Društvo Downov sindrom Slovenija sodeluje v projektu VIRTUAL DS. Projekt se je začel septembra 2017, koordinator in partner projekta je organizacija FUNDACIÓN ASINDOWN iz Španije. V projekt so vključene tudi organizacije drugih držav EU: DDSS (Slovenija), APPT21 (Portugalska), ALDO-CET (Romunija), STATUS EMPLOYMENT (Velika Britanija) in IMAGINA RV (zasebno podjetje, specializirano za razvoj učnih vsebin v virtualni resničnosti). Projekt Virtual DS si prizadeva razširiti zaposlitvene možnosti oseb s posebnimi potrebami in s tem izboljšati njihovo socialno življenje ter spodbuditi inkluzijo.

Projekt je trenutno v zaključni fazi izdelave učnih materialov in orodij, katerih namen je podpora pri izobraževanju za posamezne poklice, ki so jih sodelujoče organizacije izbrale na podlagi dobrih praks. Downov sindrom Slovenija sodeluje z društvom Verjamem vate, ki ima v Domžalah trgovino ponovne uporabe. Tam delajo tudi osebe z motnjami v duševnem razvoju. Z njihovo pomočjo smo izdelali in opisali profil pomočnika v trgovini. V projektu pa bodo opisani še drugi poklici, kot na primer: sobarica, natakar v restavraciji in pomočnik blagajnika. V učnih materialih bo velik poudarek tudi na mehkih veščinah, kot so vestnost in vljudnost. Vsi materiali, ki bodo izšli iz projekta, bodo zbrani in dostopni na spletni platformi. Posebnost le te bo, da bo vključevala orodja na podlagi virtualne resničnosti. Uporabnik se bo lahko učil s pomočjo VR očal in tako dobil točno predstavo, kakšen je določen poklic ter se naučil pomembnejših opravil. Platforma pa bo poleg učnih materialov vsebovala tudi primere dobrih praks, pripomočke za trenerje/mentorje ter priporočila in smernice za podjetja.

Sodelujoče organizacije si s svojim delom prizadevajo uresničiti naslednje cilje: Izboljšati zaposlitvene možnosti za ljudi z motnjami v duševnem razvoju, jih vključiti v običajna delovna okolja, povečati ozaveščenost podjetij o delovnih sposobnosti ljudi z motnjami v duševnem razvoju in možnosti, da se izboljšajo z uporabo virtualne resničnosti, ter razviti vsebine virtualne resničnosti in jih vnesti v metodologijo usposabljanja, posameznikov z DS, ki temelji na podpornem zaposlovanju.

VIRTUAL DS – MAKING VIRTUAL JOBS REAL

Society Down Syndrom Slovenia participates in the project Virtual DS. The project started in September 2017. The project is led by the Association of FUNDACIÓN ASINDOWN (Spain), and the consortium consist of several organizations from EU: DDSS (Slovenia), APPT21 (Portugal), ALDO-CET (Romania), STATUS EMPLOYMENT (Great Britain) and IMAGINA RV (private company, specialized in the development of learning content in Virtual reality).Main propose of a project is to expend employment opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities and with that improve their social life and encourage inclusion.

The project is currently in the final stage of the production of teaching materials and tools. Their propose is to support education for some professions selected by the participating organizations on the basis of good practices. Down syndrome Slovenia cooperates with society Verjamem vate (I believe in you), who holds second hands shop in Domžale (small city in Slovenia). There also work people with Down syndrome. With their help we made and described the profession of a shop assistant. Other professions will also be described in the project, for example: waiter in restaurant, housekeeping and cashier assistant. Teaching materials will also focus on soft skills. All materials will be collected and accessible on the web platform. The user will be able to learn by using VR glasses and get an exact idea of a particular profession. In addition to teaching materials, the platform will also contain examples of good practices materials for trainers and recommendations and guidelines for companies.

Based on this work, organizations try to improve employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, integrate them into standard work environments, raise awareness among companies regarding the working abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and opportunities to improve their skills by using VR tools. Further the content of Virtual Reality will be developed and included into training methodology based on supported employment.

Marjeta Lipovnik and Jana Šelih