18 Nov 2022

At the end of October, Digitool´s partners have started their courses for teachers within their own network. They have already delivered some of the sessions to teachers on how to work with autistic students using information and communication technologies (ICT).

For instance, our partner Inovar Autismo in collaboration with CRID of Politécnico de Leiria have already delivered the theorical part of the course, which will be followed by a practical part starting at the beginning of January. The theorical part took place online and it included a visit to the CRID of Politécnico de Leiria, so that the teachers could be in contact with the technological and digital resources.

Ana Molina, the Director of the school run by our partner Autismo Sevilla, delivered their course to different teachers working in the city of Seville. Among other tools, she shared information and benefits of augmentative and alternative communication systems. 

Diversamente started its theoretical part of the DIGITOOL course on the 23rd of November, with more than 40 teachers enrolled. The first module was led by Pierangelo Cappai, a father of a young man of 21 years old and Diversamente’s president, who made a presentation about the history of the perception of disability in our society and how the law progressively evolved to be more and more inclusive; and Francesca Palmas, president of the association ABC Sardinia (association for brain-damaged children) who outlined the pivotal importance of an individualized plan for all children with disability.

The second module,  “Autism”, was led by Tatiana Comelli, an ABA expert who regularly works with teachers in the schools and trains them on how to engage students with autism in the lessons and with their peers, showing how it is possible to help students really be included without the use of demanding language or physical interventions of any sort.

In the Diversamente´s courses, the majority of the teachers enrolled are support teachers who already have an official qualification for learning support to students with disability, yet they all feel it’s still not sufficient, especially in the case of autistic children.

The next modules will be about the strategies for successful inclusion in the classroom and the digital tools our modern times offer to aid teachers in the preparation of study materials and student engagement.

In general, the teachers have been very participative and they are very motivated to learn from the course on how to use ICT to better work with autistic students. Also, in all courses they have the chance to share their own experiences in working with autistic students, aiming to learn from each other along the course.

We invite you to check Digitool´s Facebook page, where you will find photos and regular information about these courses for teachers and all our activities!