Why is INCLUSIVE EDUCATION so important? The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes the right of persons with disabilities to education. An inclusive education system and lifelong learning should be ensured at all levels.
This is a good approach to see what is happening in the field of inclusive education at EU level. We at LebensGroß are coordinating a very exciting EU project on sustainability and the environment together with organisations for people with disabilities and organisations for sustainable development and global responsibility.
The project EFDI – Ecological Future Diverse and Inclusive – aims to make knowledge, skills and participation opportunities on climate protection and sustainability easily accessible for people with intellectual disabilities and/or complex disabilities. Appropriate and easily accessible information and materials will be produced.
In order to actively create a sustainable future, people need skills and knowledge about specific processes and contexts in climate protection, as well as opportunities to actively participate in climate protection. Therefore, in the EFDI project we develop tailor-made offers and inclusive educational materials. This should contribute to a conscious lifestyle and a growing awareness of climate protection and the environment.
The special aspect of this project is that the different needs of the learners are considered specifically through different learning concepts (easy-to-understand language, multi-sensory activities, visual materials). People with intellectual disabilities are involved in the elaboration and development of the project results and make an important contribution.
In summary, the project has the following objectives:
- Raise awareness of climate protection and sustainability;
- To contribute to an ecologically aware lifestyle;
- Promote self-empowerment through participation in initiatives and campaigns;
- Making information and alternative learning methods accessible through easy-to-understand language;
- Encouraging organisations to contribute to climate protection.
The EFDI project aims to take a further step towards inclusive education at EU level and make an important contribution to climate action and the empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities. Four products will be developed during the entire project period:
- EFDI Curriculum: The curriculum addresses all target groups in terms of ecological knowledge. The curriculum covers the topics: Climate, Food, Mobility, Consumption, Biodiversity. It contains a collection of methods and serves as a curriculum for inclusive work.
- EFDI Guidelines for Community Experiences: The guidelines provide a didactic framework for working on ecological topics based on community experiences and studies.
- EFDI Campaigning Set: The Campaigning Set empowers people with intellectual disabilities to campaign for a better ecological future in order to get actively involved. Ideas and materials for campaigns are developed with practical suggestions for the different target groups.
- EFDI Multisensory Art Book and Toolbox: The Multisensory Art Book and Toolbox provides a sensory-based learning resource on ecology and climate change as well as multisensory materials.
This project is co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
If you want to know more about the project: https://efdi-project.eu/