ALERRT: Autism on the Line! Educating first Responders on how to Recognise and Treat individuals with autism Erasmus Project

Project Title

ALERRT: Autism on the Line! Educating first Responders on how to Recognise and Treat individuals 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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

For people with autism, learning to interact with first responders is critical. It is, also, just as essential for first responders (police officers, firefighters, and medical emergency/ambulance workers) to understand autism and be prepared to respond effectively and safely to situations involving individuals on the spectrum.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability and a neurological condition affecting every individual to a differing degree. It knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. People with ASD may have difficulties in communication and social understanding. They may also have unusual reactions to sensory input and may demonstrate what appears to be inappropriate behaviours. ASD is now known to be very common. According to recent information available (Aug. 2015), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that from 2000 to 2010 the prevalence of autism increased by nearly 120 percent, affecting approximately 1 in 68 children.

First responders are 7 times more likely to come in contact with an individual with ASD than the average person (Prevent-educate.org). However, evidence shows that they aren’t adequately trained to recognise and handle that population. Although all first responders are trained to react to a variety of emergency and crisis situations, the typical response is not always the correct response when interacting with individuals on the spectrum. A lack of ASD awareness may not only cause first responders to feel professionally awkward and uncertain when providing emergency care and assistance but also put the ASD individual at risk, as lack of knowledge among first responders, combined with the social and communication difficulties of people with autism, can create dangerous misunderstandings. If first responders don’t understand that the individual has ASD, they may misinterpret behaviour as noncompliant or threatening. Instead of taking steps to reassure them, they may intensify their distress either by being forceful or by taking misguided actions intended to be helpful.
Evidence shows first responders lack autism awareness, there is, therefore, a clear need for first responders, to have sufficient understanding of ASD, how it may present in an individual, and how to best handle incidents involving such a person.
Therefore, we propose that all first responders in Europe receive training that familiarises them with ASD and provides strategies for de-escalating stressful interactions. Therefore, having as a target group community first responders, we propose a project with the following objectives:
• To deliver training courses to directly train first responders in a set of skills and, also, to deliver these courses to a target group of VET trainers, in order to amplify and perpetuate the ripple effect of those courses
• design, test and publish an innovative training package for VET trainers that will train the target group (first responders) to acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding about ASD and the skills necessary to recognise, interact, and treat appropriately individuals with ASD in cases of emergency
• help families and caregivers of individuals with ASD connect with first responders and develop mutual trust and the feeling of dependence on them when an emergency situation occurs

International cooperation within the framework of this project is an important factor that will allow partners to present first responders with a complete ASD training programme which will help them support individuals with ASD. Partners from Cyprus, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece. Will develop 6 intellectual Outputs:
IO1: ALERRT VET trainer curriculum for first responders
IO2: ALERRT VET trainer Manual for first responders
IO3: VR training scenarios for First Responders
IO4: Safety Kit for Families/Individuals with ASD
IO5: e-learning platform
They will also organise 6 Multiplier events (1 in each partner country) and 1 final International conference will contribute to the dissemination of the project’s outputs and results.2 Learning-Teaching-Training (LTT) activities: short term training event for VET trainers (C1) and 1 short term training event for first responders (C2) will be carried out resulting in VET trainers and First Responders professional development, accordingly, and in raising awareness regarding ASD.

Project Website

http://autismontheline.com/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 237155 Eur

Project Coordinator

GESEME 1996 SL & Country: ES

Project Partners

• AUTISME-EUROPE AISBL
• STANDO LTD
• CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE PER LA PROMOZIONE DELL’EDUCAZIONE E LO SVILUPPO ASSOCIAZIONE
• COFAC COOPERATIVA DE FORMACAO E ANIMACAO CULTURAL CRL
• Evropska rozvojova agentura, s.r.o.