Hello Everyone

The European Commission supported DEA Project is currently looking for 
examples of best practice in e-learning for disabled people, with the 
ultimate aim of producing a database of these best practices and "tools 
for success".  

There is an online form and downloadable questionnaire to record any 
examples which you may have. 

Further details follow below.

Best Regards

Sharon.

Sharon Perry,
Accessibility SIG (Special Interest Group) Co-ordinator,
University of Wales Bangor.

*****
From: "DEA (e-ISOTIS)" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 6:56 PM
Subject: DEA project - Digital Literacy open to Impairments with the 
Support of the European Commission - Directorate General for Education and 
Culture - eLearning Programme.

e-ISOTIS, a non-profit organisation focused towards the involvement of 
people with impairments into ICT, is currently part of an international 
team working on an e-learning and digital literacy initiative called DEA 
supported by the European Commission (DG Education and Culture). In the 
framework of what is known as the "Lisbon Strategy", the European 
Commission is currently paying great attention to issues connected to e-
learning and digital literacy. The ability to use the new technology is 
necessary for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial processes, but 
also to make sure that all citizens can take part in the modern society.

This is why the European Commission supports the DEA initiative. DEA 
project focuses on the cataloguing and analysis of best practices in e-
learning targeting disabled people (particularly digital literacy; how to 
learn persons with disabilities to use the new technology of ICT - IT and 
Telecom). The team working on this project is made up of internationally 
known institutions such as the University of Milan (Hypermedia Open 
Centre) and e-ISOTIS (Information Society Open to ImpairmentS) engaged in 
e-learning and disabilities.

The aim of the project is to gather relevant information in relation to 
successful practices that have been implemented and tested nationally 
and/or locally, particularly on how to teach disabled of different 
categories to use new technology as a useful tool in their life. After 
this collecting phase, a team of experts will analyse a selection of those 
practices (i.e. those identified as the best and most transferable 
examples) to provide models to be spread and exploited at a wider EU 
level. The final aim of the project will be to create a database of good  
practices from which everyone involved in e-learning and the teaching of 
ICT-skills to disabled people can find good examples and "tools for 
success" in the creation of their own projects aimed at the same target 
group.

Given the relevance of the work of your organisation, we are contacting 
you in relation to possible e-learning activities and projects, targeting 
people with disabilities, your organisation might have carried out and 
which might represent a very useful benchmark for others. Both successful 
projects and practices - that also will be put forward by us as good 
examples - and less successful in reaching the goals set for the activity 
are of interest to us in our search for the key factors to have in mind 
when designing new projects in this field. You can submit your Best 
Practices online via www.deaproject.org, and this either via the online 
form or via the submission of a completed downloadable questionnaire. 
Furthermore, we would like to emphasise that this invitation is a great 
opportunity for your organisation to promote any related practices at a 
European level.

Also, if your organisation has contacts with other institutions or bodies 
which might have developed projects, products or methodologies or which 
might be interested in e-learning activities relative to the target group 
of disabled, we would be glad if you could provide us with this 
information.  In particular, please do not hesitate to pass on information 
in relation to the DEA project, as well as our contact details to 
departments in your organisation and other contacts your organisation 
might have and which you feel would be relevant. Also, feel free to 
forward us their respective contact details.

For more information, we refer to the project's website: 
www.deaproject.org.

Should you have any question or comments please do not hesitate to contact 
us via the following e-mail address: [log in to unmask]

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Karel Van Isacker,
e-ISOTIS Project manager.
www.e-isotis.org.

Please note that the content of this mail does not necessarily reflect the 
position or the opinion of the European Commission. The European 
Commission is not responsible for any use of the information contained in 
this mail.