Digitalization has been on the rise for several years now. It has become a more prominent cross-cutting topic, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. When working with trainees who have a special educational focus in the area of learning, the acquisition of digital skills is a major task for specialist staff. It becomes clear on a daily basis that the digital world is not yet accessible, but nevertheless plays a predominant role in everyday life. At the same time, the development of social and personal skills is essential for integration in the labour market.

As a cooperation partnership, we found ourselves in a field of tension that we wanted to bridge. In a joint exchange between partners from Germany (KIDS & CO and Konrad-Zuse-Schule Berlin), Greece (IFF and 2EPAL Alexandroupoli), Sweden (Activa und Anpassad Gymnasieskola Örebro Kommun) and Cyprus (Learning Center for Youth), we developed a concept for how teachers can act in this area of tension. As part of the project results, both teachers and learners are supported in their soft skills.

During the project duration from 31.05.2022 to 30.05.2025, the aim of the project was to define the challenges in terms of accessibility and the needs of the target group and accordingly develop new approaches to support learners in personal, social, emotional and digital skills. All with the aim of facilitating access to the labor market and society and under the motto “Accessibility enables us to use the potential of each individual” (quote from Debra Ruh).

The project initially focused on the question of what “accessibility” means. The following was defined in a joint discussion:

… a charta of things that need to be provided by a society. It includes:

• Equal opportunities for everyone.
• To support fundamental rights (human rights).
• Recognise barriers/ limitations in daily life.
• No exclusion and discrimination of people.
• Inclusion and integration (right to select).
• Acceptance/ tolerance and friendly community environment.
• To be active participant in society (not only a consumer but also a designer).

In addition, and in particular we as institutions should put into focus also the following development goals during our time with our learners:

• Give opportunity to develop self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Perception of self – awareness.
• Eliminate Prejudice from the other side.
• Developing a life goal plan with our learners.
• Developing self-consciousness for inclusion society.

And what do we mean by “digital accessibility”?

…a lot and not easy to define for the project group. In order to receive digital accessibility some common things need to be provided by the society. This is on different levels in each programme country. 

The 5 most important hard facts need to be considered first:

1. Free public WIFI (in Sweden well spread but in the other countries less or even rarely).
2. Opportunity for all to have common devices (to be able to scan QR-Codes that allow you to have access to free WIFI).
3. Point 2 is also connected to the economic resource of the user.
4. Also a common frame of the electronic providers is important so that the devices are working in the same way, always.
5. The websides, e.g. from authorities need to be in a very easy language and adapting to all senses so that all people are able to get accessibility.

In this matter we see the governments as well as companies responsible. Companies could donate regular digital equipment to schools (in all countries). 

Important for our project group is not only to follow the track of delivering digital competences to our learners, but also to keep track on the fundamental personal and social skills of each individual in order to avoid social exclusion or behavioural problems.

In the course of the project, we finally developed a teacher's guide in the project team to build a bridge between the acquisition of digital skills and personal, social skills.

This was tried and tested in a one-week activity in Greece in April 2024 by vocational school teachers, trainers, special needs teachers and job coaches as well as social pedagogues. After evaluating how this could be transferred to their own target group and adapting their own methods, an activity for learners was jointly developed. This took place in Berlin in September 2024. A total of 60 learners and teachers from the 4 program countries took part.

The teachers' guide and the project guide with all project results can be downloaded from the project website https://kids-und-co.de/bildung/berufsbildung/digital-accessibility 

The guide uses the NLP approach alongside other proven approaches of the project partners and can be easily used by trainers and teachers working with young people with learning difficulties.

The handbook contains all the best practice examples from the partners as well as the schedule for the week together for use in similar settings.