Current EU policies recommend that “people with disabilities, in particular children (incl ASD), need to be integrated into the general education system and provided with individual support in the best interest of the child” (European Disability Strategy 2010-2020) However, teachers in public schools report receiving inadequate training and rate their personal efficacy in working with children with ASD as low (Jennett, Harris, & Mesibov, 2003), In this context, the project responds to significant challenge identified in the four European countries participating to the project: while the number of children and young people with autism enrolled in mainstream schools increases every year, the need for prepared teachers, equipped with relevant, updated and structured information on managing inclusive classes is more and more vital in order to ensure education in an inclusive way, so that to reduce disparities, reduce risks of early school leaving and increase chances for social integration. The project aims: - to foster inclusive classrooms in mainstream education across Europe for pupils with ASD and other learning disabilities, by improving teaching practices among prospective and practicing educators. - to support the development of innovative ICT-based content for lifelong learning dedicated to prospective and practicing educators - to prepare professionals from schools in 4 European countries to work with people with autism/ Asperger Syndrome Four EU countries contribute to this project through institutional capacity of the 5 partners (3 Universities and 2 NGOs) with the support of their associated partners (12 schools) and through reputed experts willing to share their experience in ASD, training curricula development, ITC, communication and evaluation. The project will produce and disseminate (online and through multiplier events) a series of four e-learning courses on ASD, adapting curricula, use of ITC in classroom, management of challenging behaviour and adaptation to independent life. The e-learning modules will be attended by at least 800 individual teachers during the project this affecting positively on over 800 children and young people with autism and their family. 120 local and regional school authority representatives will also be targeted through the multiplier events and involved in extending and maximizing the project outcomes. Through the proposed 7 activities the project aims to: O1. Strengthen the knowledge and skills of conducting inclusive classrooms and dealing with complex classroom realities for 800 teachers from mainstream schools in 4 countries through e-learning. O2. Support teachers from 12 schools in acquiring/improving the use of ICT in teaching ASD children through e-learning. O3. Improving access of teachers to high quality learning through a set of four original e-learning materials disseminated towards over 120 local and national school authorities
Current EU policies recommend that “people with disabilities, in particular children (incl ASD), need to be integrated into the general education system and provided with individual support in the best interest of the child” (European Disability Strategy 2010-2020) However, teachers in public schools report receiving inadequate training and rate their personal efficacy in working with children with ASD as low (Jennett, Harris, & Mesibov, 2003), In this context, the project responds to significant challenge identified in the four European countries participating to the project: while the number of children and young people with autism enrolled in mainstream schools increases every year, the need for prepared teachers, equipped with relevant, updated and structured information on managing inclusive classes is more and more vital in order to ensure education in an inclusive way, so that to reduce disparities, reduce risks of early school leaving and increase chances for social integration. The project aimed: - to foster inclusive classrooms in mainstream education across Europe for pupils with ASD and other learning disabilities, by improving teaching practices among prospective and practicing educators. - to support the development of innovative ICT-based content for lifelong learning dedicated to prospective and practicing educators - to prepare professionals from schools in 4 European countries to work with people with autism/ Asperger Syndrome Four EU countries contributed to this project through institutional capacity of the 5 partners (3 Universities and 2 NGOs) with the support of their associated partners and through reputed experts willing to share their experience in ASD, training curricula development, ITC, communication and evaluation. The project has produced and disseminated (online and through multiplier events) a series of four e-learning courses on ASD, adapting curricula, use of ITC in classroom, management of challenging behaviour and adaptation to independent life. The e-learning modules have been attended by over 2000 individual teachers during the project this affecting positively on over 800 children and young people with autism and their family. 120 local and regional school authority representatives have also been targeted through the multiplier events and involved in extending and maximizing the project outcomes. Through the proposed 7 activities the project aimed to: O1. Strengthen the knowledge and skills of conducting inclusive classrooms and dealing with complex classroom realities for 800 teachers from mainstream schools in 4 countries through e-learning. O2. Support teachers from mainstream schools in acquiring/improving the use of ICT in teaching ASD children through e-learning. O3. Improving access of teachers to high quality learning through a set of four original e-learning materials disseminated towards over 120 local and national school authorities