Start and end date: September 2019 – January 2023
Funding frame: Erasmus+, Adult Education, KA2 – Cooperation and Innovation for Good Practices
Duration: 42 months (6 months extension due to CoVid)
Contact: mvbuijsen@robertcoppes.nl
Project coordinator: Robert Coppes Foundation (Marit van Buijsen, Coordinator dept. Expertise, Innovation & Knowledge)
Project homepage: https://robertcoppes.nl/psycovia-2/
Background
The complexity of a visual impairment with multiple additional disabilities is often the reason for adopting a highly individualistic approach. We know that there is hardly any literature available on how to deal with these multi-problems. Especially literature on the combination of psychological and psychiatric symptoms with a visual impairment is missed. Within the entire population of people with a visual impairment, this is a small group. It is therefore inevitable and necessary to work together in an international context in order to better support this vulnerable group of clients through joint expertise. The method we used for this is the sharing of best practices.
Goal
During six Transnational Project meetings, professionals and clients from five countries shared their knowledge and expertise in this area. All good practices shared during these meetings have been collected in a digital ‘Book of Good Practices’ that will be used for further training of professionals (educators and trainers) in working with adults with a visual impairment and additional psychological/psychiatric problems. With the ultimate goal to better assist service users.
Approach: Six ‘Transnational Project Meetings’ (TPM)
Every participating country organised a TPM of two days in which a specific comorbid mental disorder was the theme of the meeting. The six selected themes were:
- Personality Disorders & Psychoses;
- Eating Disorders & Addiction;
- Behavioural Disorders;
- Autism Spectrum Disorders;
- Depression & Anxiety;
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
During the events the following activities took place:
- Expert’s talk: The organising country invited an expert to share the latest knowledge about the specific mental disorder.
- What’s the situation: Each country presented how they deal with the specific mental disorder in their own organisation. How many service users experience the specific mental disorder, how do they provide care to these adults and what are their questions.
- Case discussions: Each country presented cases during the TPM’s and knowledge and experience about how to deal with that case were shared.
Project results
All collected good practices from the six TPM’s are brought together in a digital ‘Good Practices Book’. This book can be used as a reference work and for training purposes. Feel free to share!
Project partners
EU Logo – Project Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union
