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Compreender e Incluir o Autismo

2022-1-PT02-KA152-YOU-0000660762022Mobility of young peopleongoingGood practice
Countries: PT|MK|ES|IT · Grant: €24,116
Democracy and inclusive democratic participationDisabilitiesPreventing racism and discrimination

Objectives

Reason: Prejudice and discrimination assume themselves as real barriers for people with disabilities and create obstacles to their integration into society. Prejudice against people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a mechanism of social denial since their differences are highlighted as a lack or impossibility. When it comes to a young person with ASD, society tends to cast a look of distrust, question and develop a posture of judgment toward those who are "different" in the eyes of society for not fitting in with those they see as "normal". This intolerance and inability to see the other as an equal and promote spaces of inclusion, especially when discussing interaction contexts, leads to discriminatory behaviour among ASD youngsters. As an article in Público (March, 2018) reveals, autistic people are seven times more likely to be victims of bullying. This issue and the emergence of discriminatory thoughts and behaviours hinder the development of a society that wants to be inclusive and egalitarian. In this way, prejudice is considered something that "comes from within," seen as a preconception of something that is not properly known. Discrimination being the act of externalizing, it is important to bet on a set of initiatives, able to empower and inform about human rights, the exercise of citizenship, protection, safety and inclusion. Social problem: This Project of innovative nature intended to respond to the social problem that is prejudice and discrimination, is considered a major obstacle for people with disabilities, especially those within the ASD which hinders their social inclusion. We need to focus on combating this stigma, discrimination and prejudice, strengthening the empowerment of young people to welcome diversity and difference. The U.I.A. came about as a result of listening to the needs of young people and intended to evoke the principle of transformation in our youth community, especially for young people with fewer opportunities (FO), so that they would understand the reality of their peers with ASD and, also, of the people around them (family, friends, etc.). Everyone ends up being victim of microaggressions, and therefore, we intend to (re)think autism and, with it, live and celebrate diversity, promoting inclusive and egalitarian attitudes in society. At the root of this problem, we identify a set of needs in the org. and the youth. Needs of the organizations: -Capacitate young people, so that they would be able to comply with and recognize the principle of equality and inclusion based on human dignity. -To increase the network of partners and the experiences of transnational cooperation to improve the quality of the work with young people. -Promote open, inclusive and egalitarian spaces that allow young people to experience international mobility, raising awareness of the importance of social inclusion, equality before the law (Article 20 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights), reduction of inequalities (SDG 10) and for Social Protection and Inclusion (European Pillar of Social Rights). Need of young people: -Access a multidisciplinary approach that would allow them to develop their skills and promote social inclusion. -Break the stereotypes and myths associated with young people with ASD and develop a change with a view to social inclusion. -Participate in activities allowing linear change through contact with other realities. Along with the identified needs, we defined a set of objectives in the consortium for the effective and successful realization of the U.I.A. General objectives: - Prevent discrimination and promote the inclusion and equality of young people with ASD, who are socially excluded. Specific objectives: -To improve conditions for young people with ASD and/or FO to exercise their rights, eliminating discrimination and promoting measures to recognize equality. -Sensitize young people to the reality of discrimination and social exclusion. -Act, in an interdisciplinary way, for the recovery of well-being and inclusion of young people with ASD. -Promote accessible physical, information and communication environments to acquire skills that would enable young people to develop personal, social and learning relationships. -Sensitize the community to the importance of European values (Article 2 of the Treaty on EU): human dignity, freedom, the rule of law, equality, human rights, tolerance, non-discrimination, solidarity, justice and pluralism.

Project partners (4)