EFFECTIVE METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING FOR CHILDREN WITH ASD FROM MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS Erasmus Project

Project Title

EFFECTIVE METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING FOR CHILDREN WITH ASD FROM MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Inclusion – equity; Disabilities – special needs

Project Summary

<< Background >>

Autism is a severe developmental disorder of neurobiological nature, which often occurs at birth or at the age of 18 months – 2 years of the child. Autism is a behavioral syndrome characterized by difficulties in communication and language, social and behavioral (through stereotyped, repetitive, autostimulatory behaviors). From 2000 to 2010, the prevalence of autism has doubled according to international statistics published in March 2014, which makes autism a more common cause. More specifically, if in 2000 one in 150 people had autism, in 2010 one out of 68 children is affected by an autistic spectrum disorder.
A research done Sociometrics Association – Social and Economic Analysis Group for Romanian and Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) shows that, in the opinion of parents with ASD children, teachers are very much willing to contribute to the integration of the child (42% of the respondents) but only 22% of them state that the teaching staff knows what to do. There are training courses in many dialectical training institutions, but not strictly for autism, but for working with children with special educational needs – generally, so that this spectrum is included, but there is no course to be dedicated to autism.

<< Objectives >>

The project was intended to implement a Pilot course for teachers working with ASD children in mainstream schools and to develop a teacher guide (educational support). The Pilot course has been implemented following the formation of a group of experts from each partner organization according to the results of a needs group analysis of the target group. Teacher training was based on current information on children with ASD, specific methods. The Teacher’s Guide contain, besides models of learning and assessment tools for children with ASD and adapted programs for Communication and language development for children with ASD from kindergarten to high school. Within this project, 27 trainers and 48 teachers from integrative schools working with students with ASD were trained.

<< Implementation >>

The activities implemented were:
– Official transactions: signing the grant agreement and signing contracts with partners.
– A representative of each partner organization was formed on the project steering committee.
– Project teams were formed in each partner organization: Each partner informed its staff and members about the EMT & ASD project, determined who will be involved in the project implementation process and their responsibilities.
– Quality management teams were formed in each partner organization: These teams had members of the project team from each partner institution and members of their own organizing board.
– Was created the Project Logo.
– Specific procedures were developed and the beneficiaries of the activities for project implementation, LTTA, pilot course and project evaluation were selected.
– Various plans have been developed (Project Quality Assurance Plan, Communication Plan, Budget Plan, Risks Management Plan, Dissemination and Exploitation Plan, Evaluation Plan), for the good implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.
– Transnational Project Meeting: M1_RO (19-20.11.2019) _ face to face meeting. M16_ GR (22-23.02.2022)_ face to face meting
– Transnational Project Meetings online : M2 _ONLINE (2.06.2020); M3_ONLINE (17.09.2020); M4_ONLINE (5.11.2020); M5 _ ONLINE (17.12.2020); M6_ ONLINE (21.01.2021); M7_ONLINE (22.02.2021); M8_ONLINE (23.03.2021); M9_ONLINE(6.05.2021); M10_ONLINE (21.07.2021); M11 (14.09.2021); M12_ONLINE (19.10.2021); M13_ONLINE (10.11.2021); M14_ONLINE (14.12.2021); M15_ONLINE (28.01.2022);
– Partners sent to the Coordinator 3 Financial Reports (DURING 1.11.2019- 1.05.2020 , DURING 1.11.2019 – 31.10.2010 and DURING 1.11.2019 – 28.02.2022).
– A training course for specialists was organized within the LTTA, which was attended by 27 people.
– 4 Pilot Training Courses were organized, attended by 70 teachers working with children with ASD.
– A number of 385 specialists in the field were involved in the evaluation of the final products using a Google Forms questionnaire.
– 4 Multiplier Events were organized for the dissemination of the project products in which 796 (96 face to face and 700 online) people participated.
– Quality Control Reports made by each partner institutions: Each partners completed a report for period 1.11.2019 – 31.10.2020 and 1.11.2019 – 28.02.2022
– Dissemination reports made by each partner organization: Each partners completed a report for period 1.11.2019 – 31.10.2020 and 1.11.2019 – 28.02.2022.

<< Results >>

– Professional skills and competencies have been trained / developed in educators / teachers (70) and experts (27) working with students with ASD in integrative schools.
– A curriculum has been developed for the training of specialists and a curriculum for the training of teachers working with students with ASD in mainstream schools, for pre-school, primary, secondary and high school education cycles.
– A guide for teachers, in 4 languages (e-book and on paper ) has been developed for teachers working in boarding schools with children with ASD
– A website was created for the project
– A needs analysis report about the training of teachers with students with ASD from mainstream schools, from the four partner countries

Project Website

https://www.emtforasd.tk

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 227980 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIATIA SUNTEM DIFERITI & Country: RO

Project Partners

• Eastern Macedonia – Thrace Regional Directorate for Primary and Secondary Education
• EARLY YEARS – THE ORGANISATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN LBG
• Progetto Crescere Soc. Coop. Soc.