A proposal for matching grant

1. Equal opportunity for people
with visual impairments
RC Plovdiv,RC Plovdiv-Phlippopol,RC Plovdiv-
Puldin
Plovdiv, Bulgaria

2. RATIONALE
• A majority of Europe's people with disabilities (PwD) are unemployed (ENAD
figures state over 60%), because they lack a number of skills (basic ICT skills being
one of them) that are needed for today's working environment. Only 13% of
people with disabilities (among 16-64) are employed in Bulgaria (NSI, 2011). There
is no specific statistics for the group of blind and visually impaired people but the
percentage is even much lower.
• Recent studies conducted have highlighted that people with disabilities (PwD) can
benefit enormously from digital competences which are core life and employability
skills (see Lisbon Objectives). However, same and other studies revealed that the
main barrier is the lack of specific training support and the expensiveness of
assistive technologies. In addition to that, a number of other skills such as literacy
and numeracy skills equally form a potential barrier towards employment of
People with Disabilities (PwD).
• Previous research reveals also that addressing numeracy and literacy skills, but
especially focusing on basic ICT Skills, allow PwD to strengthen their position in the
labor market, thus enhancing their employability.

3. Why?
• The BG policy and legislation does not provide any ICT assistive technology, so this
limits the access of people of disabilities as they cannot afford to buy their own
assistive technology.
• The majority of them mainly survive on extremely low income either from social
benefits as a disabled or by the financial support of a family.
• The social and mainly work integration of those people with lessen the social
burden and increase the community understanding and equality.
• The sight rehabilitation of children will be very beneficial both for the society and
the beneficiaries as it is still widely believed that the remaining sight should be
kept inactive instead of being further developed and trained to compensate the
lost. It will change the future of those children who will have the chance to get to
sight rehabilitation.
• Neither of the proposed activities is supported by the government which makes it
impossible and very expensive for the beneficiaries who usually belong to poor
and disadvantaged families.

4. WHAT?(1)
• Train 40-50 blind people and those with visual impairments in
digital (ICT) skills , numeracy & literacy . Also in basic ICT skills
first and then will be additionally trained to advance ICT skills
including vocational ICT training and AT software for
accessibility such as special computer software and hardware.
• The vocational training will encompass (Windows, Office
applications for advance users, other business
programmmes, accounting software and ECDL ).For this
training we plan to purchase and equip 10 working stations
with 10 desktop machines, as well as specialized assistive
technology software and hardware such as : digital color
magnifying mouse, portable digital camera, portable screen
reader converting text to mp3. (2 pieces of each)
• The purchased assistive technology will be used also for
eyesight rehabilitation of 30 children (aged 3-16) in addition
to the 50 blind and adults with low vision .

5. WHAT? (2)
• In addition to this we plan to purchase 7 more
desktop machines respectively equipped with 7
pieces of each ICT assistive technology (AT) digital
color magnifying mouse, portable digital
camera, and portable screen reader converting
text to mp3.
• This equipment will be donated to the city library
of Plovdiv and respectively to the libraries of 6 of
the biggest Universities in Plovdiv,which will set
up accessible study places for people with visual
impairments.

6. IMPACT
• In short term (one year) the project will give the
unique opportunity to 80 blind people in total ( 50
adults and 30 children) to get a chance to change their
life , teach them skills, educate them and lead l bring
them to employment and social integration.
• In a long term this project will enable hundreds of
people with visual impairments to get access to the
higher education institutions, get educated and
qualified and make a better future being socially
integrated , highly qualified and educated and
hopefully employed.

7. SUSTAINABILITY
• The project is sustainable as the Centre for Rehabilitation of blind
will continue to train people with visual disabilities using the
equipment purchased in this project. Their annual capacity is 50
adults and up to 30 children.
• The Rotary clubs of Plovdiv engage to maintain and keep an eye on
the equipped stations in the city library and in the libraries of the
6th Universities to make sure the donated equipment is used only
by PwDs, that they are given access to it and can be used at any
time. The Rotarians of Plovdiv dedicate to disseminate the
availability of both ICT AT and training very intensively so the whole
community is aware of the opportunities via mass media, face-to-
face meetings, presentations, social media etc.
• Rotaract clubs of Plovdiv as well as the Student Councils at the 6th
Universities are also engaged in the project both raising awareness
among students and peers and being gatekeepers of the objectives
of this project.

8. DIGITAL COLOUR MAGNIFYING MOUSE

9. PORTABLE MAGNIFIER

10. PORTABLE SCREEN READER

11. BUDGET
• 17 DESKTOP MACHINES
• 9 COLOR MICE
• 9 PORATBLE MAGNIFYIERS
• 9 PORTABLE SCREEN READERS
• TOTAL:51968$ TO BE DONATED TO:
• CITY LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARIES OF 6TH UNIVERSITIES IN PLOVDIV + CENTRE
FOR REHABILITATION OF BLIND IN PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
• CASH CONTRIBUTION COLLECTED SO FAR:7 500$
• DDF ALLOCATED UP TO NOW: 16500$
• WE NEED 3859$ DDF OR DOUBLE IF IN CASH

12. CONTACT US
• If willing to contribute or/and be a partner in this
project please contact:
Mariya Goranova,RC Plovdiv-Philippopol
goranova@marie-curie-bg.org
skype:mgmariagoranova
THANK YOU!