Designing Quality and Training Tools for Competence Profile of Supported Employment Specialists Conference was held at Istanbul Medeniyet University
The sixth and latest international partners' meeting of the European Union Project was held at Istanbul Medeniyet University
The success of the Supported Employment Specialists Training Modules for Disabilities in e-learning was confirmed and presented at Congress
The effectiveness of our e-learning tools was tested
Face-to-face National Advisory Board Meeting was held on May 31, 2018
Training Results of "Supported Employment for Disabilities" within the Scope of the EU Project were shared in the Congress
We participated to İŞKUR's workshop titled as "Job Coaches for People With Disabilities" on 1-2 March 2018 in Ankara
Associate Prof. Selma ARIKAN attended to İşkur's Kadıköy Branch's meeting in Kadıköy Registry Office
IMU Project Team Conducted First Pilot Training Program between 17-19 January 2018
17 January Breakfast at Tebessüm Cafe with our 24 trainees
12 December 2017 Our Second Visit to Iskur Kadıköy
Meeting in Usküdar Fikir Sanat Center: Students and Piloters met wih IMU Project Team (İst. Met. Mun., İSKUR, Şeh. Recep Büyük School)
Breakfast at Tebessüm Cafe (A cafe where people with down syndromes are employed) 6 November 2017
Meeting with Special Education Specialists working in Istanbul
We met with Nafiye Öztuğ Director of Kartal Şehit Recep Büyük Special Education School. We first met her in Samsun during 27th National Special Education Congress. She visited us at İMU after the congress and we talked about possible collaborations (27 November 2017)
27th National Congress of Special Education (8-10 November 2017) in Samsun
We participated to 27th National Special Education Congress that took place between 8-10 November 2017 in Samsun and organized by 19 Mayıs Üniversitesi.
Our presentations were accepted by the scientific committee.We will presented our studies related with PwDs and Project outputs completed until now.
"Accessibility of Information Technology for PwDs" Seminar
On 2 November 2017, two members of IMU Project Team from IMU Psychology department (Associate Professor Selma ARIKAN and Research Assistant Beliz Canlı) participated to a seminar on "Accessibility of Information Technology for PwDs" which was organized by IMU's Engineering and Natural Scıences Faculty. Project members met Halis Kuralay, who is the assistant director of the Ministery of Family and Social Policies in İstanbul, to describe the Tools for SE project. They briefly explained the project aims and intellectual outputs to Halis Kuralay and promised for further meetings.
Beyazay Association's Coordination Meeting
On 30 September 2017 IMU's project team member Assistant Professor Emine Ayyıldız participated to Beyazay Association's Coordination Meeting that took place in Iserlohn Germany. She introduced the project and explained it's aims to other members of the Beyazay Association. This Association has a mission to ease PwD's lives by improving the opportunities and facilities in social, educational, cultural and employment areas for PwDs. The delegates of other branches like Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, France and Greece also participated to this meeting. They were all informed about the Tools4SE project.
IMU project team attended to the meeting organized by Down Türkiye -Down Sendromu Derneği
On 23 October 2017 two members of IMU project team attended to the meeting organized by Down Türkiye -Down Sendromu Derneği that took place in İstanbul Hilton Bomonti Hotel. Down Türkiye is a substantially well experienced organization on the topic of Supported Employment and training Job Coaches. Associate Professor Dr. Selma Arıkan and Associate Professor Dr. Yeşim Güleç Aslan attended their meeting which was conducted to share the results of the project "Bağımsızım Çünkü Çalışıyorum 1".
This project was about Supported Employment and had many successful results including the employment of young people with down syndromes in the competitive work environment. Moreover the organization is really successful in training job coaches. Our team members met the coordinator of the project Selver Yulsever (manager & psychologist) and Fulya Ekmen (Vice Chairman of Down Türkiye) for possible collaborations. The Tools4SE project was briefly explained to Selver Yulsever and Fulya Ekmen and we decided to have further communications and collaborations for the topic of Supported Employment.
Visitation to İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Department for Health and Directorate of Disabled People (İSEM)
IMU project team including Associate Professor Selma Arıkan, Assistant Professor Emine Ayyıldız and Research Assistant Beliz Canlı visited İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Department for Health and Directorate of Disabled People (İSEM) on 28 September 2017. They had a meeting with Yeliz Yıldız Kökenek (the Director) and Halil Karacan (chief ressponsible of employment of PwDs, the municipality has a department consulting PwDs to place them in the competent labour market) .The project was briefly presented to them and they agreed on further collaborations for the employment of PwDs and the exploitation of the project outputs. "
Visitation to İŞKUR (Turkish Employment Agency) Kadıköy Branch
On 21 September 2017, two of the members of IMU project team including Associate Professor Selma Arıkan and Research Assistant Beliz Canlı had made a visit to İŞKUR (Turkish Employment Agency) Kadıköy Branch. They had a meeting with the branch manager Aziz Doğan and gave a briefing about the project, its aims and the training modules prepared recently. They agreed to make a collaboration for the project and the employment of People With Disabilites.
27th National Special Education Congress in Turkey
We will participate 27th National Special Education Congress that will take place between 8-10 November 2017 in Samsun and organized by 19 Mayıs Üniversitesi.
Our presentations were accepted by the scientific committee.We will present our studies related with PwDs and Project outputs completed until now.
Fourth International Partner Meeting and First Blended Mobility of Higher Education Students
Fourth International Partner Meeting and First Blended Mobility of Higher Education Students took place between 11-15th of September 2017 in Maribor, Slovenia. Host partner URI-SOCA organized a very good mobiliy activity for tha partners including presentations of vocational rehabilitation specialists presentations and work-site visits. It was a great opportunity for ever participant to understand the Supoorted Emplotment practices in Slovenia.
In addition to that all project partners conducted a meeting on the developments of the project outputs, dissemination and exploitation of the project and determined their action plan for forthcoming activities.
İŞKUR İstanbul İl Müdürlüğü
On 1 August 2017 IMU Project team visited İŞKUR (Türkiye İş Kurumu). We briefly described Tools4SE Project to İstanbul Branch Manager Yunus Yelmen and Assistant Manager Günay Bölükoğlu.
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Center for PwDs (İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Engelliler Merkezi)
At the begging of August IMU Project team visited İstanbul Engelliler Merkezi and gave information about Tools4SE.
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Center for PwDs
Associate Prof. Selma Arıkan contacted with Yasemin Ekşioğlu Ahad about the Project .She is working as a psychologist and counselling the PwDs and employers for job placement. She visited Selma Arıkan’s office at IMU and they had a meeting about the Project and possible colloborations.
Türkan Sabancı School of Special Education for Children with Multiple Disabilities & for visually impaired Children
Associate Professor Selma ARIKAN attended the graduation ceremony of Türkan Sabancı Çok Engelliler ve Görme Engelliler Okulu/ Türkan Sabancı School of Special Education for Children with Multiple Disabilities & for visually impaired Children
Associate Professor Selma ARIKAN visited Türkan Sabancı Çok Engelliler ve Görme Engelliler Okulu/ Türkan Sabancı School of Special Education for Children with Multiple Disabilities & for visually impaired Children
IMU team met with Türkan Sabancı School of Special Education for Children with Multiple Disabilities & for visually impaired Children
Ast. Professor Emine Ayyıldız organized an activity for children with multiple disabilities. The students of Türkan Sabancı School of Children with Multiple Disablities presented a music Show. After the show mothers of these children shared their experiences with us. Than we made an appointment with Uğur Kalafat the Director of the school, and visited their school 3 times.(meeting, graduation ceremony and an iftar dinner in Ramadan)
The event took place in 24th May 2017
IMU Project team contacted with two Special Education and Rehabilitation Centers’ managers
Associate Professor Yeşim Güleç Aslan organized an Awareness Day on Autism in İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi with two speakers specialized in Autism.
Sezgin Kartal the founder of Nova Special Education and Rehabilitation Center, he is a psycholgist specialized in the rehabilitation of children with developmental disabilities. We briefly summarized our Project Tools4SE to him.
We also met Parin Yakupyan the founder of Algı Special Education and Rehabilitation Center. Her son has autism spectrum disorder. We told our Project to her.
The event took place on 5th May 2017
The Tools4SE project was presented within a round table
The Tools4SE project was presented within a round table organised by the Bulgarian Ministry of labour and social policy. The main topic of the event was the social entrepreneurship and MCA team has delivered thematic ppt emphasisng on the supported employment service as a tool for the promotion of employment.
The attendees were about 70 people – policy makers, experts from regional authorities, social entrepreneurs, people with disability and other experts. The event was held on18th August 2017 In town of Haskovo, Bulgaria.
“Employment of People with disabilities – challenges and solutions” Conference
On 06th July 2017, MCA was co-organiser of the International conference entitled “Employment of People with disabilities – challenges and solutions”. The Supported employment was the major topic of the conference and guest speakers from Bulgaria, Turkey, Spain and Austria presented different models of SE implemented in the European countries.
The conference was held in Burgas, Bulgaria and was visited by more than 200 participants form 7 European countries. The conference was proceeded by press conference and the reports from the event were published in local newspapers, radio and television.
MCA team has presented the Tools4SE project in VET centres
On 15th May 2017 MCA team has presented the Tools4SE project within a workshop for professionals in VET centres. The event was held in Svishtov, Bulgaria and the participants were representatives of VET centres, professionals working in the labour branches of the national employment agency, university professors and representatives of NGOs. The particip0ants also discussed the opportunities for further use of the project outcomes.
The Tools4SE project was presented during a training seminar
The Tools4SE project was presented during a training seminar on career counseling of people with disabilities, co-organised by University of Ruse and MCA. The event was held on 13th May 2017 in Ruse, Bulgaria and aimed at announcement of the newly developed tools for SE Specialists VET training programme for SE providers. During the event it was agreed that MCA team will prepare a paper for the scientific conference organised by University of Ruse at the end of October 2017.
The team of MCA was invited to give a presentation
The team of MCA was invited to give a presentation on the benefits of the supported employment within a Round table held on 6th April 2017, Sofia. The event was organised by “My dream job” e-platform which main idea is to bring together job seekers with disabilities and employers who are willing to hire them. The platform is newly established one and it is the first of its kind in Bulgaria.
Among the services offered by My Dream Job will also be online career counseling, support for job interview preparation and others. The participants came to the conclusion that the supported employment can be also added to the services portfolio offered by the platform.
Marie Curie Association promoted the Tools4SE project
Marie Curie Association promoted the Tools4SE project during the VI International Fair of social enterprises within the social economy held between 29th March and 1 Apr 2017 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. During the 4-days event more than 6000 visitors had the chance to visit the MCA’s stand and to be familiar with the concept of the project.
Among the visitors were people with disabilities, employers of disabled people, social entrepreneurs, psychologists and other specialists who consult people with disabilities and non-disabled employees, as well as policy makers and representatives of social enterprises’ umbrella organisations.
Marie Curie Association has presented the project during a workshop
On the 5th of January 2017 Marie Curie Association has presented the project during a workshop entitled “SE – new chance for employment of PwDs”. The workshop was held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and the participants were representatives of the public administration working in the field of social affairs and employment.
Tools for SE Specialist Project Team participated Pendik Job Fair
Project Team participated 7th Job Fair organized by Pendik Municipality on 17th November 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey. There were 16 companies represented by HR teams to meet with potential employees. More than 500 employees registered and visited the stands of the companies.
Project Team found a chance to talk with representatives of the companies and gave project general information and piloting process details to register online learning system and follow the training activities.
Project presented on workshop for cross border project
Tools for SE Specialist Project presented on workshop for "INTERREG crossborder projects between Slovenia and Austria" on 9th June 2016 in Radenci, Slovenia.
Project presented on workshop for vocational rehabilitation providers
Tools for SE Specialist Project presented on workshop for providers of vocational rehabilitation - Austrian model of modular training programme for the experts in vocational rehabilitation (lectured by Ingrid Pammer from BBRZ Austria), in Maribor on 6th July 2016.
Project Team visited Togemder Special Education Job School
Project Team visited TOGEMDER Special Education Job School in Istanbul at 2nd June 2016. This school built by Social Development Center Education and Social Solidarity Association (TOGEMDER) supported by Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. In Turkey, Individuals with physical or mental deficiency younger than 21 years old and graduated from elementary school attend job schools.
Project trainers from IMU and UBITED informed teachers how to manage internship with 3days of the week for 2 semesters with volunteers help on and off job support. Trainers showed some practical examples to teachers as support activities to use in accommodation and hotel services, catering services, furniture and interior design, handcraft technologies activities.
Project Team participated info-meeting at Down Syndrome Association
Project Team participated info-meeting at Down Syndrome Association in Istanbul, Turkey at 30th May 2016. After getting information from the representatives of the NGO about their local and national activities, project and campaigns. Project staff from UBITED gave information how to manage effectively down syndrome health clinic, career and independent living academy, job coaching activities by volunteers in the organization.
Project Team visited Smiling Down Cafe
Project team visited Smiling Down Cafe in Istanbul at 7th May 2016. This cafe has something very unique and that is for everyone who visits the cafe immediately visible. In the cafe, customers namely served by very friendly staffs that have down syndrome.
Project team informed the professional instructors, special education teacher and volunteers from catering service how to work with those special workers, how to organize training in dealing with visitors, how to take orders and how to serve. The staff with down syndrome are engaged with their volunteer brothers or sisters who may accompany them when they for instance are tired or do not understand something.
Project presented to the local minorities representatives
Tools for SE Specialist Project presented to the local minorities representatives in Centre for Vocational Rehabilitation in URI-SOCA, in Murska Sobota unit, 26th May 2016.
Group working activity with young volunteers organized in Istanbul
Tools for SE Specialist Project Management Team was organized a group working activity with young volunteers to increase the sensitivity and awareness of the participants through disabled people at 2nd April 2016 in Istanbul. Participants discussed in small groups and presented their works to other participants. Discussed topics were:
- how do we help disabled in different ways?
- how do we make their life easy?
- how do we share our ideas with them whether blind, non-hearing or with down syndrome.
Second management meeting organized in Plovdiv-Bulgaria
Tools for SE Specialist Project second management meeting held in Plovdiv on 14th and 15th April 2016. During the meeting, each partner presented survey results and literature review.
Plans and approach to “comparative findings and key specific aspects of the research” presented and group discussion on these plans and approaches done to reach a consensus on a strategy and interview that is usable and acceptable to the populations that project partners will be working with.
Kick-off meeting organized in Istanbul-Turkey
Tools for SE Specialist Project kick-off meeting was held in Istanbul on 16th and 17th October 2015. All partner organizations represented during the meeting and objectives of the kick-off meeting were;
- To explore the possibilities offered by the Erasmus+ Program,
- To underline the importance of blended learning at lifelong learning projects,
- To underline the importance of supported employment and job coaching services,
- To produce a common training and activity program for supported employment specialists,
- To define agreed time scale and deadline for each intellectual outputs,
- To define agreed roles of partner organizations for each activities,
- To create project management group,
- To discuss project intellectual outputs,
- To learn details of previous projects of partners and adaptable ideas for the project,
- To learn national VET system in partner countries,
- To visit 2 sample organizations related with job coaching.
We are on social media
Tools4SE Project is active on social media.
You can follow our activities on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
Here are the links:
https://www.facebook.com/supportedemployment