International sharing of knowledge and expertise

on psychological and psychiatric comorbidity

in adults with visual impairment

PsyCoVIA project

Background

The complexity of a visual impairment with multiple additional disabilities is often the reason for adopting a highly individualistic approach. A pilot study by Boesen et al. (2016) showed that there is hardly any literature available on how to deal with these multi-problems. Especially literature on the combination of psychological and psychiatric symptoms with a visual impairment is missed. Within the entire population of people with a visual impairment, this is a small group. It is therefore inevitable and necessary to work together with partners from abroad in order to better support this vulnerable group of clients through joint expertise. The method we use for this is the sharing of best practices.

Goal

During six Transnational Project meetings, professionals and clients from five countries shared their knowledge and expertise in this area. All good practices shared during these meetings have been collected in a digital ‘Good Practices Book’ that will be used for further training of professionals (educators and trainers) in working with adults with a visual impairment and additional psychological/psychiatric problems. With the ultimate goal to better assist service users.

Approach

Six ‘Transnational Project Meetings’ (TPM)

Every participating country organised a TPM of two days in which a specific comorbid mental disorder was the theme of the meeting. During these events the following activities took place:

Expert’s talk

The organising country invited an expert to share the latest knowledge about the specific mental disorder.

What’s the situation

Each country presented how they deal with the specific mental disorder in their own organisation. How many service users experience the specific mental disorder, how do they provide care to these adults and what are their questions.

Case discussions

Each country presented cases during the TPM’s and knowledge and experience about how to deal with that case were shared.

Themes

The following TPM’s with specific themes were organized:

Outcomes

• All collected good practices from the six JSTE’s are brought together in a digital ‘Good Practices Book’. This book can be shared on different platforms and can be used for training.
• An external evaluator monitored the quality of the project’s progress and outcomes.

Duration

September 2019 – January 2023.

Participants (ENVITER Partners)

• Robert Coppes Foundation (The Netherlands)
• Istituto Regionale Rittmeyer Per I Ciechi (Italy)
• Berufsförderungswerk Halle (Germany)
• Centar za odgoj I obrazovanje Vinko Bek (Croatia)
• Vakok Ovodaja, Altalanos Iskolaja (Hungary)

Grant

Erasmus+

Contact

Marit van Buijsen

Coordinator Expertise, Innovation & Knowledge
Dep. Expertise, Innovation & Knowledge
Robert Coppes Foundation

mvbuijsen@robertcoppes.nl