Our common objective (REPV and FCA) was first and foremost to provide a better understanding of the issues, practices and professionals in each field: Environmental Education vs Autism. We had several objectives: - To specifically enhance the skills of those involved in environmental education in order to take account of autism in the context of their nature-related activities. - To reaffirm that environmental education in the Pyrenees must offer inclusive activities and to raise awareness among professionals of how best to welcome people with disabilities (physical, psychological, social, etc.) more generally. - Enable links to be established between structures in each field to generate activities, in particular for quality education, reducing inequalities, promoting the link between health and the environment, etc. To achieve these objectives, we have planned the implementation of actions that have brought together professionals and players in the two fields (Environmental Education vs Autism) to work together on the design and production of training sessions, the teaching guide and the promotional films.
Those involved in environmental education in the Pyrenees, grouped together in the Education Pyrénées Vivantes network, want to bring the natural and cultural heritage of the Pyrenees closer to everyone. Aware of the difficulties that remain in making the natural environment of the Pyrenees accessible to all, we initially wanted to work with the Catalan Autism Federation to put in place the conditions (teaching materials and training) needed to increase the inclusion of autistic people in the activities developed by environmental education professionals in the Pyrenees. The Catalan autism federation is aware of how important it is for everyone to have a link with nature, and that autistic people are still too far removed from it. It is therefore keen to support initiatives that will make it easier for autistic people to be included in the natural environment. Our mutual needs were to strengthen the knowledge and skills of the 2 sectors to enable better access to nature for people with disabilities.