Bridging The Divide Initiative Resources

The following resources are for our Bridging the Divide initiative to help people with intellectual disability improve their digital skills. Learning materials are in Easier English to help people get online more safely and confidently. The resources have been developed by Good Things Foundation with people with lived experience, experts in the field and our partners at Down Syndrome Australia.

Go straight to a topic:

• Connecting safely with others online
• Using email
• Video calling
• Intro to online safety (coming soon)
• Additional digital mentor resources
• Videos

Special webinars are now available through this program for parents and supporters of young people with intellectual disability, and digital mentors working in community organisations like libraries, community centres and disability service providers. Book in to a free webinar.

You may also find our Be Connected digital mentoring resources useful.

Connecting safely with others online

This topic helps people with intellectual disability feel more confident and be safer when connecting online with others. Designed to be module one in this series of content. This is a great topic to build everyday digital skills that help people stay in touch with loved ones and their community, such as using social media. This topic includes safety tips for everyday digital skill use.

• Online course: Connecting Safely Online.

  This course will help you support people with intellectual disability through their first steps connecting safely online with others. The course will open in a new window and is in easier English.

• Printable Learner Workbook: Connecting Safely Online (WORD format).

  This workbook can be used by digital mentors with learners in conjunction with the Connecting Safely Online online learning course. It is designed to be printed out and filled in, but can also be completed digitally. Downloads in .docx format. PDF version also available.

• Printable Learner Workbook: Connecting Safely Online (PDF format).

  This workbook can be used by digital mentors with learners in conjunction with the Connecting Safely Online online learning course. It is designed to be printed out and filled in. Downloads in .pdf format for easy printing. Word version also available.

• Session Plan: Connecting safely online.

  This session plan can be used in preparation and conjunction with the Connecting Safely Online online learning course and learner workbook. Use this as a guide for group sessions. Downloads in .docx format.

• Certificate of Completion: Connecting Safely Online.

  This printable certificate of completion is issued to people who have completed the Connecting Safely Online online learning course. A link to this certificate is found at the end of the course. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

• Editable Certificate of Completion: Connecting Safely.

  This printable certificate of completion can be issued to people who have completed the Connecting Safely Online online learning course by digital mentors. Print this certificate then write the learner's name and your name in the spaces provided. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

• Connecting Safely Online Top Tips Handout.

  This tip sheet is provided to people who have completed the Connecting Safely Online online learning course as a reminder of what they learnt. A link to this tip sheet is found at the end of the course. It can also be used by digital mentors in support sessions. Designed to be printed out. Downloads in .docx format.

Using Email

This topic helps people with intellectual disability feel more confident and be safer when using emails. Designed to be module two in this series of content. This is a great topic to build work-ready digital skills, as well as helping people stay in touch with loved ones and their community. This topic also covers scam awareness tips.

• Online course: Using email.

  This course will help you support people with intellectual disability through their first steps using emails. The course will open in a new window and is in easier English.

• Printable Learner Workbook: Using Emails (WORD format).

  This workbook can be used by digital mentors with learners in conjunction with the Using Emails online learning course. It is designed to be printed out and filled in, but can also be completed digitally. Downloads in .docx format. PDF version also available.

• Printable Learner Workbook: Using Emails (PDF format).

  This workbook can be used by digital mentors with learners in conjunction with the Using Emails online learning course. It is designed to be printed out and filled in. Downloads in .pdf format for easy printing. Word version also available.

• Session Plan: Using Emails.

  This session plan can be used in preparation and conjunction with the Using email online learning course and learner workbook. Designed to guide a group session. Downloads in .docx format.

• Certificate of Completion: Using Emails.

  This printable certificate of completion is issued to people who have completed the Using Emails online learning course. A link to this certificate is found at the end of the course. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

• Editable Certificate of Completion: Using Emails.

  This printable certificate of completion can be issued to people who have completed the Using Emails online learning course by digital mentors. Print this certificate then write the learner's name and your name in the spaces provided. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

• Using Emails Top Tips Handout.

  This tip sheet is provided to people who have completed the Using Emails online learning course as a reminder of what they learnt. A link to this tip sheet is found at the end of the course. It can also be used by digital mentors in support sessions. Designed to be printed out. Downloads in .docx format.

Video calling

This topic helps people with intellectual disability feel more confident and be safer when making or receiving video calls. Designed to be module three in this series of content. This is a great topic to build work-ready digital skills, as well as helping people stay in touch with loved ones and their community.

• Online course: Video Calling.

  This course will help you support people with intellectual disability through their first steps making video calls. The course will open in a new window and is in easier English.

• Printable Learner Workbook: Video Calling (WORD format).

  This workbook can be used by digital mentors with learners in conjunction with the Video Calling online learning course. It is designed to be printed out and filled in, but can also be completed digitally. Downloads in .docx format. PDF version also available.

• Printable Learner Workbook: Video Calling (PDF format).

  This workbook can be used by digital mentors with learners in conjunction with the Video Calling online learning course. It is designed to be printed out. and filled in. Downloads in .pdf format for easy printing. Word version also available.

• Session Plan: Video Calling.

  This session plan can be used in preparation and conjunction with the Video Calling online learning course and learner workbook. Designed to guide a group session. Downloads in .docx format.

• Certificate of Completion: Video Calling.

  This printable certificate of completion is issued to people who have completed the Video Calling online learning course. A link to this certificate is found at the end of the course. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

• Editable Certificate of Completion: Video Calling

  This printable certificate of completion can be issued to people who have completed the Video Calling online learning course by digital mentors. Print this certificate then write the learner's name and your name in the spaces provided. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

• Video Calling Top Tips Handout.

  This tip sheet is provided to people who have completed the Video Calling online learning course as a reminder of what they learnt. A link to this tip sheet is found at the end of the course. It can also be used by digital mentors in support sessions. Designed to be printed out. Downloads in .docx format.

Intro to online safety

This topic helps people with intellectual disability learn essential online safety tips. This is a great topic to learn everyday digital skills. It includes scam awareness for emails and texts, learning who you can trust online and what you can do if something goes wrong.

Learning resources coming soon

Additional digital mentor resources

These are additional resources and activities to support digital mentors to run digital skills session with people with intellectual disability. Designed to accompany the session plans, learner workbooks and online courses. Here you will find icebreakers and practical activities.

• Icebreaker Activity: Stinky Fish Activity

  This 15 minute icebreaker activity can be used to kick start digital skills sessions. Use in conjunction with the online learning courses, session plans and learner workbooks to help people share their concerns about going online. Activity best suited to small groups and connects with the Video Calling learner workbook, but can be adapted for any session. Downloads in .docx format.

• Icebreaker Activity: What Made You Smile

  This 15 minute icebreaker activity can be used to kick start digital skills sessions. Use in conjunction with the online learning courses, session plans and learner workbooks. Activity best suited to small groups. Downloads in .docx format.

• Icebreaker Activity: Thumbs up if

  This 10 minute icebreaker activity can be used to kick start digital skills sessions. Use in conjunction with the online learning courses, session plans and practical activities to help people get to know each other and warm up to the session topic. Activity best suited to small to large groups, and can be adapted for any session. Downloads in .docx format.

• Practical Activity: Creating a Password

  This practical activity can be used to practise the digital skills learnt in a session. Use in conjunction with the Connecting Safely Online online learning course, session plan and learner workbook to practise making a stronger password. Activity suits small groups or individual support. Includes instruction sheet and four page larger print activity worksheet that can be printed and handed out to learners. Downloads in .pdf format.

• Practical Activity: Composing, Sending, Replying to Emails

  This fun practical activity can be used to practise the digital skills learnt in a session. Use in conjunction with the Using Emails online learning course, session plan and learner workbook to practise sending, composing and replying to emails and opening attachments. Activity best suited to small groups. Downloads in .docx format.

• Flipcard Activity: Large Print Online Safety Flipcard Activity

  This A4 sized flipcard activity pack contain 8 large print online safety flipcards. They can be used as a practical activity with the Connecting Safely Online online learning course, session plan and learner workbook. On the front of each card is the activity. On the back is if they are ok to share online. Print double-sided in colour for best results. Downloads in .pdf format. Accessibly tagged when viewed in Adobe.

Accessible learning spaces

This series of articles help digital mentors to make digital skills session more inclusive. Designed with our network of community partners and drawing on best practice from across the sector.

• Creating Accessible Learning Spaces: Documents

  This article provides quick tips on making documents more accessible, including adding alt text to images and using headings to help people navigate information. This is the first in a series of 4 articles on creating more accessible and inclusive learning spaces.

Videos

These videos have been developed as part of the online learning courses. They can also be played by themselves to support people to learn.

• Video: How this program helps.

  This video explains why the Bridge Initiative is important and how it helps people with intellectual disability to get online more safely and confidently. Use this video to explain your work or encourage people to join your digital skills sessions.

• Video: How to use this course.

  This video shows how to use the online courses made for this program.

• Video: What to do when you get a scam email.

  This video demonstrates what your learner can do in case they get a scam email.

• Video: What do you use email for.

  This video introduces your learner what you can use email for.

• Video: What is a scam email.

  This video is to show what a scam email can look like for your learners.

• Video: Setting up a Zoom meeting.

  This video demonstrates how your learner can set up a zoom meeting.

• Video: What you can do on Zoom.

  This video tells your learner more about what you can and cannot do on Zoom.

• Video: Using the camera on Zoom.

  This video talks about the use of your learners camera on Zoom.

• Video: What to share online.

  This video demonstrates what is ok to share online and what is not ok.

• Video: Stranger Danger.

  This video shows what your learner needs to be aware of online.

• Video: Cyber bullying.

  This video shows what cyberbullying can look like to your learners.

• Video: Getting permission to post online.

  This video shows how your learner can ask someone else permission for their video to be posted online.

• Video: What is 2 factor verification.

  This video explains two factor verification when logging in to online accounts, and how it can make your accounts safer.

• Video: Our learning resources are here to help

  This short video gives a quick overview of what people can learn through these our free online courses and training.

'Our learning resources are here to help' video alt text/transcript:

[Happy music with a series of characters talking to each other and words appearing in speech bubbles]

Can I trust this person? Can I get my phone bill sent by email? I need to be polite to sound professional in work emails. Can we meet? Umm... Should I share this photo online? I can help you update privacy settings. I did it myself!

Help young people with intellectual disability be safer and more confident online. Use our free resources and training. Go to: www.goodthingsfoundation.org.au/learn