Working with mentally disabled adults is sometimes rather frustrating for care takers and clients when it comes to time management. A lot of the people I work with have dyschronie, which means that they do not have enough knowledge of time and/or do not understand the numbers and signs on a normal watch. This year a company from Holland developed a watch that could increase the independence of mentally disabled without time knowledge to structure their daily routine.
Instead of numbers and pointers the users get a sound, a trill and an icon on the display to tell them that they for example have to get up. The duration of the activity is displayed with red spots so that the user can see how far he is getting on.
Parents or care takers can follow the carrier on the internet over GPS. It is also possible to send an sms from or to the watch.
In the beginning of 2009 the company started production for the Dutch market, export will follow in about 2 years. Hopefully it will come to Mistelbach soon it would help to avoid a lot of confusion and misunderstanding in the life of our clients.
Beeldhorloge
August 11th, 2009
From the AWA newsletter: Our first meeting of the fall is always an exciting and special opportunity to renew friendships as we meet long-time members again, as well as welcome all the newcomers. This year we have a unique event planned, relevant to all of us living and working in Austria.
‘An Ausländer in Austria -The Pleasure and the Pain’ Whether you are a newcomer or lifer in Austria, we all experience an element of pain and pleasure as we go through the assimilation process in a new country. In recent years, with the increase in globalization and diversity in the workplace, cross cultural issues have become an important element of personal, family and business life. Understanding international socio-cultural issues and implications can greatly increase the pleasure and reduce the pain we all experience in a new country.
Hear our panel of experts share their own personal insights and research results covering topics such as cross-cultural issues, adjusting to new experiences and even if long term, seeing your home develop a different atmosphere /diversity and more. Following the program, there will be an opportunity to pose your individual questions and comments.
Our panel of experts include:
-Dr. Arno Haslberger, a cross cultural management specialist, senior research professor at Webster University in Vienna, and author and Harvard business Review Commentator related to cultural diversity in the global workplace. Dr. Haslberger has also recently completed an international research study for the City of Vienna on how Vienna is perceived by foreigners.
-Marijke van Liemt is an AWA member and an expert on transition. Marijke coaches expatriates on the impact of international relocation. Having moved with her family internationally (4 times in the last 5 years!), she understands the subtleties of cross-cultural issues, emotional and physical challenges of international relocation and will be holding free workshop in the fall.
-Dr. Susanne Glass, ARD correspondent for Austria and south east Europe, and head of the Foreign press association, Dr. Glass has had in-depth experience working and living across many cultures.
Date: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Time: 8:30 coffee, 9:30 Welcome and start of Panel discussion
Location: 13th District Amtshaus, Festsaal, Erster Stock, 1130, Hietzinger Kai 1-3
Directions to the 13th District Amtshaus: Take the U4 or tram 10 or 58 to the Hietzing/Tiergarten stop. The Amtshaus is one block west on Hietzinger Kai. Look for the three-story, tower-style building with the Amtshaus sign high up. There will be AWA signs to guide to the Festsaal.
August 12th, 2008
by Evelyn Ebner from Germany
Since I made my first steps on Austrian ground, nine months have gone by. First off all it seems to be like anywhere else on the world, but soon I recognized that this was going to be different. But let us start with some words about myself. I am Evelyn or Eve, as my friends used to call me. I am a German citizen, 20 years old and in Austria to make a European voluntary service year (EVS). Many of you won’t know what an EVS is, so let me explain: it’s a youth program provided by the European Union, which gives young people the opportunity to go abroad and connect to a work-program in a social project. My project is in Mistelbach an der Zaya (Lower Austria). Here I am working in a “Kolping House” for mentally and physically disabled adult people. I must confess, when I first heard about working with disabled people, I wasn’t sure if this was the right project for me. Now after almost ten months in Austria, working with handicapped people, I am really happy and glad to be here.
I still remember my first day as if it was yesterday. It was a hot day in July 2007. I left my hometown Leipzig, packed with 30 kg of luggage, not quit sure what will happen next.
On my way from Vienna to Mistelbach, I had my first “contact” with a real Austrian. I met him at the station where he asked me if I had been to a festival or so. When he heard I was from Germany, he wanted to know everything about the reason for coming here. I must say, I could not understand more than 2 words when he spoke, because he had such a strong Accent. Most of the time I was grinning or nodding or asked “Sorry?” Maybe he thought I was stupid or strange. I gave my best to understand him, but I had to concentrate so hard to understand a word, that sounded a bit familiar. He was totally friendly, helped me to carry all my stuff onto the train. When we left Vienna and the countryside became more and more “Countrysh”, I realized, the adventure had officially started!. Thomas, the train-guy got of somewhere between Vienna and Mistelbach, but not without giving me his number and told me to call him…I never did!
Ten months later, I’m used to the strange things Austrians like to do. But my parents came to visit me! People sitting Ain their gardens, looking at us, like we were Aliens, unknown Objects, landed on the 8th of May at 20:00! What do they want, where are they from?
The end is near, just two more weeks till my year is over! I am taking a short trip trough my memories, where lots of happy faces are smiling back at me. Faces of people I met here. Like everybody, I also had my good and bad times: I was homesick, but thankful for having such a great opportunity at the same time. I fell in love, I cried, I laughed and I don’t regret doing one thing during my time here. Maybe it was the best decision I ever made, ´cause no one will ever take away all the positive impressions and the strength in my character, which I have received here. It’s all mine, and even if I have to leave soon, all the things I’ve seen and done will stay alive in my memories. I’ve met a lot of interesting people, found new friends and also have seen a lot of beautiful places.
When I close my eyes, I can see huge fields full of sunflowers, the streets of Vienna or the illuminated church of Mistelbach! Many of my friends can not understand why I switched from a life in Leipzig, a big and amazing city to a life in a small town like Mistelbach, surrounded from fields. But that is what makes it so charming, it’s natural environment. When I leave my house and turn left I am in the fields, where birds are singing, rabbits make their ways trough sunflowers and the air is calm! Silence all around me, and no one disturbs it. There is always a place to find where you can spend some time alone. You just have to open your eyes and also be open-minded for all the great things around you. Of course, if you crave a traffic jam every day, the sound of a tram or hundreds of people, life here is nothing for you! Sometimes, I also needed it, but than I can go to Vienna, take the U- Bahn and see all the tourists wandering trough the city! But in the evening, sitting in the train, I am glad to go back to the small town which became like home for me!
I’ve felt in love…in love with the Wine district of lower Austria, with Mistelbach and all the things connected to it.
I’ve been here for one year, but I won’t say goodbye when leave, I will say: “See you soon!!”
Written by Evelyn Ebner
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Juli 2nd, 2008
