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Magdalena Dimkova
- Female
- Skopje, Macedonia
- Republic of Macedonia
- Latest Featured Blogposts (24)
- Upcoming Events
- Community groups (2)
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Profile Information
- Where do you work?
- Open the windows
- Organisation's Website
- http://www.openthewindows.org
- Organisation's Address
- bul Partizanski Odredi 62/2-29
Skopje
Macedonia
1000
- What does your organization do (100-word description)
- Established in 2005, “Open the Windows” (OtW) is the only non-governmental organization in Macedonia specifically focusing on promoting assistive technology. Led by its vision “to build a world where technology enables all persons to fully exploit their potentials”, the organization has a double role:
On one hand, OtW acts a service provider that enables access to computers and Internet for persons with various disabilities (physical, intellectual, visual) by using assistive information technology, i.e. hardware and software adjusted to the individual needs of the user. A professional team of special educators and an IT specialist use computers as tools in improving cognitive functions of users, developing their communication skills, obtaining IT skills and knowledge favorable for users’ education or employment, etc. Over 90 persons with disabilities aged between 6 and 40 have used the services of OtW since its establishment in 2005; currently, over 35 persons with disabilities use the free services of the organization.
On the other hand, OtW is a project-based organization that promotes assistive technology use within society through capacity building of other relevant actors from both the public and civic sector and dissemination of information and knowledge. The organization provided equipment and training to establish accessible IT Centers at ten public day-care centers, as well as for civic organizations and service providers throughout Macedonia. Also, OtW has so far published and distributed ten manuals on topics related to assistive technology. In order to fill the existing lack of assistive devices on the Macedonian market, OtW mastered the production of five assistive devices (chin controller, foot controller, switch, big-button controller and access interface) and the adjustment of 4 three standard devices into assistive (joystick, trackball and mouse). The locally produced or adjusted products are significantly cheaper than comparable devices from abroad.
In 2010/2011, OtW was focusing on promoting assistive technology use in mainstream primary schools. A national needs assessment was carried out, followed by the provision of equipment (assistive devices) and training to selected 21 schools in the country, introducing assistive technology to the Macedonian education system for the first time.
- What digital skills training or activities do you or does your organization offer (if any)?
- Pre-school Group (ages 5-6): Focus on educative games such as painting, coloring, and story telling through illustration. The aim is to develop cognitive skills, memory and attention, speech and motor skills.
Primary and Secondary School Group (ages 7-18): Primarily work with programs for word processing, presentations and illustration. The aim is to support education by developing computer, social and communication skills.
Adolescents and College Students (over 18): Users learn Microsoft Office programs (i.e., Excel, Word, Power Point) and administering and managing networks. The aim is to enhance faculty studies and employment opportunities.
- Number of digital competence centres linked to your organization (if any)
- /
- Your function and/or responsibilities related to digital skills training and empowerment
- Special educator
- How did you learn about this community?
- I received an online invitation from a member
- Twitter user name
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Magdalena Dimkova's Blog
GOW 2016 in Macedonia
Posted on March 26, 2016 at 12:27 0 Comments 0 Likes
Open the Windows for fifth year in a row organized Get Online Week campaign in Macedonia. This year’s campaign was supported by governmental institutions as Ministry for Information Society and Administration, Directorate for Personal Data Protection, educational institutions (primary, secondary schools, and universities), civil society organizations, and the media. The focus of this year’s activities were Internet safety, particularly for young people with disabilities and the importance of…
Continue Classroom of the 21st century
Posted on March 17, 2016 at 18:00 0 Comments 0 Likes
Open the Windows together with students from High School Brakja Miladinovci from Skopje visited the classroom of the 21st century at Faculty of computer science and engineering (FCSE). Aleksandar Stojmenski from FCSE introduced the study programs and gave practical examples of benefits of studying…
Continue ICT and employment: necessity and opportunity
Posted on March 16, 2016 at 20:52 0 Comments 1 Like
Today 16 of March 2016 Open the windows held a conference “ICT and employment: necessity and opportunities”, at hotel “Porta” in Skopje.
The aim of the conference was to contribute to raising awareness of the need and potential benefits of using ICT as a facilitating skill for equal opportunities to the open labor market. …
Continue Tetovo University Students started their practical training during Get Online Week
Posted on March 15, 2016 at 23:36 0 Comments 0 Likes
Today twenty six students started their practical training. Divided into five groups visited Centre for assistive technology and monitored the work with different beneficiaries. They were very interested how to use assistive technology, computer and educational software with children with different types of disability.
At the request of Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation on the State University of Tetovo, Open the Windows agreed to provide practical training for more…
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