Educare
| Focus | Services on visual impairment in Jordan and the West Bank |
| Funding programme | European Union: Tempus IV |
| Project coördinator | German Jordan University (Jordan), Vision Rehabilitation Centre |
| Partners | Hungary: Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Special Education Jordan: University of Jordan, departments of Ophthalmology and Occupational Therapy; Netherlands: Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute; Royal Dutch Visio Palestine: An-Najah National University, Department of Optometry; Bethlehem University, Department of Occupational Therapy; Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation UK: Aston University, Optometry Department; Focus Birmingham |
| Total Funding | € 536,409 |
| Duration | December 2013 – November 2016 |
In this project, a consortium of universities and non-governmental organizations in Europe and the Middle East worked together to improve the quality and quantity of the services for persons with visual impairment in Jordan and Palestine. The project included several components.
Curriculum development
It helped upgrade the curricula in vision rehabilitation and early intervention for students of ophthalmology, optometry and occupational therapy at universities in Jordan and the West Bank. Through workshops, practical assignments, and study visits and practical training, the lecturers and clinical instructors gained knowledge and experience to upgrade the existing curricula and provide services to the community.
Rehabilitation
A series of meetings and workshops in Jordan and Palestine raised awareness of other universities, professionals, parents and teachers on the needs and possibilities to rehabilitate persons with visual impairment.
Training centres. A vision training centre was established at German Jordan University, and a low vision centre at An-Najah National University.
Training materials
The project produced the following courses and materials:
- Online course on the basics of low vision
- Manual on vision rehabilitation
- Tip cards on how to support persons with visual impairment in English and Arabic
News items
- Opening seminar for the GJU Tempus project on vision rehabilitation (2014)
- The GJU supporting vision rehabilitation services in the West Bank (2014)
- Results Tempus project "Curriculum and skill development in vision rehabilitation" (2016)
- An-Najah participates in the Tempus project workshop (2016)
- Skills and curriculum development in vision rehabilitation (2016)
- Closing ceremony of Tempus project “Curriculum and skill development in vision rehabilitation” (2016)