ViPi released the ViPi Stakeholder Survey – Consolidation and comparative analysis of findings, including the Research Methodology & State of the Art. Both can be downloaded in accessible pdf format.
The survey was devised in the early stages of the ViPi project in order to gain data about the ICT training and learning experiences of people with disabilities, the organisations representing them, trainers, policy makers and intermediaries. The report comprises the survey analysis findings related toICT training, Community needs, relevant methodologies, pedagogical approaches, available training material, etc. Furthermore, it contains a comparative analysis, describing, assessing and comparing the national peculiarities and similarities of the end-user requirements in the different partner countries.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) potentially provides many opportunities of employment for people with disabilities. However, recent findings show that many people with disabilities have a lack of even basic training in the use of ICT (Van Isacker & Goranova, 2010; Van Isacker et al, 2009 and 2010; Van Isacker, 2010), and consequently also on how to use ICT based assistive technologies. This may be for many reasons, including poor access to training buildings, inaccessible training materials, and lack of knowledge of assistive technologies among trainers. Considering the fact that ICT knowledge is core to finding a job nowadays, increasing the level of ICT skills in people with disabilities should allow them to increase their ability to gain and hold employment in the regular labour market. The 2005 strategy document from the UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister includes reference to this by stating that “ICT changes the nature of a considerable number of jobs, in a way that allows the development of a more inclusive labour market. It introduces opportunities for home working, more flexible working patterns, better engagement in the workforce of disabled people and a range of new jobs”. (Nigel Meager, Darcy Hill, Sally Wilson, 2007)
The ‘Virtual Portal for Interaction and ICT Training for People with Disabilities’ (ViPi) project was instigated to help address these issues. The project aims at creating accessible and flexible basic ICT skills training, designed to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities.
Whilst defining the project research methodology, research was carried out into the policy and ICT teaching accessibility in the consortium countries and Europe-wide. A survey was also devised in the early stages of the project in order to gain data about the ICT training and learning experiences of people with disabilities, the organisations representing them, trainers, policy makers and intermediaries. The report comprises the survey analysis findings related to ICT training, Community needs, relevant methodologies, pedagogical approaches, available training material, etc. Furthermore, it contains a comparative analysis, describing, assessing and comparing the national peculiarities and similarities of the end-user requirements in the different partner countries. (pdf)

City/Location: Kortemark, Belgium