EURO TRAINERS' NOTES

1. Introduction
   
   
2. My public :
   
   
   • What are the main characteristics of my public ? A few questions to ask oneself before choosing a type of activity
     
     
   • What are the main concerns of the visually impaired people in terms of the introduction of the euro ? Some answers provided by the interviews
     
     
3. The Euro coins
   
   
   • Pairing coins
     
   • What is the denomination of the euro coins ?
     
   • Who has a treasure like mine ?
     
   • "Portrait" of the euro coins
     
   • Identity card" for the euro coins and notes
     
   • Collect Eight
     
   • Handling Euro coins "in context"
     
   • How to identify Euro coins - Identification Features and Methods
     
   • Sorting one's coins - suggestions
     
     
4. The Euro Notes
   
   
   • What is the denomination of Euro notes? Handling Euro notes "in context"
     
   • The puzzle
     
   • How to identify Euro notes - Identification Features and Methods
     
   • Sorting one's notes - suggestions
     
     
5. Learning to count in euros
   
   
   • Lotto
     
     
6. Establishing one's scale of values in euros
   
   
   • Beggar-my neighbour
     
   • The Basket
     
   • The Market
     
     
7. Exchanging opinions on the euro
   
   
   • Video : The Euro, it's child's play !
     
   • Sketch :Six cafes and the Euro
     
   • Sketch :Conversation over a cup of coffee
     
   • Si l'Euro m'était compté/conté"
     
     
8. How to adapt games to visual impairment
   
   
9. List of existing material
   
   
10. Acknowledgements
    
    

These "Euro Trainers' Notes" have been drawn up in the form of "sheets" - one per activity - which set out systematically the aim of the activity, the type of visual impairment at which the activity is aimed, the target for the activity (individual, small group, larger group) and finally the recommended age for participants. The objective of the activity is then set out, followed by the equipment required, the number of participants recommended and suggestions on how to get on with the activity. Where appropriate, variations and/or comments then follow.

Contrary to our initial expectations, activities are rarely actually differentiated by age or by type of visual impairment (at least those for identifying coins and notes) :

By age : sensory perception remains the key at whatever age. Activities which may appear more game-based are perhaps less suitable for adults, in any event at first sight and in some countries.

By type of visual impairment : it is always a good idea to mix blind and partially sighted people, as their respective discriminating methods complement each other.

Some of these documents are based more particularly on the results of interviews which we conducted in the spring of 1999 with 300 blind and partially sighted people in Germany, Belgium and Spain. Others are descriptions of activities or games.

Some of these activities have been widely tested, others less so. We are therefore looking on the one hand for feedback, and on the other for your imagination in designing others and sending us a description (in English, French or your national language). We are looking to help everyone to benefit from everybody's experience and work, and we will put together a second "Trainer's booklet" in January 2001.

Objective: as a trainer, how can I choose the best activities to carry out with my public ?

What are the main characteristics of my public ?

A few questions to ask oneself before choosing a type of activity

What is the age of my audience ?

· child
· adolescent
· adult
· third age
· fourth age
· heterogeneous age group

What type of impairment does my audience have ?

· totally blind
· blind with residual vision
· partially sighted with tunnel vision
· other type of partial sightedness

Is there an additional disability ?

· diminished tactile perception
· diminished prehensile capacity
· diminished capacity for comprehension

What degree of autonomy does my audience have ?

· lives alone
· lives as a couple or in a family
· lives in a community or a retirement home

· has an occupation or active leisure pursuit
· is non-active

· usually shops alone
· occasionally shops alone

· handles money in an occupational capacity
· usually handles money
· occasionally handles money

What degree of mobility does my audience have ?

· never travels
· travels to the centre for a meeting once a month
· travels regularly

What is the extent of social contact among my audience ?

· isolated
· visits by social worker
· family links
· links with neighbours

Type of learning for my audience

· "intellectual", "passive": receipt of information - what type of information ?
· "intellectual", active: discussion
· practical: how much will things cost in euro ?
· practical: how to recognise euro coins and notes ?

· beginner - no conception of the subject
· some experience of handling, but does not yet know the price of anything in euro
· some knowledge of the prices of things but no experience of handling
· some experience of handling and some knowledge of the prices of things in euro

. What is the type of relationship ?

· individual
· small group of people (three-four) who meet regularly
· small group of people (three-four) who know each other slightly or not at all
· larger group of people (10-12) who meet regularly
· larger group of people (10-12) who know each other slightly or not at all
· large group (more than 12)

· group meeting on the subject of the euro
· group meeting for a conference
· group meeting to play
· etc.