A hollistic approach of person-centred planning for people with Autism Erasmus Project

Project Title

A hollistic approach of person-centred planning for people with Autism

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; Disabilities – special needs; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

It is widely accepted by the scientific community that children and adults with ASC (Autism Spectrum Conditions) are likely to have accompanying sensory difficulties. It is also scientifically proven that there are three major type of difficulties for ASC individuals: difficulties that are associated directly with their senses (sensory), cognitive difficulties & social difficulties (social interaction). These difficulties have – undoubtedly – a significant impact on their ability to function, process information, and often lead to raised anxiety and stress levels. It is therefore essential to know the specific type of difficulty for a ASC individual in order to comprehend fully the sensory difficulties; equally important, these difficulties need to be thoroughly taken into account in the Life Planning process of the ASC individual.

‘A holistic approach of person-centered planning for people with Autism’ (‘AUTISM_PCP’) aims to equip ASC individuals and those in support of them with the necessary knowledge and Life planning tools to deal with ‘transitional’ periods and/or situations which often result in raised levels of stress & anxiety; these transitions can be short term, such as Home to school, home to shops, class to class or long term, such as school to University, school/university to working environment. The Life Planning tools developed within AUTISM_PCP will include also planning where to live, how to live, how to get about, and the steps required to make hopes and personal goals happen, including employment, housing and independence.

The main objectives of the ‘AUTISM_PCP’ can be summarised as follows:
– Empowerment of individuals at risk of social exclusion and more specifically empowerment of ASC individuals
– Strengthening of the overall effort for social inclusion and integration of ASC individuals at mainstream education & society at large
– Enhancing competences of professionals and all those individuals, such as family members & relatives, etc., involved in the life of ASC individuals

One of the innovative elements & strengths of ‘AUTISM_PCP’ is the large number and diversity of key stakeholders who will actively participate in the project. These stakeholders include people with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), educators/teachers in Special Education & Autism, adult education & VET teachers, experts in SEN & ASC and facilitators/mentors. It is expected that more than 150 participants will be directly involved in the various activities of the project, throughout the implementation period.

‘AUTISM_PCP’ project will deliver three important & innovative intellectual outputs, which target directly those individuals with Autism as well as those professionals in support of those in Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), including their immediate families & relatives. ‘AUTISM_PCP’ will also develop a training manual for all those in support of ASC individuals, which will be used as a basis of training courses, which are scheduled to be delivered in three different ‘AUTISM_PCP’ participating countries.

The methodology applied for the development of intellectual outputs within the ‘AUTISM_PCP’ project will be based on the following elements:
– Literature research/study
– Expert knowledge (external & internal)
– Feedback from participants
– Expert review/validation

The results expected by ‘AUTISM_PCP’ during the project and on its completion are as follows:
1. It will strengthen the social inclusion’ of individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC)
2. It will improve and extend the supply of high quality learning opportunities tailored to the needs of individuals due to the tailor made training manuals to be developed during the implementation of the project and the trainings to be delivered after the official end of the project by consortium partners as well as stakeholders outside the consortium
3. It will improve educators’ competences’, that is, all those with the role of facilitator for individuals with ASC
4. It will promote the empowerment and active citizenship with focus on individuals with ASC
5. It will develop mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness of adult learning policies or to track and monitor the progress of adult learners.
6. It will support the overall effort of combating Early School Leaving (ESL) by reducing the risk of social exclusion for vulnerable groups, such as those with ASC.

From all above, it is clear that ‘AUTISM_PCP’ is an innovative cross sectoral strategic partnership project that aims to make a significant contribution towards the development of a harmonized approach with regards to Life Planning Tools for Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) individuals across Europe.

Project Website

http://www.autismholistic.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 342635 Eur

Project Coordinator

KYKLISIS-ASTIKI MI KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA & Country: EL

Project Partners

• D.A.D.A.A (Association of Parents, Legal Guardians & Friends of Children & Adults in Autism spectrum disorders and Aspergers’)
• MAENDELEO FOR CHILDREN APS
• Scoala Gimnaziala Smaranda Gheorghiu
• SHIPCON LIMASSOL LIMITED
• PARVI NATIONALEN CENTAR PO DYSLEXIA
• Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism