NGO THINK ESTONIA
Prof.emeritus Leo Võhandu
In Turkish: Leo Vɪhandu
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START in 2002
Tallinn University of Technology had a Center
for Rehabilitation tehnologies. I was the head of it.
We participated in EU PanBaltic Project to help
disabled persons(DP) to study at the University level.
Every small country had to make extensive
psychological and educational tests to choose after a
full year work only 5 DP-s to be educated!?
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THAT WAS MADNESS
Hopeless task with no practical results (Latvia and Lithuania)
Brussels had hopes that those 5 get enough salary to organize
a new office. Nonsense!
We organized a free admission of students without asking for
any educational papers. Brains are important, not papers!
We had about 150 students and 56 of them did take all 21
examinations in computer technology after 2 years. The level of
study was controlled by University's Methodical Commission and
every student got usual Credit Points. Officially we did belong to
our Open University Department.
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RESULTS
Many lucky people got the final document from the hand of our
ViceRector for studies. We had nice talks and music made by our
first doctor in Informatics DP with heavy handicap Kaido Kikkas
(he is now associate professor teaching informatics in 2
universities and one college).
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FOLLOW UP NGO THINK ESTONIA
As there was no additional money from Brussels or University we
had to create in 2004 our institution NGO THINK Estonia headed
by Külliki Bode.
At that moment we did not find any support from Disabled
Persons Center as they were afraid of us: one more organisation
asking for money from same pot.
We tried to get money from Estonian Scientific Foundation, but
the answer was for us very surprising. The review of our project
was short and deathly. As the organizers at TTU have not had any
education in logopedy and special pedagogics they have to be
arrested instead of giving them money to waste!!
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OUR ANSWER
We did ask the highbrowed scientific
commission how would they educate such
a person as our acting director Meelis Luks
was and is. He can't speak, he doesn't
have hands and sits in an wheelchair.
He writes and paints with his feet and
uses computers synthesizer for communication.
Instead of being a helpless person in his family
he is an active artist and computer programmer
and brings in his share of family income.
There is no answer from that comission up to now!
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OUR SHORT HISTORY
We did live many years on a very lean budget. Mostly some
small projects through the initiative of Külliki Bode. After some
years the DP organisation gave us a small office in their center
and Külliki could create tighter contacts with Estonian Social
Enterprises Association.
We have organised a lot of new courses: along with english
language also finnish language
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OUR ORGANIZATION
• The THINK Work and Educational Center has been created for
disabled persons all over the Estonia.
• The goal of the Center is to help with continuing education
courses and practical work the subsistance of Disabled
Persons.
• The school licence 6817HTM was handed out by Ministery of
Education and Science on 13.11.2012 Doc. 587.
• We all are DP-s!
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OUR TASKS
• To find in the open work market new possibilities for DPs
selfrealization.
• To enable DPs take part in refresher courses.
• To ensure DPs with suitable technological ressources for work
and learning.
• In coordination with partners to make easier the process of
careers guidance for DPs.
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OUR GOALS
• To develop NGO THINK Estonia as an organization and ensure
its sustainability.
• To create good relationships with international organi-zations
for coordinated work.
• Our goal is to bid different exciting courses and refresher
courses for disabled persons mostly in subjects connected with
DP world.
• Naturally our educational center is open to other people who
want to replenish their education.
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WHAT ELSE OUTSIDE THE CENTER?
• We have an Internet Shop to sell our members handycraft
products ( www.think.ee / shop)
• We have in the deep South of Estonia (only ca 250 km from
Tallinn!) a stationary shop selling handycraft and all kind of
small conveniences for living.
• Other DP organizations have also tried to create their own
shops but they all have died out.
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WHAT KIND OF GOODS?
• Handicraft (hosiery, handwear,mittens, shawls, jewellery, etc)
• Original artistic postcards (greeting cards, Christmas cards,
gift and money tokens, condolence cards etc)
• Artistic stamps and envelopes.
• Ice,sweets, refreshers, etc.
• Many different types of carrier bags for all occasions
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SERVICES
• High-level work from Disabled Persons!
• We have in our organisation THINK Estonia many persons who
know how to do excellent work efficiently.
• We have repeatedly proven that being a DP is not a hindrance.
• We offer excellent work and propose high-level service.
• F.e. Our unlucky head first divers sitting in wheelchairs
• created an Estonian Atlas with maps of all bigger
• settlements where the houses allowing wheelchair entrance
are marked.
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STANDARD SERVICES
• Data input
• Accounting
• Design of logos, business cards and of different forms and
sheets
• Different computer tasks and solutions
• Organization of courses
• Video processing
• Organization of events
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CONTACTS WITH VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
• We have visited and had seminars in all Estonian Regions'
Vocational School Centers. Such schools are well equipped in
Estonia. They are ready to teach Disabled Persons and their
houses suit Dps.
• Important is that they have also dormitories for students. If in
one school there are more than 5 disabled students, the school
organizes for them a separate learning group. Local
Government helps also a DP with an individual support person
if needed. Transport.
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MORAL
• Don't worry, be happy!
• Life is for living,
not for complaining!
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LIST OF OUR COURSES
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Computer ABC
Mimer Desk handling
Text Processing
Excel
Work Law
Document Management,Office work
Foundations of Enterprising
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LIST OF OUR COURSES 2
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How to create Home Pages
Web Design
Marketing
Linux
How to write projects
Accounting
English I and II
How to succeed on your work
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LIST OF OUR COURSES 3
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Home Pages II
English for Hard Hearing People
PHP programming
Corel Draw
Dynamic Web
Selfcontrol Methods
Accounting ucing MeritAktiva Package
How to sell
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LIST OF OUR COURSES 4
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Finnish language
Sign language
How to contact with DP
Time management
Estonian language for Offices
Hear Power
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THANK YOU!
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