Revolutionizing Special Education: Croatia’s Assistive Technology Project Empowers Children with Disabilities

Over 30 schools and institutions across Croatia have been equipped with cutting-edge assistive technology, thanks to a project led by CARNET. This technology includes computers, mobile phones, electronic devices, and non-technological solutions to improve the functional abilities and quality of life of children with developmental disabilities. The results of the project were presented at a final conference on April 24th.

The Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation at the University of Zagreb (ERF), the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Zagreb (FER), and the City of Reykjavik were among the partners involved in implementing this project. Training sessions were provided to school directors and staff to ensure they could effectively use the new equipment when working with children with developmental disabilities.

A total of over 5,600 pieces of assistive technology equipment were delivered to the institutions, benefiting over 1750 students. In addition, multiple workshops, webinars, and an e-course were organized for more than 1450 participants to enhance their skills. ERF and FER established a new Laboratory for Assistive Technology (AT Lab) and a catalog of assistive technology purchased as part of the project.

The City of Reykjavik organized training sessions for Croatian school directors and staff, introducing them to institutional frameworks and support systems for children with developmental disabilities. The project was co-financed by 85% from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and the remaining amount from the state budget.

The goal of this project was to enhance the education and support provided to children with developmental disabilities through assistive technology, benefiting thousands of students across Croatia.