1st EBU International Conference on Education, 19-23 July 2000, Montegrotto Terme (Padua) - Italy

The training of experts in early intervention

Brief paper by Erika Goergen, Director of the Early Intervention Centre for visually impaired children of the R. Hollman Foundation in Cannero Riviera (VB), Italy

The Robert Hollman Foundation, a Dutch non-profit-making foundation, runs two centres in Italy for the rehabilitation of children with a severe visual impairment.

In 1995 the early intervention centre for visually impaired children in Cannero Riviera (on Lake Maggiore), upon request of the Institute for Rehabilitation, Professional Training and Research (I.Ri.Fo.R.) of the Italian Union of the Blind, planned and carried out a "post graduate" training programme for experts in early intervention for visually impaired and/or multihandicapped children (from 0-4 years old).

From over 120 requests from the whole of Italy 20 participants were selected who had already received some basic training that was suitable for the acquisition of knowledge aimed at the field of early intervention.

The aims of the course:

  1. train experts to be able to carry out professional activities in state and private health centres as employees or freelance professionals;
  2. create professional capability to be able to evaluate the functional capacity of a visually impaired and multihandicapped child, put individual needs into perspective and apply methods that have been acquired in the areas of motor skills, playing, basic stimulations and visual stimulations;
  3. develop capability and professional and human skills in order to be able to pass rehabilitative principles onto parents so that they can foster a better understanding of their child and his/her capabilities and potential and feel supported in their task of educating him/her (empowerment of parents)

The contents of the course aimed above all at passing on skills with respect to small blind, severely partially sighted and/or multihandicapped children, his/her family, interdisciplinary work and networking.

Priority was also given to personality training, the development of human and relational skills, independence and self-awareness. Experts should be able to face complexity and tolerate ambiguity in their daily professional activities.

The course was held between 1997 and 1999 for a total of 468 hours, subdivided into 6 theoretical modules each lasting a week, 2 practical modules (each lasting three weeks) and a week-long study trip to the Institute for the Blind in W�rzburg in Germany.

The practical part (training) was organised entirely at the Early Intervention Centre of the R. Hollman Foundation in Cannero.

Out of 20 participants chosen, 19 finished the training programme successfully. Almost everyone works (even partially) in the field of early intervention in various fields of service up and down the country.

Evaluation of the training programme

The training programme was a pilot experience for Italy. By carrying out very thorough preliminary research we became aware of the fact that there have been very few similar experiences in Europe (a complete training programme in Austria and sporadic courses in Germany and Switzerland).

Having evaluated this first experience of ours in Italy we are convinced of the compelling need for thorough training that can stimulate awareness of the importance of qualified early intervention as a means of prevention and improvement in the quality of life for a disabled child and his/her family.

Future prospects

After this first very promising experience (which has aroused a lot of interest abroad) we have planned two more courses of this kind upon request of I.Ri.Fo.R.

Unfortunately this project was "rejected" at the last moment due to financial reasons and the situation therefore is "pending" for now.

The Robert Hollman Foundation, however, is continuing to organise updating courses on various themes (visual rehabilitation, prerequisites for Orientation and Mobility, interventions of a psycho-pedagogical kind).

Unfortunately we think it is a great "shortcoming" that it is no longer possible to continue with this initiative for financial reasons, having all the scientific and organisational know-how already in hand.

In our opinion at least 200 experts should be trained who can cover the whole country and be able to satisfy the enormous need for personnel qualified in this field and be able to stimulate the setting up of networks that are indispensable for taking forward such a promising challenge as this.

It is our impelling duty to let all children and their families benefit as early as possible from intervention which is carried by people who deserve their trust.

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