Promoting Digital Citizenship Education among Adult Learners with Intellectual Disabilities through Co-creation and Gamification Dynamics – CITIZEN-A
Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in Adult Education
Project Number: 1549904
Duration: November 2024 – July 2027
WEB page LINK: https://citizen-a.weebly.com/
Project Summary
The CITIZEN-A project was launched to address the critical challenge of digital exclusion among people with intellectual disabilities, a significant issue across Europe. Statistical data indicate that nearly 80 million people with disabilities in the European Union face difficulties in accessing the internet and digital technologies, hindering their equal participation in social, cultural, and political activities and further deepening the digital divide. CITIZEN-A aims to empower these individuals by enabling their active participation in digital environments and e‑democracy. In doing so, the project promotes a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable society that values equality for all its citizens.
To tackle this issue, the project sets out the following objectives:
- Training adult educators to use inclusive and innovative approaches in digital citizenship education
- Improving digital literacy and innovation in education for people with intellectual disabilities
- Encouraging active participation of people with intellectual disabilities in e‑democratic initiatives
- Raising awareness about the importance of digital inclusion and the rights of people with intellectual disabilities
The project will deliver concrete results that contribute to achieving these objectives, including:
- Developing a digital collaboration platform and organizing workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange among educators.
- Creating a structured training program for adult educators, titled “Empowering Educators: Digital Citizenship Training for Adults with Disabilities”, lasting 25 hours, covering topics such as digital citizenship, inclusive pedagogical approaches, and digital literacy.
- Developing a digital citizenship curriculum based on micro-certifications, tailored to adult education programs.
- Creating game-based educational tools to help educators teach digital citizenship through practical activities.
- Developing a digital escape room game as a knowledge assessment method after completing the curriculum and activities.
- Launching an awareness campaign on digital rights and responsibilities, implemented in collaboration with adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Hosting workshops and online conferences on e‑democracy.
Target Groups
- Primary target group: Adults with intellectual disabilities aged 18 and older, particularly those with mild to moderate cognitive impairments. The project provides them with opportunities to develop digital skills, understand their digital rights, and participate in online social and civic activities.
- Adult educators and professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities (trainers, psychologists, social workers, and counselors). Through the project, they will receive resources, knowledge, and methodologies to better support their learners.
- Trainers of educators, who conduct training programs for adult educators, further strengthening the adult education system for inclusive digital citizenship.
The CITIZEN-A project aims to create a society where all citizens, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities to participate in the digital world. By empowering educators and developing innovative tools, the project contributes to a more inclusive society, allowing everyone to benefit from the digital age.
Project Coordinator
- ELA SICILIA (Italy)
Project Partners
- Obrtničko učilište – Institution for Adult Education (Croatia) www.obrtnicko-uciliste.hr
- vhs Landkreis Haßberge e.V. (Germany) www.vhs-hassberge.de
- Maria's World Foundation (Bulgaria) www.mariasworld.org
- Erasmus Learning Academy SL (Spain) www.erasmustrainingcourses.com
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