Description
The project aims to increase the competence of public administration employees in Prague, Central Bohemia and Liberec region in clear, barrier-free and non-discriminatory way of communication with respect to people's handicap and various limitations in communication and lack of access to information. Persons with different types of disability will be better integrated into society and officials will be well prepared to communicate with each other. It will also be supported by the collaboration of organizations that deal with communication barriers in communication disadvantaged persons.The main forms of work are educational seminars, workshops and main outcome will be a practical methodology (in printed and electronic form - web sites, mobile app., Video tutorials).
Summary of project results
Thanks to the support of the EEA Grants, we implemented the project „Respect in communication“ focusing on communication barriers, especially between variable disabled citizens and the officials of the public authorities and other public institutions. Sensory handicapped and the elderly people was a target group. The project shows how to ensure barrier-free communication. Sometimes a responsible one accompanying the blind man is enough. Accessible forms in electronic format are helpful too. When we speak to the blind man, we should use more descriptive language. Simple question „What you need?“ maybe crucial. A man with hearing impairment can be able to talk, still. Somebody can hear, but will have a problem to understand. Turn the computer screen then and write what is necessary to tell. Deaf people need a sign language interpreter. Forms in Czech language can be an insurmountable obstacle for deaf people. Elderly people need help too, sometimes. What if we don´t know, what kind of disability the man, who I´m trying to communicate with, has? What can I do? Communicate respectfully. The officials, disabled citizens and other professionals are in our expert team. The project helped to improve competence – based skills of the public administration workers in Prague, Central Bohemia and Liberec. Participants (87 persons) have been trained in using barrier-free and non-discriminatory ways of communicating with sensory handicapped and elderly people. Target group becomes more integrated into the society and the officials and personnel are well-prepared to communicate respectfully. Cooperation between organizations, addressing the issue, was ecouraged at the same time. We provided consultations /mentoring (27 meetings) and workshops (5) to improve communication skills of the officials and personnel of public institutions.
Summary of bilateral results