European Projects

Presentation of the travel exhibition “Through Darkness to Light” as part of the ATS VIP project awareness campaign. Now it is available on the ATS VIP web site https://www.atsvip.eu/ the result of the travel exhibition “Through Darkness to Light”, one more activity carried out within the awareness campaign within the framework of Accessible travel solutions for visual impaired Persons (ATS VIP) project. This initiative, carried out by the 3 member countries of the ATS VIP consortium, Macedonia, Romania and Spain, shows a fictitious trip carried out by a sighted person, deprived of sight to make the video, together with a companion. During the trip, these people were able to experience some of the challenges that blind and visually impaired people face every day when traveling. This is one of the initiatives included within the ATS VIP project awareness campaign, in addition to this activity, the visitors to the website can find interviews, discussion groups, a contest about travel experiences or protocols and tips for traveling. ATS VIP: Accessible travel solutions for visual impaired Persons, it is a Project co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, Key Action 2..

Presentation of the video compilation of the activities carried out as part of the ATS VIP project awareness campaign. Now it is available on the ATS VIP web site https://www.atsvip.eu/ the video compilation of the awareness campaign carried out under the “Accessible travel solutions for visual impaired Persons” (ATS VIP) project. This video shows a tour of pictures of all the activities carried out by the ATS VIP consortium within the social awareness campaign carried out as part of the project. We can see a summary of the interviews with blind people and companions; besides we can know the protocols and the tips for travelling safety and confidently, the last were made within the framework of the project. This video compilation allows viewers to know, in a few minutes, some of the activities and initiatives carried out by the consortium. ATS VIP: Accessible travel solutions for visual impaired Persons, it is a Project co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, Key Action 2.

ATS VIP 3rd Transnational Project Meeting (Malaga 15-16 September 2021) Accessible Travel Solutions for Visual Impaired People: Consortium joined the third Transnational Project Meeting of ATS VIPOn September 15-16, 2021, Consortium joined the third transnational meeting of ATS VIP, a Project co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Programme of the European Commission.ATS for VIP is implemented by a consortium of 3 partners from 3 European countries (The Republic of North Macedonia, Romania and Spain).It Solutions for All was the organiser and host of the meeting. The meeting was held in a mixed format. ITSFA and ABT met in Malaga face to face, while partner LLN attended the meeting online from Macedonia, because of travelling difficulties due to the Covid-19 crisis.This difficulty did not prevent the LLN partners from perfectly coordinating the two days of meetings.The agenda of the meeting included the following items:• Intellectual Outputs:IO1 – Creation of a methodological framework for accessible and safety travelling for visually impaired persons.IO2 – Creation of an OER for accessible, safety and secure travelling of visually impaired persons.IO3 – Public awareness campaigns for accessibility, safety and security during travelling for visually impaired persons.• Overview of the project activities• Overview of the dissemination activities• Overview and evaluation of the implementation of the project, project management, quality of the outputs, results, communication/collaboration between partners• Project Management & Implementation• Impact of the project• To-do listAs the development of the project is well advanced, the partners were able to analyse the whole evolution of the project, from the beginning to the current point, the awareness campaign, which is one of the project’s main outputs. This awareness campaign includes a large number of initiatives, such as video interviews, tips for safe travel, an information flyer, the organisation of focus groups in the participating countries, a contest, a video compilation with all the material created, and a video exhibition related to travel for blind people.All partners actively participated by presenting their work in each of the outputs, discussing and sharing ideas and suggestions for the future.The main objective of ATS for VIP project is the development of barrier-free tourism OER and cross-traffic navigation solutions to make travelling accessible and safe to blind and visually impaired people, as AST for VIP project aims to improve the mobility and the quality of life of these people all around Europe.

Project Accessible travel solutions for visual impaired Persons ATS for VIP Erasmus+ KA2 Project “ “Accessible travel solutions for visual impaired Persons ATS for VIP”” Erasmus+ KA2 Short-term joint staff training events: Introduction to OER for accessible , safety and secure traveling of visual impaired persons. ATSVIP’s main project objective is to make traveling accessible and safety for blind and visually impaired people, trough development of barrier-free tourism OER and cross-traffic navigation solutions. Project partners: Lifelong Learning Network, Macedonia Internet Solutions for All, Spain Asociatia Babilon Travel, Romania The Learning, Teaching, Training Activity: Introduction to OER for accessible , safety and secure traveling of visual impaired people was held on 26-31 July in Ohrid, Macedonia in duration of four working days. The short term activities allowed the project partners to verify the produced material, to directly involve beneficiaries to use their knowledge, to gather feedback on the project results and indirectly to involve other stakeholders. The training activity together with other dissemination activities are the best way to share the project results

Short-term joint staff training events: Introduction to OER for accessible , safety and secure traveling of visual impaired persons Travel by people with disabilities, also known as “disabled travel” or “accessible travel,” is on the rise. The travel industry is waking up to the special needs of travelers with disabilities by providing more services and greater accommodation.ATSVIP’s main project objective is trough development of barrier-free tourism OER and cross-traffic navigation solutions, to make traveling accessible and safety for blind and visually impaired people, the AST for VIP project aim is to improve the mobility and quality of life of these people all around Europe.Project partners:1. Lifelong Learning Network, Macedonia2. Internet Solutions for All, Spain3. Asociatia Babilon Travel, Romania The realization of the project is a collaborative effort for :1. Creation of a methodological framework for accessible and safety traveling for visual impaired persons – IO1, responsible partner ABT2. Creation of an OER for accessible, safety and secure traveling of visual impaired persons – IO2, responsible partner ITSFA3. Public awareness campaigns for accessibility, safety and security during traveling for visual impaired persons – IO3, responsible partner LLNThe ATSVIP Consorcium partners are finalising the implementation of the project activities. The Learning, Teaching, Training Activity: Introduction to OER for accessible , safety and secure traveling of visual impaired persons will be held on 27-30 July in Ohrid, Macedonia.The C1 activity: Introduction to OER for accessible , safety and secure traveling of visual impaired personsr will last four working days.The short term activities will allow the project partners to verify the produced material to directly involve beneficiaries to use their knowledge and gather feedback on the project results and indirectly to involve other stakeholders.The training activity and the follow up activities are one of the best way to desiminate the project activities and results. More info: https://www.atsvip.eu

ATSVIP CONTEST FOR BEST STORYTELLING VIDEO The CONTEST is about best visual impaired storytelling, related to traveling experience alone within the project ATSVIP. It is a part of the Public awareness campaign for accessibility, safety and security during traveling for visual impaired persons. CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS/GUIDE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONTEST Visually Impared Persons Accompanying Persons No age limitation VIDEO REQUIREMENTS Video not longer than 3 minutes Language: English, Romanian, Spanish, Macedonian (optional) SELECTION CRITERIA Each project partner will select the best storytelling video in their respective country. The organisation will establish a commission consisted of the organizational staff / collaborators / stakeholders relevant for the project topic. AWARD FOR THE PARTICIPANTS The award for the best storytelling video will be participation in the ATSVIP training activity, held in N. Macedonia or a present for the participant provided by the organizer of the contest. The Contest winner in each partner country will be announced by 20th July, 2021 Please send your storytelling videos via wetransfer, by the 15th July, 2021 on the following email addresses: RO: office@babilontravel.net ES: internetwebsolutions@gmail.com MK: lifelong.mk@gmail.com Good Luck!

The project “Accessible Travel Solutions for Visually Impaired Persons” (ATS4VIP) is part of the Erasmus + KA2 Innovation – Adult Education program. Travel by people with disabilities, also known as “accessible travel”, is on the rise. The tourism industry is adapting to the special needs of travelers with disabilities, offering more and more accessible services. The main objective of the ATS4VIP project is the development of open educational solutions related to barrier-free tourism and the movement of visually impaired people locally and abroad, solutions designed to make travel accessible and safe. The aim of the AST4VIP project is to improve the mobility and quality of life of visually impaired/blind people across Europe. To meet the proposed objectives, three project management meetings are implemented in Northern Macedonia, Romania and Spain, a training course in Northern Macedonia and this local multiplier-dissemination event, held in each partner country. The project partners are: • Asociatia Babilon Travel, Romania; • Lifelong Learning Network, Northern Macedonia; • IT Solutions for All, Spain. Associated partner: • Special High School for the Visually Impaired Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The second trans-national meeting adresses topics of project manegement, monitoring and evaluatiobn, dissemination and follow-up.The main objective of the ATS4VIP project is the development of open educational solutions related to barrier-free tourism and the movement of visually impaired people locally and abroad, solutions designed to make travel accessible and safe. The aim of the AST4VIP project is to improve the mobility and quality of life of visually impaired/blind people across Europe. To meet the proposed objectives, three project management meetings are implemented in Northern Macedonia, Romania and Spain, a training course in Northern Macedonia and this local multiplier-dissemination event, held in each partner country. The project partners are: • Asociatia Babilon Travel, Romania; • Lifelong Learning Network, Northern Macedonia; • IT Solutions for All, Spain. Associated partner: • Special High School for the Visually Impaired Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The second trans-national meeting adresses topics of project manegement, monitoring and evaluatiobn, dissemination and follow-up.

Accessible Travel Solutions for Visually Impaired Persons (ATSforVIP) Erasmus+ project funded by the European Union Travel by people with disabilities, also known as “disabled travel” or “accessible travel,” is on the rise. The travel industry is waking up to the special needs of travelers with disabilities by providing more services and greater accommodation. Meanwhile, the sheer abundance of information on accessible travel is astounding — much of it generated by travelers with disabilities themselves. ATSVIP’s main project objective is trough development of barrier-free tourism Open Educational Resource (OER) and cross-traffic navigation solutions, to make traveling accessible and safety for blind and visually impaired people, the AST for VIP project aim is to improve the mobility and quality of life of these people all around Europe. Project results: • Creation of a methodological framework for accessible and safety traveling for visual impaired persons • Creation of an OER for accessible, safety and secure traveling of visual impaired persons • Public awareness campaigns for accessibility, safety and security during traveling for visual impaired persons Partners: • Lifelong Learning Network, Republic of North Macedonia • Babilon Travel NGO, Romania • IT Solutions for all, Spain Open education resource (OER Toolbox) ATSVIP OER Platfrom will contain information and contents related to accessibility, safety and security during traveling in Macedonia, Spain and Romania. All partner organizations will participate in the choice-making process for the best tools for the OER development and most adequate design. Each participant will modify the features in their mother language and the applicant organization will be responsible for the English version of the OER. The methodology used will be based on a new development technology, specifically tailored for OER development.

On June 17, 2021 IT Solutions for All hosted the multiplier event of ATS VIP project. Due to post pandemic COVID-19 restrictions, it has been run online on Zoom platform. The association IT Solutions for All, based in Malaga, carried out the multiplier event of ATS VIP project, “Accessible Travel Solutions for Visually Impaired Persons”, on June 17, 2021. This event was addressed to blind people, visually impaired people and their companions, tourism and transportation professionals across Spain. The event took place online through the Zoom platform to guarantee the safety of all participants due to pandemic. The event was attended by 20 people, blind people, visually impaired people and companions. All participants reported a high degree of satisfaction with the discussion, as well as they were interested to know more about ATS VIP project. In this event, we presented to the audience the goals of ATS VIP Project, as well as all the stage of the development process of the project, so they could better understand the importance and the relevance of the project, as visually impaired and blind travellers. ATS VIP team encouraged participants to follow the project development and to take part to its important awareness campaign, sharing their experience and participating to the Best Storytelling Video contest. ATS VIP is a Project co-financed by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission to which participates a consortium of 3 partners from 3 countries (Republic of North Macedonia, Romania and Spain). The main purpose of ATS VIP project is to make travels accessible and safe for blind and disabled people, through the development of an open educational resourced platform about barrier-free tourism and transport solutions, to make travelling more accessible and safe for blind and visually impaired people and to improve their mobility and quality of life across Europe. ATS VIP proposes an integrated approach, possible through the cooperation of partners active in many sectors.