The REMOTE Leonardo da Vinci project is an innovative ICT educational product aimed at supporting learners with disabilities to develop skills necessary for entering and remaining in employment. Using an integrated fat/thin delivery mechanism which utilises a media-rich CD with low bandwidth on-line content from a central on-line learning hub, the product is compatible with current standard internet provision found in homes and businesses across Europe. The product will result in a new web design technologies qualification which will be available to learners in retail outlets in the UK, Spain, Romania and Germany, and which will be accredited through a UK National Awarding Body that forms part of the partnership.

The project will target disabled persons between the ages of 16-64 who are currently in or seeking to enter the labour market, through educational institutions, computer related businesses, and households across Europe. Benefits for employers will be the opportunity to support skill development in e-business for disabled persons in their employment, which does not incur high training or transport costs. For individuals it offers the flexibility to learn when, where, and at a pace they want to, which could be accessed alongside existing employment in low paid or unskilled jobs, thereby allowing personal development and employment progression.

Working with partners in Spain, Romania and Germany the product will be produced and delivered in the languages of all partners, and be supported via parallel national accreditation or awarding body endorsement in Spain Romania and Germany. The project supports both the European e-learning Lifelong Learning Plan, The e-Europe 2005 Action Plan, and support indicative actions identified by the European Disability Forum for enhancing employment opportunities for disabled persons in 2003 European Year of People with Disabilities.

The product will be the first retail education product of its kind, targeting specifically disabled learners across Europe seeking to enter or progress in the labour market, and endorsed and supported by a national awarding body. In disseminating REMOTE Project outcomes it is anticipated that the research, development, production, and delivery knowledge base will provide many other organisations across Europe with valuable good practice to advance their own ICT development in support of improving employment prospects and opportunities for disabled people.