SAME SAME

SAME SAME – A Capacity Building and Empowerment e-Mentorship Program for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

Program: Cooperation partnerships.

Duration of the Project: 36 months.

Coordinator: GINASIO CLUBE PORTUGUES.

Partners: ZAJEDNICA SPORTSKIH UDRUGA GRADA RIJEKE RIJECKI SPORTSKI SAVEZ, SPORTNO DRUSTVO GIB LJUBLJANA SISKA, UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO DI CHIETI-PESCARA, UNIVERSITAT RAMON LLULL FUNDACIO, Judo klub osoba s invaliditetom “Fuji”, Smart Nest.

Summary of the project: People with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) face many barriers in society, including social exclusion, stigma, and difficulties finding employment. Peer support interventions are increasingly used as best practice for people with IDD. However, it is people without disabilities who provide mentorship to people with disabilities. To address the call for greater inclusion of underserved populations, there is a need to explore peer mentoring interventions in which mentors are adults with mild IDD. Electronic mentoring (e-mentoring) offers a promising opportunity for people with mild IDD and has the potential to improve their inclusion while enhancing career outcomes. The aftermath of the COVID pandemic suggests people with IDD can use communication technology and find the use of technology acceptable as part of their social relationships. Thus, the purpose of SAME SAME is to develop and test the effectiveness of a Capacity-building and Empowerment e-Mentorship Program that gives 50 adults with mild IDD (18-64 age) the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead their peers with or without IDD in games and activities designed to improve functional fitness, by thoroughly: 1. Developing a comprehensive assessment toolkit 2. b. Developing multidisciplinary interactive training modules 3. Gamify/Digitalize the learning modules on a freely available website 4. Test the feasibility of the 6-month mentor’s qualification and of a 3-month pilot intervention in partner community-based organizations wherein mentors with IDD will apply the acquired knowledge to their mentees. We expect to: 1. Develop independent living and reinforce community-based services. 1. Develop new skills for new jobs 2. Promote Inclusive and accessible education 3. Increase recognition of the work performed by people with IDD 4. Improve the availability of high-quality learning opportunities for adults with IDD.

Total value of the project: 400.000 €.