REAL will explore the experiences of learning disabled young people in the creative sector and reflect on inclusive practice, bringing best practice to the fore and raising the aspirations of young disabled artists so that they are more able to compete in the mainstream.
Throughout the project we will explore the concept of quality in learning disability arts, what this is and how it impacts on the experiences of young learning disabled people.
How do we identify and maintain quality in the creative process when working with learning disabled young people ?
How important is quality and how does it help improve participation and inclusion?
We will:
• explore the concept of quality in creative work by/for young learning disabled people.
• explore process or product – where does the quality begin?
• explore the process and value of critical thinking.
• learn new methods of evaluation, self evaluation and critical thinking that are accessible and meaningful.
• recognise the importance of quality work with/for young learning disabled people
• raise the aspiration of young learning disabled people
Thus enabling young learning disabled people to develop critical thinking skills which will enable them to make good choices about their future.
Being able to see the quality of work imposes a question on both the performer and the audience.
The project will work with learning disabled young people in the partner institutions to explore best practice. Learning Teaching Training Events will run alongside the explorations in order for youth workers to look at the reflection/evaluation/critical skills techniques used. These activities will take place in each partner country and will target youth workers, disability workers and those working in the arts and disability, from within the partner organisations.
The project fits within the Erasmus+ Programme aims for promoting equity and inclusion by facilitating the access to learners with disabilities who have fewer opportunities compared to their peers. Also the European Disability Strategy 2010- 2012 (EDS) which states persons with disabilities have the right to participate fully and equally in society and that denial of equal opportunities is a breach of human rights. On in six people in the EU has a disability that ranges from mild to severe making around 80 million who are often prevented from taking part fully in society because of environmental and attitudinal barriers.
The overall aim of the Strategy is to empower people with disabilities so they can enjoy their full right and end benefit fully from participating in society and the European economy.
The REAL project directly responds to this, supporting the work of and exchange of good practice between youth organisations working in the field of arts and disability with the aim of strengthening the inclusion of young disabled people by promoting their abilities.
Through a combination of transnational meetings, learning events, online discussion and evaluation of ongoing activity within partner organisations the project will explore current approaches, experiences and models, investigate what is important and what isn't, explore what works and what doesn't and find ways to communicate that to the current conversations taking place regarding quality, inclusion and learning disability in the arts.
The conversations currently taking place in the Uk can be expanded and developed by introducing a European dimension. Bringing together best practice from organisations across Europe with a wide range of knowledge and experience in this areas will broaden the current discussions and allow the conversations to move forward.
What results are expected during the project and on its completion?
The results expected are:
- a continuing conversation that will feed into national and international debates on learning disability arts
- a best practice resource for those working in the arts and with young people, in the form of an online documentary
- the adoption of best practice by the partner organisations enabling them to adopt new ways of working into their methodologies and improve the quality of service delivery
- a greater awareness of the issues of quality in working practices and products by those working with young people which will benefit not only themselves and their organisations but the opportunities available to young people with learning disabilities.
- a relationship between partners that will be maintained following the project to continue conversations
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PARTNERS
Headway Arts (UK)
Januoliu Dienos Centras (Lithuania)
VOARTE (Portugal)
Headway Arts (UK)
ANTIGONE (Greece)
Ad Astra (Poland)
