Towards a reasoned inclusion of children with autism in school Erasmus Project

Project Title

Towards a reasoned inclusion of children with autism in school

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

Social and educational inclusion of young people with autism spectrum disorders is a big issue for our societies, while the prevalence of the spectrum of autistic disorders continues to increase in Europe and to raise questions regarding public policies. It is at the same time a matter of well-being for young people and their families, taking into account their differences, and the respect of these differences within the society. Empowering young people and children is also necessary for them, their close relatives and whole community.

Young people with autism spectrum disorders encounter major difficulty to take part in social and school activities. Most professionals use current methods consisting of identical protocols for all young people. Our experience that we shared during the first European seminar showed the need to redesign conditions of inclusion, especially taking into account the positions and interests of those young people and children afflicted with autism spectrum disorders and their relatives.

Sharing knowledge between several professionals is necessary to define a new know-how that will lead to a better integration of young people and children. This process of inclusion, which is highly interesting but more difficult to implement, will be at the end more efficient for social action and learning opportunities.

Experiences will be shared between the project partners and families in order to 1/ present this new process of inclusion to the greatest number of school actors 2/ compare it with what is happening on the ground.

The partners network was created during a European seminar in 2018. The partners are professionals from specialized institutions working with children and young people with autism spectrum disorders (from France, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Bulgaria) and researchers in psychology and education sciences (France, Bordeaux and Rennes). The consortium members will closely work with associations of families and young people likely to contribute for a stronger impact of the project on current practices.

The project will aim, through exchanges and sharing experiences, to draft a general framework on school inclusion and then a guide for school professionals working with young people with autism spectrum disorders. An educational video, consisting of a short film presenting testimonials and experiences, will be another production. At the end of the project, a more scientific book will complete this work and will make the link with what was produced before, during the previous project.

Partners will meet in regular working seminars, conferences and multiplier events. A dedicated website and social media pages will facilitate project dissemination.

From the results of this project, a new impetus, taking into account the wishes and capacities of young people and children, should give them the opportunity to participate in the social life and find their own place in educational and school institutions.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 348855 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITE RENNES II & Country: FR

Project Partners

• EPS Ville-Evrard
• FUNDACIÓN ATENCIÓN TEMPRANA
• UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUX
• Association “Child and Space”
• Antenne 110 asbl
• INSTITUT MEDICO PEDAGOGIQUE NOTRE DAME DE LA SAGESSE ASBL
• Fondazione Martin Egge Onlus