2 July 2021 Labirintas Center for Specific Learning Disabilities together with partners Panevėžys City Municipal Administration, Rokiškis District Municipal Administration, Elektrėnai Municipal Administration and Vilnius City Municipal Administration have signed a financing and administration agreement with the Central Project Management Agency for the project "Adaptation and Customisation of the Quality System for Children with Specific Learning Difficulties in Lithuania" (No LT03-2-SADM-K01-005). The funding is awarded under the call "Mechanisms to strengthen social integration for children and young people with high-risk behaviour and/or from disadvantaged backgrounds", under the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism's Health Programme 2014-2021.
The aim of the project is to develop new approaches and best practices from abroad to adapt and implement in Lithuania, especially in schools, an effective system of methods and quality integrated services for vulnerable children with specific learning disabilities, thus ensuring the well-being of children.
The project will include the following activities:
• Psychoeducational training for families, teachers and professionals;
• Introduction and application of a new support mechanism for extracurricular activities/informal education;
• Application and implementation of a new methodology used abroad to determine the level of risk of having a specific reading disorder (or developmental dyslexia).
The project aims to achieve the following results:
• 20 professionals trained to use the developed curriculum on special abilities and positive self-esteem;
• 100 pupils participate in the curriculum's training in functional skills;
• 75 teachers and professionals and 100 parents trained in a programme providing knowledge on specific learning disabilities and ways to help;
•Adapted dyslexia risk assessment: 75 teachers and specialists will be trained.
The implementation of the project activities will contribute to the improvement of mental health, as well as to the improvement of the emotional climate of the school and local communities. It is expected to increase public awareness of the importance of health and the reduction of health inequalities.
The Labirintas Center for Specific Learning Disabilities foresees to continue to carry out activities related to children with learning disabilities and challenges after the project implementation. The continuation of the project activities will ensure that the results of the project will be used for many years to come and will ensure the continuity of the applicant's activities. The implementation of the project will contribute to the improvement of the target group's academic, emotional, behavioural, self-esteem and other problems and will have a positive impact on trained professionals, parents, school staff, teachers and pupils, who will help them to identify children with this disorder and to provide them with the necessary support for their learning and psychological well-being.
The funding is based on the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania.
The project activities are planned to be completed by 2 January 2023.
Implementation and adaptation of a new support mechanism for extra-curricular activities/non-formal education:
Non-formal education program, the purpose of which is the education of elementary school students with reading and/or writing disorders, impaired functions, development of special abilities and positive self-esteem.
Together with MYC "Labirintas" special educator Olga Telešova, we taught specialists to work with this program, we shared a wealth of theoretical information, practical methods and specific recommendations.
We are glad that even 100 children from the cities of Vilnius, Elektrėnai, Panevėžys and Rokiškis participated this program!
Application and implementation of new methodologies that allow determining the level of risk of having a specific reading disorder are used abroad:
During the project, the team of the Labirintas Learning Center adapted and applied the risk assessment test for reading disorder (dyslexia) - "RAPID" - to the Lithuanian language. This is a digital test that helps determine the risk of specific reading disorders (dyslexia) in just 15-20 minutes. This test provides an opportunity for all parents, educators, and schools to have a convenient and quick tool to assess the probability of the risk of a disorder. Isn't it amazing that thanks to this test we will be able to provide targeted help to children from 4 to 15 years old?!
We are glad that as many as 1,200 children from the municipalities of Vilnius, Elektrėnai, Rokiškis and Panevėžys took advantage of the digital test during the project!
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