Developing a program to help children and youth with vocational and educational special needs

Special evaluation covers the period 1/80-1/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project personnel and participants. Project objectives were met. Fourteen instructional modules were developed and 2,111 persons took part in project training programs. Courses and conferences on the care of retarded children were presented to 377 families (vs. a target of 300) in different regions of the country and 63 students (vs. a target of 60) attended vocational training workshops. In addition, a number of handicapped workers were placed in jobs in the community. The planned IRC was established and served 1,693 registered and 3,696 nonregistered users, providing consultation, audiovisual resources, and materials development services. It also provided high school and university students and teachers with sources of special education information. The IRC's 3,500-volume collection makes it the main source of information in Ecuador on special education. Two new educational centers were established and existing centers provided with technical assistance in the form of special education training programs for center personnel and teachers.