Building on the recommendations of the first IMAS project, IMAS II - Improving Assistance in Inclusive Educational Settings - aims to support and strengthen the development of learning support assistants' competencies for inclusive practice.
The first IMAS project has demonstrated that there is no clear and consistent learning framework that can support assistants in schools and other educational settings to work with pupils with disabilities. It showed that the working conditions of paraprofessionals are characterized by high workloads, little job security, low status in school hierarchies and low qualifications. Based on these findings, the follow-up project IMAS II wants to ensure the further development and strengthening inclusive competences of paraprofessionals.
What is the aim?
The aim of the project is to develop 5 web-based knowledge boxes to different topics (e.g. ASD, ADHD, etc.) and to conceive a blended-learning format. These knowledge boxes include videos, power-point presentations, quizzes, etc. which enable an easy and quick way for paraprofessionals to expand their knowledge and to enhance inclusive competences for their practical work.
The effects of the knowledge boxes will be evaluated by a participatory research with children and assistants (interviews). This research method will give children voice and opportunities to express themselves.
We also aim at developing evaluation sheets for the further evaluation of assistance services and establishing a transnational network of assistants for the further development and improving inclusive competences.
The IMAS II project (2018-1-AT01-KA202-039302) will be developed with the support of the European Union's Erasmus+ funding programme, under the Key Action 2: Strategic Partnerships.
Who are the partners?
University of Graz
The University of Graz, which was founded in 1585, is Austrian’s second oldest university. With 32.500 students and 4.300 employees, it is one of the largest higher education institutions in Austria. The University of Graz is divided into six facilities and offers 120 studies at 76 institutes.
The Inclusive Education team at the Department of Educational Sciences is characterized by its various research and teaching activities, which cover the wide field of inclusive education in schools and extracurricular settings.
Barbara Gasteiger Klicpera, head of the Inclusive Education Unit, and Caroline Breyer coordinate the project IMAS II.
ARCIL provides a wide range of services in the rehabilitation field for children, youngsters and adults with disability or other special needs in the centre region of Portugal - technical support for children with SEN in inclusive schools, vocational and professional training, sheltered employment and integration in open labour market, occupational activities, residential facilities for children and adults, home care support and leisure time activities, including tourism for all.
Center for Social Studies (CES) is a scientific institution focused on research and advanced training in the social sciences and the humanities from an inter- and transdisciplinar perspective. Since CES foundation in 1978, it aims at doing research with and for an inclusive, innovative and reflexive society by fostering creative critical approaches to some of the timeliest challenges of contemporary societies.
Chance B Group is a service providing organisation in the Eastern part of Styria in Austria. For the population of around 270.000 inhabitants living in this regiona Chance B group provides service to support inclusive living for persons with all kind of needs. The group provides 26 different services, most of them are provided in people’s homes, in kindergartens, schools, in enterprises.
The Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE) is a national charity, founded in 1982, that works to promote equality and eliminate discrimination in education. CSIE produces a wide range of resources and provides training & consultancy nationally and internationally.
The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities is a non-profit European umbrella organization, established in 1996, and currently representing over 17,000 social and health services for persons with disabilities. EASPD advocates for effective and high-quality disability-related services in the field of education, employment and individualised support, in line with the UN CRPD principles, which could bring benefits not only to persons with disabilities, but to society as a whole.
TENENET o.z. was created in August 2011 as a reaction on many job seekers with disabilities who came to the precedent TENENET sheltered workshop. The new NGO was established as a social and psychological advisory centre with professional staff, consisting of psychologist;, psychotherapists; terrain social workers; street workers, youth workers and special pedagogues helping disabled clients, children in social need and youth with behaviour problems.
Historical Trnava University, established by Cardinal Peter Pázmaň in 1635, represents one of the oldest universities in Slovakia. University was reestablished in 1992 and currently consists of 5 faculties.
Members of department of Social Work focus in research mostly on child and family, as well as methodological and theoretical concepts in Social Work.Historical Trnava University, established by Cardinal Peter Pázmaň in 1635, represents one of the oldest universities in Slovakia. University was reestablished in 1992 and currently consists of 5 faculties.
Members of department of Social Work focus in research mostly on child and family, as well as methodological and theoretical concepts in Social Work.
Vision, the agency for social development, is a legal entity with non-profit purpose which works in public benefit. The organisation is specialised as a service provider in the area of culture and social development. The organisation provides information and legal and administrative consulting, methodic and creative intermediation and other services in order to motivate its clients for active and personal realisation.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.