Context and background: Statistics show that Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders face greater difficulties than their peers in the transition to employment. Not only do they have more difficulty finding a job but, more generally, this phase represents a moment of particular risk for them, characterized by increased isolation, heightened symptoms (especially for mental health issues), depression, higher suicidal risk, etc. At the same time this transition is a particularly difficult phase to support for Transition Coaches who often do not have the necessary skills. For Companies, hardly opening the door to the inclusion of YAASD. For families and the community in general, facing a complex change in their role and task that they often fail to manage. TransitAction Objectives: To support YAASD in their transition to Employment, the project aims to achieve the following results: 1. Transition Coaches have more effective skills and tools to support YAASD in their transition; 2. YAASD have more tools to deal with the transition and are actively involved in this process; 3. Companies are more open to employ YAASD and the co-workers are more prepared to integrate them. 4. Families, volunteers’ associations and the community in general are better prepared for the transition and capable of managing in a positive manner the changes for their role. Activities: • A research on good practices supporting the transition of young adults to employment is implemented; • A needs analysis on Transition Coaches needs is implemented; • A research on existing digital tools supporting the same transition is implemented; • An Online Platform (I.O.1) collecting the content of the previous two activities is developed. • A training course for Transition Coaches is designed and developed adapting the content of the Online Platform; • A training course is delivered to 17 people (12 Transition Coaches and 4 Peers and one evaluation responsible) through mutual learning; • A feedback analysis on trainings is released; • 4 pilots (5 months each) are implemented at national level to test the effectiveness of the training content; • A 2nd Training course, complementary to the first one is delivered considering the feedback from the first 4 pilots; • Further 4 pilots are implemented; • A feedback analysis on the pilots is released; • E-learning modules for Transition Coaches supporting Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in their transition to employment is delivered, made available in 5 languages (Dutch, English, Greek, Italian, Slovenian) and uploaded on the Online Platform. Number and profile of participants: TransitAction plans to train 12 Transition Coaches and 4 Peers during the trainings; subsequently, during the field tests, the project expects to involve at least another 18 Transition Coaches and to test the training contents with at least 20 YAASD for each service provider and the school. In total, the project therefore plans to involve at least 24 people, between Transition Coaches and Peers, and at least 80 YAASD. With the aim to support co-production, training participants will also be indirectly involved in other project activities Methodology: In the awareness of the complexity of the transition of YAASD to employment, TransitAction has a 360-degree approach. The researches implemented will allow us to gather the best existing practices and tools effecting the context. The field of research will not be limited only to YAASD but to all stakeholders involved in the transition, in compliance with the complexity mentioned above. Specific focus will be given to the search for digital tools as they are now considered more necessary and effective than ever. On this basis, a group of Transition Coaches will be intensively trained. Furthermore 4 pilots will be implemented twice (5+5 months) to allow real and incisive feedback on the final formulation of the training modules. Research, training, testing and feedback will therefore be interrelated and enclosed in a virtuous circle. To ensure that the input of the YAASDs themselves is sufficiently taken into account, Peers are involved throughout the whole project. Results, impacts and long term benefit: The Online Platform, through its translation software, will available in multiple languages. The Training Modules will be available on the Platform in 5 languages (English, Dutch, Greek, Italian, Slovenian). Dissemination events of the project results will be held in Greece, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Ireland. This way, both I.O. will be known at European level and could be used internationally, leading to a real improvement in the support to YAASD transition. In the long term, the project will generate, among other things: • Enhanced YAASD labor inclusion; • Stronger financial independence of YAASD; • Enhanced social role and inclusion YAASD in the community; • Decreased economic / social cost of YAASD support; • Better quality of life of YAASD and families.
The key objective of the project was to support YAwA to transition between school/inactivity to work through the development of online training and support networks for all involved in the transition phase: YAwA, Transition Coaches (TCs), employers, family members etc. The project aimed to involve all educators and personal support of YAwA to prevent them from falling through the gaps in the system when finishing school and starting to look for training and work. TCs were involved from the outset as trainers/trainees to improve their skills in line with the priorities of the project. The project aimed to include Peers (also YAwA) in the training to inform the project of the challenges and to develop tools to achieve the project’s objectives. From the direct experience of the partners and study of good practices, the project aimed to include ‘soft skills’ for employability in the training, as YAwA particularly struggle with this. The intention was for the e-learning tools to be located, promoted and used through the development of a project online platform. A key strength of the project was to include employers in the promotion and sharing of good practice in neurodiversity, specifically, relating to the benefits of employing YAwA
Social inclusion is a significant challenge in Europe and young people with disabilities are at greater risk of social exclusion specifically, young adults with autism (hereinafter YAwA) due to their disability and because the period of transition from school to work represents an extremely difficult and problematic phase. To address this challenge, the project supported YAwA and stakeholders in their lives, with new skills, innovative tools and support networks during this specifically difficult phase from school/inactivity to employment. YAwA face multiple challenges in accessing work resulting in a significant drop in their quality of life characterized by increased isolation and mental health issues. Thus, supporting YAwA in transition reduces their risk of being unemployed or in education, whilst most importantly, supporting their social inclusion. The project also engaged with and provided tools to other people in the lives of YAwA including: Transition Coaches, companies (potential employers), co-workers, families, other stakeholders, the project involved all educators, formal and informal, and other professional supporters for YAwA. This further supports social cohesion as well as a more inclusive vision of society.