ADA-E-Learning on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Project Cycle Management

In pursuit of the principle of ‘Nothing about us without us’, ADA adopts an inclusive approach and promotes the participation, equal rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities. Key elements here are respect for dignity and individual autonomy, accessibility, equal opportunities, respect for the developing abilities of persons with disabilities and for their right to preserve their identity.
ADA offers a specialized online training to increase the awareness on persons with disabilities in development cooperation and to include persons with disabilities in ADA’s project cycle management.

Objective and aim of the modules
Primary objective of this training is a knowledge transfer - in line with the 2021 updated handbook “Persons with disabilities – Inclusion: human rights and mandate in development cooperation: Guidance for ADA Project Cycle Management“ and existing ADA best practices -  to the general public, ADA staff both in the Headquarters and in ADC Coordination Offices/Project Offices as well as for project partners of ADC/ADA on the inclusion of persons with disabilities during the entire project cycle. The training is intended for both newcomers and experts in this area and should provide them with sufficient guidance - knowhow and advise - to adequately mainstream and specialize the inclusion of people with disabilities during the whole project management cycle, reflecting both in the role of ADA as funding authority and as implementer. The online versions should permit ADA staff and project partner to conduct the training whenever appropriate for them, and at any stage.

The Training is separated in 3 Modules:

Module 1: A general introduction into international and national normative standards and policies, basics and trends on disability, definitions, and approaches of inclusions basics of accessibility; – focused both to the wider public as well as to ADA staff and ADC partners. (Duration 40 – 50 minutes)

Module 2: Special introduction of technical aspects of disability mainstreaming in ADA’s project cycle management (data collection, design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation etc.), using a human-rights-based-approach with special focus on disabled; open to the ADA staff and ADC partners. (Duration 45 – 60 minutes)

Module 3: An overview and “resource pool” (in form of technical “tip sheets”) on disability inclusion to support ADA staff and partners in regard to accessible (internal and external) documents, best practices and partnerships, reflecting disability in all ADA programmatic work, policy dialogue, including meaningful participation of persons with disabilities. Open to the ADA staff and ADC implementing partners as well as the wider public.

Handbook and Introduction
Before you start with the training modules, we would like to introduce the authors of the handbook serving as the basis for the training modules.  

Mr. Johannes Binder, ADA Advisor on Governance, Human Rights, Migration
“It is my viewpoint, motivation and expectation that the revised Handbook and the – accompanying online training tool – would increase the understanding of underlying concepts concerning disabled peoples’ external barriers in our societies. It should introduce to norms, policy basics as well as integrative approaches for improved integration of people with disabilities into the mainstream of societies across various sectors – especially via concrete PCM tools - through the means of development cooperation: projects and programmes as well as policy dialogue. The inclusion of people with disabilities may not only be a matter of empathy, ethics, dignity, norms and technical questions for improved integration. I am convinced that inclusion is an utmost necessity for any evolving society with a profounder understanding on the limitations and potentials of – actually all - individual human beings, as based upon the facts of interdependence between the inner and external conditions of any human being from early age on. In that context it is important too to reflect on our own limitations – concepts, attitudes and habits - as revised concepts, language and behavioural patterns may constructively shape conditions towards a more decisive integration. The roles of duty bearers and right holders – also in the realm of disability action programmes and development cooperation - are interchangeable as well. The topic of “aging of societies” – especially through socioeconomic prosperity and increased welfare – exemplify best that each of us can be affected by more or less visible and tangible forms of disability for which we need to be prepared and cared for. Involvement of right holders at any stages is important: inclusive planning, implementation and assessments are socially sustainable, provide better adjusted managerial and technical solutions, and are therefore absolutely future oriented.

I want to express my gratitude for the contributions of Mrs. Sabine Mandl, coauthor, and expert of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, of Mr. Georg Huber-Grabenwarter, the BtG project manager, for his ambitions initiative and effective coordination, and of various ADC programme partners, for their precious inputs in word and pictures to the online training tool.”

Mrs. Sabine Mandl, Expert, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights
“It is important to ensure that the working environment is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. –Not just thinking of physical barriers, but also in terms of communication, information and attitudes. Ensure that all kinds of impairments are taken into account. Providing opportunities at every stage of the PCM in which persons with disabilities (division of gender, age) can substantially bring in their expertise and life experiences and include them already at the very beginning of the planning phase of the programme/project. Avoid that the inclusion of persons with disabilities is simply tokenistic.”

And now we hope you have fun learning and refreshing your knowledge in the three modules.
Click on this link if you have any questions about how to handle e-learning.