PLAN - WHAT DID YOU SET OUT TO DO? | |
| Summary/ Description of Activity | |
| Senior volunteers reading aloud ones a week to people with intellectual disabilities. The volunteers have learned more about how to communicate with people with intellectual deficiencies and how to present a text to be understandable. | |
| Learning objectives: | |
| Volunteers learn Overall knowledge about conditions for people with intellectual disabilities;To assess the usefulness of a text for people with disabilities; Learn how to communicate with people with intellectual deficiencies. | |
| DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY | |
| Date [dd/mm/yyyy] | Ongoing since autumn 2005 |
| Length of activity | 1 hour |
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Organiser | Vara Public Library |
| Tutor | Library staff and external from the Social services |
| Group Size | 5-8 |
| Venue | Library |
| Location | Vara SE |
| Environment | Small town |
| Location Factors | Other activities going on at the same time for the target group |
| Partnerships | |
| Target group | Senior volunteers interested in learning more about intellectual handicaps. |
| Contact | Birgitta.hansson@vara.se www.vara.se/bibliotekeni 0046 512 31155 |
| Marketing | Posters, articles in local newspapers, mouth to mouth |
| Method of delivery | According to a schedule mainly organised and maintained by the volunteers themselves, one or two persons from the voluntary group read once a week. Meetings and workshops for the volunteers during the semester. |
| Equipment required | Books easy to read and understand and a silence room. |
| Other Factors | |
| Tasks | (Task2) Involving seniors as volunteers |
EVALUATION OF ACTIVITY| Evaluation of the Learning Objectives |
| The understanding of the target group is essential as well as the quality of the delivery of services. The volunteers have absorbed the factual background to their assignment very well. They are now able to pick a suitable text or choose from a selection of suggested text and have learned to handle most situations in the reading group. |
| Evaluation of the activity |
| The group consists of around 8 people who alternate reading to the group. Problems may occur when other activities attract the volunteers’ interests and several turn out as not available. Vacancies are filled with staff to secure the service for the disabled. |
| Evaluation of what was learned by the participants |
| The volunteers have learned to be more aware of how much the listeners really understand of the text. This awareness has pinpointed the importance of taking small breaks for coffee and discussions during the reading. The reading group has developed into also a social event. |
| Evaluation of what staff have learned |
| To recognise the certain needs of backing up that the volunteers need. To be aware of the need of recognition of volunteers from all staff, not just the responsible librarian |
| Keywords |
| Read aloud; voluntary group; disabled people; intellectual handicaps; Senior volunteers; |
| ANALYSIS OF EVALUATION |
| What would you change to improve activity? |
| What particular circumstance could affect a change in the activity? |
| Other possible Activities |
| Best practice |
| Transferability: |