Objectives
DuDa is an inclusive leisure programme run by Caritas Vienna, launched in 2024, it is funded by "Licht ins Dunkel". DuDa addresses a common issue: people living with disabilities or learning difficulties often face social isolation and struggle to make new connections. To counter this, the programme brings together people with and without learning difficulties for moderated online meetups – free of charge, with no need to travel, and directly from home. Topics and formats are continuously adapted to meet the users' needs.
The intended impact extends to both the participants themselves and their social circles: the aim is for them to make acquaintances, experience a sense of belonging, feel less lonely, gain a sense of agency, build confidence in the digital space, learn new things, and add variety to their daily lives. Furthermore, DuDa overcomes geographical and scheduling barriers, creates opportunities for active participation and trying out new roles, and strengthens social cohesion. The program is primarily aimed at people with learning difficulties and those with mental illnesses or impairments, as well as volunteer moderators and staff working in disability support services.
Implementation
The evaluation assesses whom DuDa reaches and the impact the programme has on participants – including beyond the current funding period. To this end, strengths, obstacles, and opportunities for improvement are identified and analyzed in cooperation with the project team. Particular attention is paid to the target audience for whom the format is suitable and how effectively DuDa’s messages are conveyed and understood. The process concludes with recommendations for the programme's continuation.
Given the project’s low-threshold, inclusive design, the evaluation uses primarily on qualitative, accessible methods: two sessions are observed, followed by two discussion groups where users share their experiences using "Easy Language“. An additional discussion group is held with volunteers, complemented by interviews with professionals from mobile support services as well as assisted and fully supported living facilities. Participants who have registered for DuDa can also provide feedback via a short questionnaire – ensuring that the voices of those who attended only once or never at all are also heard.