AMEDY - Active Media Education for Disabled Youth

The project AMEDY (Active Media Education for Disabled Youth) deals with the challenges of the digital world for young people with developmental disabilities and with the requirements of the professionals working with this target group.

Although young people with developmental disorders show high interest in digital technologies and use digital media intensively during socialisation, they are highly affected by cyber bullying and victimisation. For them, it is often difficult to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies, likewiese, they also need special support to cope adequately with the risks they might encounter while using them.

Therefore, the aim of the project is to support these children and youngsters to become well informed, empowered and media literate European citizens. As European society turns more digital, the project wants to counteract the digital divide. The focus is on a strength-oriented approach for the work with young people with regard to the digital chances and challenges concerning their personal and professional development and an active participation in society.

Building upon the results of the European project „Digital Skills for You(th)“, which SDC carried out in cooperation with partner organisations in Czech Republic and Spain, the blended learning training offer developed for professionals working with socially and educationally disadvantaged young people shall now be adapted to the needs of the target group young people with developmental disabilities and be provided in four different languages (English, German, Greek, Dutch). Additionally, a Support Strategy Paper will be developed that contains different strategies for supporting the young people as well as the professionals and their organisations. Also, a toolbox with awareness raising guidelines shall be developed.