schools have the time to implement these worthy initiatives, since some are quite time consuming.
Keywords: girls in STEM, stereotypes, awareness-raising
Working
group 4
Vulnerable Groups at Risk of Exclusion
Moderated by Ivan Stojilovic (IAN, Serbia)
Highlights:
• Representatives of the Macedonian organization Open the Windows presented their experience in the
use of assistive technology for supporting social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Interesting research findings and use of technology for supporting elderly people with dementia were
shared by the participants.
• Awareness raising is a pending issue as there is still prejudice regarding use of ICT by persons with
disabilities, so role models and campaigns are needed in this area as well. Participants all agreed that
another step in the expansion of assistive technology should be its promotion in primary and secondary
schools, and introducing it to teachers.
• Another topic discussed at the working group was the motivation of vulnerable groups for using ICT.
The participants agreed that low motivation is one of the greatest challenges in digital inclusion of
vulnerable groups.
• During the discussion the question was raised on the telecentres’ staff knowledge of assistive technology.
Group members highlighted the necessity to follow the development of assistive technology, training
and informing staff on advancements in the field, but also raising knowledge and understanding of
problems people with disabilities have.
Keywords: assistive technology, training of teachers, funding, awareness-raising
First e-Inclusion Awards
Day 1 of TEAC 2014 ended on a
high note with the first UniteIT e-Inclusion awards in four
categories corresponding to the
four thematic groups. Dr. Mara
Jakobsone, Chair of Telecentre
Europe’s Board, opened the
ceremony and Ivan Stojilovic,
Vice Chair of the Board,
explained the selection process.
With the Unite-IT Awards
Telecentre Europe renewed its
tradition to acknowledge the
work of grass-root organisations
working on the field and to
recognise their efforts on the international level. It also confirmed its commitment to provide opportunities
for collaboration and exchange for different organisations, regardless the scale or budget of their project.
The awards were handed to the winners by the honorary guests: Dr. Christoph Kaletka from the Technical
University of Dortmund; Renata Danieliene (Young Advisor to Neelie Kroes); Austrian Digital Champion
Meral Akin-Hecke; and Ilona Kish from the Reading & Writing Foundation.
The Winners
» Education and training award went to Hungarian organisation Regional Telecottages Public
Association of South Hungarian Plain for their project Telecottage Katedra - Smartphones.
» Youth employability was won by INN&CIA: Social Innovation Environment project from
Consorcio Fernando De Los Ríos, Spain.
» Vulnerable groups at risk of exclusion was best addressed by Open the Windows, Macedonia
in their Project for e- Accessible Education.
» The winner of Gender equality category was the project Handmade and IT for women
implemented by Pontus Euxinus Library in Navodari in Romania.
10
11