Development of the Leonardo da Vinci Accessible World for all Respecting Differences ? AWARD project

In the framework of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013, Leonardo da Vinci, Project Accessible World for All, Respecting the Differences (AWARD) is currently underway. The aim of the project is to raise the awareness of need for accessible built environment, particularly in the population of vocational students who are faced with their professional advancements for the first time. The project is introducing relevant teaching materials into the curricula of the existing educational programs. The training involves all those vocations which are responsible for the built environment and health issues, from the design stage, execution of environment, to maintenance, supervision and use. The material is electronic and can be presented in the traditional form, as a distance learning tool or as individual learning material. The project group involves field experts of Universal design, vocational training and health issues from five EU countries. The preliminary testing of the material was performed at several schools in partner countries; in Slovenia the testing was done at the Departments of the Sanitary Engineering, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy at the Faculty of the Health Studies, University of Ljubljana. Results of feed-back evaluation will be included into the final version of the teaching material which will be available to the interested users by the October 2009. It is expected that as a consequence of better education, the result will be improved level of planning and execution of barrier free environment.