In today’s society, access to knowledge and lifelong learning is a fundamental right of every individual. Yet deaf and hard-of-hearing adults often face specific challenges when trying to participate in educational programmes. With the support of the SIAE’s programme Information and Guidance for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Adults for Participation in Lifelong Learning, staff at the Krško AEC partnered with the Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Posavje. Our aim is to improve educational accessibility for this target group.
By the end of 2024, two workshops were organised to enhance access to education for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and to develop their competencies. The first took place at the Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Posavje. Participants were introduced to various forms of guidance, support networks and opportunities for enrolling in educational programmes.
The second workshop was held at the Krško AEC and focused on smartphone use and the development of digital literacy. Both workshops were interpreted into Slovenian Sign Language, and all materials and content were adapted to meet the participants’ needs.
Participants noted that the workshops provided them with new knowledge, increased their confidence and fostered a sense of inclusion. They praised the accessible communication and the support they received, particularly the sign language interpretation and the opportunity for individual guidance.
A key contributor and excellent communication bridge was interpreter Jožica Kupljenik, who has also expressed her willingness to continue working with us.
Great support also came from Vlasta Moškon, a long-standing expert at the Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Posavje.
Deafness is an invisible disability. A person with any degree of hearing loss may feel excluded in a hearing environment. That is why it is essential to create spaces where individuals feel safe and accepted.
We are well aware of the numerous challenges in including deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in guidance and education. These include access to interpreting services, the need for technical aids and ensuring an appropriate physical environment. Krško AEC and the Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Posavje will continue to collaborate to address these challenges. We will further develop tailored programmes for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults, enabling them to gain access to knowledge and skills. This is our commitment.
In doing so, we contribute to empowering individuals, fostering greater social inclusion and supporting the development of key competencies for everyday life.
At the Guidance Centre Posavje, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with a wide range of target groups and to help make lifelong learning more accessible to all.
Danijela Radjen (danijela.radjen@lukrsko.si) and Anja Brilej Bohorč (anja.brilej@lukrsko.si), Krško AEC
