Digital participation for all.
“Finally warmer and the sun is shining!”, replies Heinz G. With a click on the right app, the weather in Münster is shown to him directly. The elderly gentleman regularly visits the Alexianer senior citizens’ meeting place, a day structure offer, in Münster-Amelsbüren. A digital activity table has recently been installed there. With the generous support of Aktion Mensch, three activity tables were purchased as part of an overall project. These are used in different areas, including in a residential group where people with severe multiple disabilities live.
“How can I research on the Internet? What is it like in my hometown? How old is Heino? These are questions that our participants in the senior citizens’ meeting often ask,” says employee Elisabet Wessels. With the new activity table, an oversized tablet, even older people can access the Internet independently and easily. In addition to games and puzzles, any website can be accessed or the daily newspaper can be read online. “The digital skills of our residents and guests have improved significantly,” confirms Elisabet Wessels, “the reservations and skepticism have disappeared.”
“And that’s what it’s all about,” explains Martina Büscher from the Alexianer fundraising department, “the basic understanding and enjoyment of dealing with digital media are the focus here. The professionally supervised use of various applications and games supports and promotes the cognitive, creative and motor development of the participants. We are very pleased that this is possible thanks to the support of Aktion Mensch.”
Heinz G. likes the new possibilities that he can use both in a group and on his own. Once a week, he and the other participants have the opportunity to “work” at the activity table and then they go online to do research. The training courses that enable people with disabilities to use digital media come from the Fördiko training center in Münster and are also part of the overall support package. The senior citizens’ meeting place in Amelsbüren was recently trained and since then the participants have been using the advantages of the digital world with a completely new and strengthened self-confidence.
