Includ-ed, red europea de educación inclusiva

Summary

People with learning and communication difficulties can often experience problems making themselves understood when speaking to others. Multimedia Advocacy involves supporting them to develop their own multimedia person centred portfolio. Using this portfolio, people with learning and communication difficulties can share their interests and tastes and better explain the ways that they would like to be supported. Also, in creating the portfolio, they develop new skills in the use of computers and in general social interaction and communication.

Multimedia Advocacy is an inclusive way for staff of all disciplines to work with adults or children with learning or communication difficulties. It will be of interest to social services staff, teachers and teaching assistants, staff from voluntary organisations, parents and carers.

The Rix Centre is a charitable research & development organisation dedicated to the exploration of new media for the benefit of the learning disability community.  Multimedia can help people with learning disabilities to organise their thoughts, remember, learn and communicate more effectively. This can significantly improve their ability to live independent lives, contribute to the community and fulfill their personal aims and ambitions.

The Rix Centre delivers a rolling programme of research & development projects as well as providing teaching & learning in Multimedia Advocacy and implementing wider Multimedia Advocacy based initiatives across the fields of health, social care and education.

Project object:

For people with intellectual or communication disabilities:

• Strengthen the ability of expression of needs and wishes
• Develop new skills in the use of computers and in general social interaction and communication situations
• Gain new competences in order to find suitable employment
• Foster active participation in society 
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For families, professionals and supporters:

• Discover new ways to work and interact with people with learning disabilities
• develop technical skills and confidence

Understand person centred approaches to care, advocacy, communication, empowerment and inclusion.

Methodology

The Rix Centre has developed an inclusive, person centred approach that uses digital photography, video, audio and computers to enable people with learning disabilities to communicate more effectively. We call this approach - Multimedia Advocacy. It is a form of self advocacy that provides framework for professionals and people with disabilities to work together and learn from each other.

 

Multimedia Advocacy is an approach where the member of staff learns the theoretical and technical underpinnings and in inclusive sessions supports a person with a learning disability to develop their multimedia person centred portfolio. The portfolio can take different forms depending on the needs of an individual for example: curriculum vitae, person centred plan, health action plan, support plan or record of achievements

Target

People with learning and communication difficulties

Social services staff, teachers and teaching assistants, staff from voluntary organisations, parents and carers.

Good practice innovations

Multimedia Advocacy is an inclusive way for staff of all disciplines to work with adults or children with learning or communication difficulties. It will be of interest to social services staff, teachers and teaching assistants, staff from voluntary organisations, parents and carers.

Good practice achievements

The Rix Centre offers today a wide range of multimedia advocacy courses as part of a qualification or on a standalone basis, for professional development.

A one day course ‘Introduction to Multimedia Advocacy’ encompasses person centred planning and practice, the values and principles of multimedia advocacy. Various person centred planning tools and approaches with an opportunity for hands on experience are explored.

A range of four day short courses that address person centred planning, health action planning, support planning, advocacy, building personal websites and multimedia CVs.

Introduction to Multimedia Advocacy Theory and Practice course is a 12 day program of study during which six of the twelve sessions will be inclusive. Together with a partner student having a learning disability a multimedia advocacy person centre portfolio will be developed.

Everyone benefits from Multimedia Advocacy.

There is good evidence that people with intellectual or communication disabilities benefit from the process of multimedia advocacy. Generally, they gain a lot of confidence in communication and engage more effectively in shaping their day to day activities. They develop new skills in the use of computers and in general social interaction and communication and are more able to share their interests and tastes and explain the ways that they like to be supported.

With good support, all clients can prepare presentations that highlight their gifts, talents and achievements, and so improve their real prospect of being active citizens and finding suitable employment. After the course, clients are better equipped to explore their opportunities in life and make informed choices and decisions. They can use multimedia to record their life stories and their experiences to help others really get to know and understand them.

Families, professionals and supporters also benefit. They gain additional ways to work and interact with people with learning disabilities. Use of multimedia provides an engaging and accessible way to make plans together and produce records that everyone can engage with. It also provides a great platform for the sharing of ideas and the capturing of subtle communication.

Supporters develop technical skills and confidence that will help them personally and professionally. Professionals who complete these courses will also build more understanding about person centred approaches to care, advocacy, communication, empowerment and inclusion.

Organisations using multimedia advocacy benefit from having transparent person centred practices, and increased motivation and professionalism in their staff.

Project partners and other stakeholders

The Rix Centre (especially Andy Minnion, the Rix Centre Director), researchers, partners, sponsors

Good practice testimonial

“The course was the best thing that happened to me this year”- Service User

“I would highly recommend this training to those who want to be part of a future in which people are empowered to manage and control their own support” - Commissioner

“The multimedia advocacy course has provided me and those I work with a fantastic opportunity to work together in a positive, person centred way.” – Support worker