About
Project Summary
The FEAT-DS project is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in adult education focused on addressing the educational and employment challenges faced by adults with Down Syndrome in Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Bulgaria, and Italy. The project aims to upskill adult educators and empower adults with Down Syndrome through innovative learning methods, specifically tinkering and coding applied to the electronics sector. The project will identify existing hurdles, develop tailored training materials and tools, implement a blended learning program, and disseminate results to key stakeholders.
Key Objectives
Identify hurdles for adults with down syndrome in terms of access to sufficient education and training opportunities.
Provide adult educators with new methodology knowledge and abilities, as well as mentoring and support schemes, resulting in an increase in their competencies.
Empower adults with Down syndrome by teaching them technology which will boost their employment and self-esteem.
Key Activities
Pilot phase of an e-learning course for adult educators.
Co-design of training materials and tools using a co-design method involving adult educators and electronics specialists.
Testing of the blended learning program with adult learners with Down Syndrome.
Extensive dissemination activities.
Expected Results (Deliverables)
E-learning course for adults educators centred on tinkering, coding approaches, and mentorship schemes.
Research Report detailing the findings of extensive research on the educational needs of adults with Down syndrome, as well as the current offer.
Teaching Format based on tinkering methodology designed for adult learners with Down syndrome.
Web Platform with coding interactive modules that complies with high-end accessibility standards.
Partnership and Cooperation
The project is coordinated by Latvijas jauniešu attīstības centrs (Latvian Youth Development Center) from Latvia. The partnership consists of four other organisations from different countries:
The partnership was formed based on existing collaborations and shared interests in social inclusion and empowering disadvantaged groups. The mix of participating organisations brings together complementary expertise in formal and non-formal education, different sectors (NGOs and SMEs), and diverse fields such as wellbeing, inclusion, career guidance, and non-formal learning. This diversity is expected to increase the cross-sectorality and comprehensiveness of the project’s educational deliverables.
Relevance and Innovation
The project’s relevance stems from the identified low participation rates of people with disabilities in education and training across the partner countries, highlighting a need for improved opportunities. The project directly addresses this need by focusing on adults with Down Syndrome and aiming to shift away from seeing these people as ‘objects’ of charity, medical care and social protection and toward seeing them as ‘subjects’ with rights who are able to assert those rights and make decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent.
The project proposes an innovative approach by utilising and combining tinkering and coding methodologies for teaching electronics to adults with Down Syndrome:
- Tinkering - as an innovative approach to teaching and learning STE(A)M courses that allows students to absorb science on their own by researching tools, materials and problems of interest. It is based on inquiry-based pedagogical ideas and emphasizes hands-on learning.
- Coding - used in a gamified context to build interactive games related to electronics.
The blended programme will integrate these two methodologies to create an engaging and effective learning environment tailored to the specific needs of the target group.
The project is suitable for creating synergies across different fields, including adult education and VET, as its deliverables are designed to be adaptable and transferable.
Needs Review
The project is based on a needs analysis highlighting the low participation of people with disabilities in education and training in the partner countries. While Eurostat statistics from 2014 were cited due to a lack of more recent data, they indicate significant discrepancies in participation rates between able-bodied individuals and those with activity issues or work constraints. The analysis also emphasizes the need to shift perceptions and provide high-quality learning opportunities to empower adults with Down Syndrome to access the job market with equal opportunities.
The needs analysis was conducted through:
- Consultation with partners' local and regional networks of organisations working with people with disabilities.
- Drawing upon the cumulative experience of partners from previous Erasmus+ projects.
- Reviewing academic literature on inclusive education and employment for people with disabilities.
The project directly addresses these needs by developing tailored training programs, upskilling educators, and promoting a more inclusive approach to education and employment for adults with Down Syndrome.
GET INVOLVED
● Upcoming events: workshops, webinars, and conferences
● Resources for educators: Downloadable lesson plans and activity guides
● Volunteer opportunities: Become a mentor or guest speaker