On 3rd of May, 2019 in Frontline Club Georgia, in framework of the EU funded ERASMUS+ project ABC-Assisting Better Communication, Speech and Language Therapists from the University of Aveiro Maria Assunsao Matos and Joao Canossa Dias delivered a public “Let’s think about communication”. 

Public lecture was attended by lecturers and students from Ilia State University, GIPA, Tbilisi State University, as well as by specialists working in the field of communication disorders.

In May, 2019 in the framework of the EU funded ERASMUS+ project ABC-Assisting Better Communication, Speech and Language Therapist from Gordon Academic College, Israel, Varda Kreiser delivered 3 day workshop at Ilia State University: Language Intervention in Preschool Children. 

Public lecture was attended by master students of Communication, Speech and Language Therapy at Ilia State University, as well as by specialists working in the field of language intervention.

On April 18, 2019 at the Batumi Public Library the seminar was held for parents of children with hearing disorders and specialists working in this field. Professor of Health School of Aveiro University and doctor of Medicine Isabel Monteiro Da Costa presented to attendants: Listen, Think and Learn – 10 golden principles of Auditory Verbal Therapy, how children with hearing loss learn to develop and learning to listen, and the role of the parents in this process of learning. After the seminar, parents and specialists had a chance to take part in a discussion.

On April 17, 2019 in the framework of the EU funded ERASMUS+ project ABC-Assisting Better Communication, Professor of Health School at the Aveiro University and Doctor of Medicine, Isabel Monteiro Da Costa delivered a public lecture at Batumi State University on the theme Auditory Verbal Therapy – Listen to Talk. 

Public lecture was attended by students of Education, Psychology and Medicine directions of the Batumi State University, as well as by specialists working in the field of hearing disorders.

As a part of Erasmus + project „Assisting Better Communication“, training at the Resource Center “Ray of Hope” in Foca was held on the topic “ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPROVING COMMUNICATION IN CHILDREN”. The training was held for the parents of children with disabilities who are users of the services of the Center “Ray of Hope”, as well as the parents of the children of the typical development.

The aim of this education is to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for parents to properly assess the abilities and needs of their children in communication, as well as how to introduce daily routines that will improve the communication of children, and how to behave in situations of conflict behavior.

Education was approved by the Ministry of Education and culture  of Republika Srpska, BiH.

Within the Erasmus + project “Assisting Better Communication”, October 18, 2018. at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of East Sarajevo, a round table entitled “Prevention and early detection of health disorders in children and children with disabilities” was organized. The round table was attended by 60 experts from various professions: family medicine physicians, pediatricians, speech therapists, special educators and rehabilitators, nurses and kindergarten teachers from different cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There were six speakers at the round table with eight lectures. The presentations were related to the early development of children, the prevention and maintenance of the health of children and children with disabilities, as well as the need and possibilities of providing patronage services. They discussed the latest findings from the field of early diagnostics and treatment, immunization, dietary and nutritional impact, as well as a multidisciplinary approach in providing health services to children with developmental disabilities.

Prof. Nadica Jovanović Simić, Ph.D., had a presentation on the topic “The importance of triage and home care services for children with developmental disorders and their families”, and “Access to autism children for health professionals”.

 As a representative of the University of Tuzla, a partner in ABC project from BiH, Prof. Dr. Mirela Agić Duranović was also present.

Round table conclusions point to the fact that much more must be done to prevent health and health disorders of children and children with disabilities, and that the system of “in home” service must be intensified. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as the need for health professionals,

All consortium members were participating in the meeting. Each participant has presented an information about prospective institution and a role of the institution in the project. During the meeting representatives of ABC thematic groups (communication, speech, language, hearing, stuttering, voice) was defined. Short and long terms of plans of the project were agreed and the dated of up-coming ToT training in Zagreb, Groningen and Aveiro were defined.

The Kick-off meeting was followed-up by the meeting which was devoted to the project management quality issues. By the representatives of Gordon and Ono academic colleges (from Israel) project quality assessment tools were presented. During the meeting participants were acquainted with two internet platform ASANA and MOODLE. It was planned to use ASANA as a tool for project management issues and a MOODLE for sharing academia related courses prepared during the project.