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The Institute for Research, Training and Rehabilitation

I.Ri.Fo.R.,

Istituto per la Ricerca, la Formazione e la Riabilitazione

Via Borgognona 38

00187 ROME

ITALY

Telephone: +39 066 99 88 1

Email:irifor@uiciechi.it

Web:www.irifor.it

The Institute for Research, Training and Rehabilitation (I.Ri.Fo.R.), founded by the Italian Union of the Blind in 1991, pursuant to its charter performs the following functions on the basis of full scientific and administrative autonomy:

• to carry out research in the areas of vocational training, rehabilitation and education, as well as examine the problems connected with the employment of the visually impaired people and other disabled people;
• to identify new employment opportunities, bearing in mind new technology that can be used by people with disability;
• to organise and run vocational training and follow-up courses as well as initiatives aimed at the rehabilitation of people with disability;
• to offer advice and help to state and private organisations in the appropriate fields;
• to see to the publication of research results as well as teaching material need for courses.

I.Ri.Fo.R.'s organisational structure consists of a central structure operating at central level, and local structures at regional level (at present numbering 15) and provincial level (80 at present, operating in all regions).

Through its national and local structures, it performs an intensive range of activities, thanks also to the State subsidy (Law No. 379 of 23.9.1993). These activities are addressed to visually impaired people in the fields of rehabilitation, vocational training and follow-up courses, and to parents in the fields of follow-up courses and information.

The following courses have been organised for visually impaired people all over Italy and in the respective local structures: basic computer skills, orientation and mobility, daily living skills, visual rehabilitation, adaptation and communication.

The training and rehabilitation projects have been flanked by follow-up initiatives addressed to: support teachers, parents, specialised operators, national social and medical system operators.

In the field of training for visually impaired people as well, and in particular on the part of the central structure, projects of an innovative character have been organised in connection with various national and EC initiatives, including some in an integrated form comprising both visually impaired and normally endowed persons.

Training initiatives for operators, often of an innovative nature, have been held in the fields of low vision, blindness, global rehabilitation and early intervention.

In addition to its training and rehabilitation activities, I.Ri.Fo.R. also performs research activities.

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