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Description
The main activity of Raná starostlivosť organization is early intervention in families. The organization accompanies families with young children with visual and multiple disabilities with operations in many regions of Slovakia. Small children from all over Slovakia are admitted to consultations regarding the assessment of visual functions, as this centre is the only early intervention centre specialized in early vision.
Within the project, the organization will focus on improving governance: by modifying the organizational guidelines and organizational structure, reviewing the competencies and roles of people in the team, verifying the sustainability of operation after project completion, etc. In connection with this, the Organization Strategy for 2021-2023 will be proposed. It will also prepare the groundwork for learning accreditation in the Video Interaction Training method (showing the parent the situations in which he has been able to capture and respond to the child''s response, makes communication more effective, helps to improve parental skills and strengthens intuitive parenting). Professionals and parents will be trained in courses on vision and video interaction training. Personnel reinforcement of the organization during the project period will allow 4 employees to be able to devote to part-time work in addition to early family intervention services, to improve organizational management and to prepare visual education and Video Interaction Training.
Another goal is to prepare a financial sustainability plan for the organization to launch educational activities. By transferring know-how from a project partner from Iceland, the Icelandic National Institute for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Deafblind, they prepare training courses on Central Vision for professionals - special and medical educators, physiotherapists, counselors from other early intervention centers, but also for ophthalmologists and parents of children with visual impairments.
Summary of project results
Due to the growing interest of families and the growing number of employees, the Raná starostlivosť organization faced the challenge of better coordination, adjustments to the organizational structure and also the organization''s financial sustainability plan. All these activities were important so that employees could deepen their professional knowledge, share it with each other and thus create a functional transdisciplinary team. In the beginning, the platform needed for joint communication and sharing not only in the team, but also with the professional public and families was created through the introduction of MS OFFICE 365 and a website focused on the topic of Video Training Interactions (VTI). At the same time, expertise in key topics for the professional growth of the organization was deepened and expertise began to be created. The project implementers gained new knowledge during the business trip to Iceland, online trainings and supervisory training in VTI. In the next phase of the project, from the acquired knowledge and experience, they compiled and implemented pilot courses for professionals and parents. They created space for the emergence of two professional communities, which will further share their experiences and thus develop these topics in the future.
The organization focused not only on professionals but also on parent education. The project implementers identified strategic goals and a training plan that will be offered to the professional and lay public. As part of the project, they also began to focus on the financial sustainability and development of the organization. Two brochures have been published: "Children who learn to see" and "Video training of interactions. Supporting the parent-child relationship." To raise awareness among the general public about these topics, videos and podcasts have been made available on the organization''s website and Facebook. The key to sustainability was the creation of a website and the electronic version of the brochures, where families and professionals will find the necessary information about the organization as well as the service and topics it offers them. The courses, which were piloted in the project, will be implemented repeatedly for other new groups of experts and parents thanks to the created professional documents and accreditation material.
Summary of bilateral results
Experts from the institute, the Icelandic special school Klettaskóli (Rock School) and the State Diagnostic and Counseling Center passed on the experience of working with children with CVI in early intervention (cooperation with families), in special education and in diagnostics. It was beneficial for the partner to get to know the Slovak system of early intervention work with an emphasis on normal daily activities. The exchange of experience with the use of the multisensory tool Nanuš, which is used in practice by Early Care and the Early Intervention Department of the Icelandic National Institute, took place. The aid is suitable for children with visual and combined disabilities, as well as for children with CVI. The benefit was the mutual refinement of terminology in the field of diagnostics and intervention at CVI - the National Institute for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Deafblind is a partner of the transnational project TEACHCVI. Unification of terminology and procedures in diagnostics and intervention was important for communication and development of this area in Slovakia, where approaches are still being developed. The acquired knowledge was used in all project activities. Based on them, the strategy of the organization was adapted and the goal was set to build multidisciplinary teams - cooperation of parents, doctors, early intervention workers, therapists, special pedagogues, specialized facilities, etc. The partner continues to be a source of information and guarantor, providing information, materials and his experience in areas with which the project implementers do not yet have much experience. The partner also provided, for example, tips for working with families online.