us.

The greek sophists are reported to have said that The greek sophists are reported to have said that “man is the measure of all things, in so far as “man is the measure of all things, in so far as their existence or non existence".their existence or non existence".

Modern philosophy has devoted great efforts in Modern philosophy has devoted great efforts in investigating role and functioning of the thinking investigating role and functioning of the thinking brain (the subject of science) in the building brain (the subject of science) in the building process of our concepts and knowledges.process of our concepts and knowledges.

Language can help us Language can help us

Language, vision of life Language, vision of life [weltanschauung] and behaviours / [weltanschauung] and behaviours / attitudes, are in a mutual positive attitudes, are in a mutual positive relationship.relationship.

Clear language generates clear Clear language generates clear ideas, and clear ideas produce ideas, and clear ideas produce coherent behaviours.coherent behaviours.

TerminologyTerminology

Language is the echo of thoughts.Language is the echo of thoughts. A popular saying, for example, draws A popular saying, for example, draws

attention on different ways to look at attention on different ways to look at the same object / event. e.g. two the same object / event. e.g. two face of a medal, the glass is half full / face of a medal, the glass is half full / empty ...empty ...

Limits / bordersLimits / borders

For the first time in the human For the first time in the human history we can experiment very fast history we can experiment very fast evolution of technology.evolution of technology.

What was a wall 20 years ago is now What was a wall 20 years ago is now a bordera border

Example:Example: scanner and OCR for visually scanner and OCR for visually

impaired persons.impaired persons.

Goals and toolsGoals and toolsZielen und Mitteln?Zielen und Mitteln?

Braille is a good example Braille is a good example Hauy’s problem was how to give a blind Hauy’s problem was how to give a blind

person the possibility to read common person the possibility to read common alphabet, using his sense of touch.alphabet, using his sense of touch.

The solution was to use raised letters of The solution was to use raised letters of the common alphabet.the common alphabet.

But raised letters of the common alphabet But raised letters of the common alphabet require long time and mental effort to be require long time and mental effort to be deciphered through the sense of touch.deciphered through the sense of touch.

Tools and goalsTools and goals

Braille put the problem in different terms:Braille put the problem in different terms: how can I offer the possibility to read how can I offer the possibility to read

directly the contents of written directly the contents of written information.information.

His alphabet is tailored on the sense of His alphabet is tailored on the sense of touch, specifically on the fingertip, touch, specifically on the fingertip, which is the reading organ.which is the reading organ.

Braille reading is much faster and Braille reading is much faster and requires less mental effort.requires less mental effort.

Nouns and adjectivesNouns and adjectives

Look at the difference between:Look at the difference between: National organization of the blindNational organization of the blind andand National organization of blind teachersNational organization of blind teachers Nouns are also called substantives, because their Nouns are also called substantives, because their

affect the substance of the person / object.affect the substance of the person / object. An adjective defines one attribute of the object, An adjective defines one attribute of the object,

among many possible attributes.among many possible attributes. Substance is the main characteristic of the object, Substance is the main characteristic of the object,

while an attribute affects only one aspect among while an attribute affects only one aspect among many others.many others.

Observation point makes the Observation point makes the differencedifference

When we need to define a person When we need to define a person lacking of something, we can use two lacking of something, we can use two starting points:starting points:

A) starting from what is missing A) starting from what is missing (deficit) - the classical perspective;(deficit) - the classical perspective;

B) starting from what is functioning B) starting from what is functioning (ICF perspective)(ICF perspective)

ICFICF

The International classification of The International classification of functions, published by World Health functions, published by World Health Organization in 2001 and is focused Organization in 2001 and is focused on clinical perspective.on clinical perspective.

It can be applied also to social / It can be applied also to social / pedagogical domain, with due pedagogical domain, with due adjustments.adjustments.

Deficit VS handicap in ICFDeficit VS handicap in ICF

Deficit = lack of something present Deficit = lack of something present in an average member of a given in an average member of a given population.population.

Handicap is the result of a specific Handicap is the result of a specific relationship between an individual relationship between an individual and his / her environment.and his / her environment.

Environment: physical factorsEnvironment: physical factorsPhysical environment and how it is Physical environment and how it is

organized.organized.

A very noisy room is unfavourable for A very noisy room is unfavourable for good listening;good listening;

Doors left half open can be Doors left half open can be dangerous;dangerous;

Thick moquette can make it difficult Thick moquette can make it difficult to find a fallen object;to find a fallen object;

A round building can be disorienting A round building can be disorienting for VI persons.for VI persons.

Environment: Environment: CommunicationCommunication

Communication based on gestures is not Communication based on gestures is not suitable for a blind person;suitable for a blind person;

Unclear verbal directions, such as "your Unclear verbal directions, such as "your coat is there" is useless;coat is there" is useless;

"Come towards me, where you hear my "Come towards me, where you hear my voice" is unnecessarily redundant.voice" is unnecessarily redundant.

On the other hand, “see you later” (to a On the other hand, “see you later” (to a blind interlocutor) is perceived as a sign of blind interlocutor) is perceived as a sign of natural and spontaneous relationship.natural and spontaneous relationship.

Environment: aptitudeEnvironment: aptitude

Human communication is made of messages.Human communication is made of messages. Content messages convey a given content (2 plus Content messages convey a given content (2 plus

2 = 4)2 = 4) Relationship messages, which are normally only Relationship messages, which are normally only

implicit, convey role attributions, expectations implicit, convey role attributions, expectations and mental attitudes.and mental attitudes.

Equivalent verbal expressions could sound:Equivalent verbal expressions could sound:““whatever you do is always very much, considering whatever you do is always very much, considering

your sad condition”.your sad condition”. oror““I am going to help you to be as independent as I am going to help you to be as independent as

possible, considering your condition”.possible, considering your condition”.

Environment: technologyEnvironment: technology

We are living in the Information We are living in the Information society.society.

Nevertheless, accessibility and Nevertheless, accessibility and usability are far from being duly usability are far from being duly considered.considered.

Therefore, too often technology, far Therefore, too often technology, far from promoting inclusion, turns to from promoting inclusion, turns to increase digital divide.increase digital divide.

Environment: Organization Environment: Organization

We all know that productivity is based on effective We all know that productivity is based on effective organization.organization.

In the early 50's in Germany there were hundreds of blind In the early 50's in Germany there were hundreds of blind steno typists.steno typists.

The steno typist was in charge of transcribing a spoken The steno typist was in charge of transcribing a spoken text, such as a letter, a report.text, such as a letter, a report.

At that time heads of staff were not so familiar with type At that time heads of staff were not so familiar with type writing and they used to dictate to their secretary.writing and they used to dictate to their secretary.

In order to employ blind persons, mostly veterans, work In order to employ blind persons, mostly veterans, work organization has been appropriately modified, and the organization has been appropriately modified, and the organizations of the blind organized specific training organizations of the blind organized specific training courses and realized special equipment (steno Braille courses and realized special equipment (steno Braille machines).machines).

German SAPGerman SAP

650 young with autism within 2020.650 young with autism within 2020.

Value of “divergent thinking”.Value of “divergent thinking”.

TerminologyTerminology

BlindBlind Visually impaired personVisually impaired person Differently abledDifferently abled Person with disabilityPerson with disability All these expressions correspond to All these expressions correspond to

different ways of approaching an different ways of approaching an unwanted condition.unwanted condition.

Concepts and attitudesConcepts and attitudes

Our social organization is based Our social organization is based on models, often beyond our on models, often beyond our awareness.awareness.

Charity modelCharity model

Persons in disadvantage (poor, less Persons in disadvantage (poor, less cultivated, less able) should be cultivated, less able) should be assisted in order to enlighten their assisted in order to enlighten their pain.pain.

ExclusionExclusion

Some individual are not “educable”, Some individual are not “educable”, therefore, for the common interest, therefore, for the common interest, they should be treated in non they should be treated in non educational settings (sanitary, educational settings (sanitary, nursery etc.).nursery etc.).

Empowerment modelEmpowerment model

Education in broader sense; that is Education in broader sense; that is promote development of every promote development of every sphere of the personality.sphere of the personality.

Already in 1808 Dr. Klein (Wien) Already in 1808 Dr. Klein (Wien) introduced physical training in his introduced physical training in his school curriculum for his blind school curriculum for his blind students.students.

Education for everybodyEducation for everybody

French illuminism developed the idea that French illuminism developed the idea that every human individual deserved to every human individual deserved to receive an education, including orphans, receive an education, including orphans, poor, and disabled persons.poor, and disabled persons.

Now we are dealing with “lifelong Now we are dealing with “lifelong learning”.learning”.

Modern studies show the positive impact Modern studies show the positive impact of learning processes for better quality of of learning processes for better quality of life, at any age.life, at any age.

Education (to lead out, to bring out - hidden Education (to lead out, to bring out - hidden resources)resources)

English educated person = person with a English educated person = person with a solid cultural background, who can read, solid cultural background, who can read,

write and who has studied.write and who has studied.

Erziehung (ziehn) stress on the concept of Erziehung (ziehn) stress on the concept of pulling out, rather than on leading pulling out, rather than on leading

somebody out of a bench, or out of a prison.somebody out of a bench, or out of a prison.

Inclusion requires and Inclusion requires and promotes innovationpromotes innovation

For this we need long sighted For this we need long sighted perspectives and problem solving perspectives and problem solving skills.skills.

Main contradictionsMain contradictions

Cooperation VS CompetitionCooperation VS Competition Our society is based on cooperation Our society is based on cooperation

and on competition.and on competition. Politics aims at conciliating different Politics aims at conciliating different

interests towards a superior goal, the interests towards a superior goal, the pacific coexistence, respecting pacific coexistence, respecting cultural, religious, gender, physical cultural, religious, gender, physical specificities.specificities.

Holistic / SpecialisticHolistic / Specialistic

In past times a scholar could study all what In past times a scholar could study all what was knowable at his time: mathematics, was knowable at his time: mathematics, art, philosophy, even what we call practical art, philosophy, even what we call practical knowledges, such as anatomy, biology, etc.knowledges, such as anatomy, biology, etc.

Nowadays we tend to split our knowledges Nowadays we tend to split our knowledges in specific areas, which high specialization in specific areas, which high specialization level.level.

Still every scientist is aware of boundaries Still every scientist is aware of boundaries of his knowledges.of his knowledges.

Growing effort are deployed in order to Growing effort are deployed in order to assure networking.assure networking.

ContradictionContradiction

Stability VS InnovationStability VS Innovation Our life is based on predictable events / Our life is based on predictable events /

circumstances (starting time for working, circumstances (starting time for working, functioning of our public transportations, ...), functioning of our public transportations, ...), social conventions, shared timetable). Yet social conventions, shared timetable). Yet every human relevant progress is based on every human relevant progress is based on "leaps", that is on "unusual" events."leaps", that is on "unusual" events.

Some of them are highly undesirable, but the Some of them are highly undesirable, but the inventor turned them into positive inventor turned them into positive opportunities.opportunities.

Braille exampleBraille example

Louis Braille lost his sight while he Louis Braille lost his sight while he was playing with a stylus by his was playing with a stylus by his father (blacksmith).father (blacksmith).

His first writing device is based on His first writing device is based on stylus and framestylus and frame

Practical consequencesPractical consequences

Inclusion is:Inclusion is: the synthesis between separation the synthesis between separation

and specialisationand specialisation systematic interaction between systematic interaction between

different cultures / abilities, aiming at different cultures / abilities, aiming at common goals with mutual common goals with mutual advantageadvantage

RespectRespectRe-spectareRe-spectare

Beo-bachtungBeo-bachtung

Differences turn to be Differences turn to be stimula for innovation.stimula for innovation.

Our projectsOur projects

Why language learning?Why language learning? Word is often the most efficient Word is often the most efficient

substitute for visual information substitute for visual information (explanations, audio description, (explanations, audio description, captions).captions).

More sustainable in comparison with More sustainable in comparison with tactile images tactile images

The majority of visually impaired The majority of visually impaired persons unfortunately cannot persons unfortunately cannot access to written information access to written information

directly (Braille / large print), in a directly (Braille / large print), in a comfortable and efficient way.comfortable and efficient way.

Language opens our mindsLanguage opens our minds

International mobility is International mobility is predictably growing very fast.predictably growing very fast.

Practising integration as a work Practising integration as a work methodology methodology

We thought that used process of building We thought that used process of building and realizing our projects could be the first and realizing our projects could be the first opportunity to adopt the integration model opportunity to adopt the integration model as our working methodology.as our working methodology.

Integration of:Integration of: knowledgesknowledges viewsviews ideasideas problemsproblems

Good solutions come from Good solutions come from shared problemsshared problems

Since the beginning of our work we tried to Since the beginning of our work we tried to share our experiences through full share our experiences through full immersion stages, focused on single immersion stages, focused on single problems, as parts of the problem problems, as parts of the problem concerning how to develop effective tools concerning how to develop effective tools capable of offering VI persons the possibility capable of offering VI persons the possibility to learn a foreign language (English and to learn a foreign language (English and German), considering their potentialities as German), considering their potentialities as well as most common restriction depending well as most common restriction depending on personal history, degree and type of on personal history, degree and type of visual impairment.visual impairment.

ALL4WELLALL4WELLAccessible Language Accessible Language

Learning in the sector of Learning in the sector of WellnessWellness

Nr. Nr. 2013-1-IT1-LEO05-040402013-1-IT1-LEO05-04040 Duration Duration 01/10/2013 - 30/09/201501/10/2013 - 30/09/2015

Starting from strong pointsStarting from strong points

The profession of masseur, or rather the “art” The profession of masseur, or rather the “art” of masseur, with its ancient tradition in of masseur, with its ancient tradition in Eastern countries, is still very suitable for Eastern countries, is still very suitable for people with vision impairment, being based on people with vision impairment, being based on tactile contact and on verbal communication.tactile contact and on verbal communication.

Good chance for success:Good chance for success: All demographical researches show trend All demographical researches show trend

towards growing percentage of aged persons towards growing percentage of aged persons for the next 30 years. Considering increasing for the next 30 years. Considering increasing life expectations, it is correct to assume life expectations, it is correct to assume growing interest for caregiving and wellness growing interest for caregiving and wellness sectors.sectors.

Tourism improves quality of Tourism improves quality of lifelife

Tourism and accessible tourism is Tourism and accessible tourism is becoming more and more marketable, becoming more and more marketable, owing to longer life expectation and owing to longer life expectation and owing to progress in the sector of owing to progress in the sector of prevention, lifelong learning need, and prevention, lifelong learning need, and owing to interest in making new owing to interest in making new experiences.experiences.

Wellness and health care plays a Wellness and health care plays a significant role in the tourist sector.significant role in the tourist sector.

Better communication skills Better communication skills improves job opportunities improves job opportunities

This is true for everybody, but This is true for everybody, but especially for VI persons, who have especially for VI persons, who have less job opportunities than their less job opportunities than their sighted peers.sighted peers.

Need for effective training Need for effective training resourcesresources

Due to introduction of inclusive Due to introduction of inclusive didactical settings, there is a didactical settings, there is a significant need to find effective significant need to find effective training opportunities not too far training opportunities not too far away from one’s living place.away from one’s living place.

Lack of specific learning Lack of specific learning materialmaterial

While in past times all VI persons While in past times all VI persons used more or less the same training used more or less the same training material, being in special schools, material, being in special schools, nowadays there is a need for nowadays there is a need for effective training material which is effective training material which is suitable also in inclusive didactical suitable also in inclusive didactical settings.settings.

Closing the gapClosing the gap

Our consortium’s goal is the Our consortium’s goal is the production of accessible material for production of accessible material for language learning for Visually language learning for Visually Impaired Students and for VI Impaired Students and for VI persons, in inclusive didactical persons, in inclusive didactical settings.settings.

Structure of our consortiumStructure of our consortium

Experts from associations of VI Experts from associations of VI personspersons;;

Teachers in normal language Teachers in normal language schoolsschools;;

IT expertsIT experts

Expected resultsExpected results

Based on the results of the projects Based on the results of the projects ELLVIS and VET4VIP, the new project ELLVIS and VET4VIP, the new project ALL4WELL (Accessible Language ALL4WELL (Accessible Language Learning for the Wellness Sector) will Learning for the Wellness Sector) will provide a job-oriented English course provide a job-oriented English course that will meet the needs of visually that will meet the needs of visually impaired masseurs and wellness impaired masseurs and wellness professionals.professionals.

InnovationInnovation

We will develop a course for spoken We will develop a course for spoken English, available through:English, available through:

Windows based platformsWindows based platforms AppleApple AndroidAndroid

ImpactImpact

New motivation to learnNew motivation to learn

New job perspectives.New job perspectives.

ExploitationExploitation

Hopefully our product will be used Hopefully our product will be used both by special institutions and by both by special institutions and by common language schools.common language schools.

Self-learners also will draw benefit Self-learners also will draw benefit from it, through distance assistance from it, through distance assistance

Compliance with European Compliance with European PoliciesPolicies

Communication in foreign languages Communication in foreign languages and cultural awareness and and cultural awareness and expression, are two key expression, are two key competencies for vocational competencies for vocational education and training defined in the education and training defined in the recommendation of the European recommendation of the European Parliament (2006).Parliament (2006).

Thank you Thank you for your attentionfor your attention