Across Europe, visually impaired individuals (VIPs) face disproportionate barriers in accessing employment and digital education. According to the European Blind Union, unemployment rates among VIPs can reach a staggering 75%, reflecting a system that has long been inaccessible and unaccommodating.
These challenges are not only technical but deeply societal. A lack of accessible resources, widespread misconceptions about the capabilities of VIPs, and limited opportunities for vocational education and training (VET) continue to reinforce cycles of underemployment and social exclusion.
Our project was born from the urgent need to break this cycle and empower VIPs with the digital skills and vocational competencies necessary to thrive in the modern workforce. At the heart of our mission is the development of innovative, accessible tools and comprehensive training for the trainers – those on the frontlines of vocational education.
As part of our wider initiative to promote inclusive vocational education and training for visually impaired individuals, a structured Train-the-Trainer activity is currently being conducted in Kozani, Greece. This training represents a key milestone in the project’s implementation phase, serving both as a professional development opportunity for trainers and as a pilot testing ground for the newly developed Trainer Guidelines.
Objectives
- To introduce trainers and professionals to the newly developed Trainer Guidelines, which provide practical methods and strategies for delivering accessible VET to VIPs.
- To test and evaluate the usability, effectiveness, and relevance of the guidelines in a live training environment.
- To gather structured feedback for the refinement and improvement of the guidelines prior to finalization.
- To prepare trainers to act as local multipliers in their respective countries, further disseminating knowledge and methodologies to other stakeholders.