Projects

The Project

TransitAction is an Erasmus + funded project with the aim to provide Young Adults with Autism (YAA), Transition Coaches (TC) and other actors in their lives, new skills and innovative tools to support YAA in the difficult transition from school or inactivity to employment.

Background

Statistics show that YAA face greater difficulties than their peers in the transition to employment. Not only do they have more difficulty finding a job but, more generally, this phase represents a moment of particular risk for them, characterized by increased isolation, heightened symptoms (especially for mental health issues), depression, higher suicidal risk, etc. At the same time this transition is a particularly difficult phase to support for Transition Coaches who often do not have the necessary skills. For Companies, hardly opening the door to the inclusion of YAA. For families and the community in general, facing a complex change in their role and task that they often fail to manage.

Objectives

Main Objective:

• Enhanced support to YAA in their transition to Employment

Strategic Objectives/Results:

• Transition Coaches have more effective skills and tools to support YAA in their transition;

• YAA have more tools to deal with the transition and are actively involved in this process;

• Companies are more open to employ YAA and the co-workers are more prepared to integrate them;

• Families, volunteers’ associations and the community in general are better prepared for the transition and capable of managing in a positive manner the change that it entails for their role.

Partners

The project is led by EPR and implemented together with 6 organisations including:

GTB (Belgium)

Theotokos Foundation (Greece)

Unversity Rehabilitation Institute (Slovenia)

REHAB Group (Ireland)

Autimatic (Belgium)

Futuro Digitale (Italy)

Online Platform

An Online Platform was designed and implemented to collect and disseminate the research outcomes and to develop innovative methodologies to use. It offers interactive and inspiring contents through sharing good practices, tools, e-Learning modules and experiences that will function as a guide for TC, YAA and other stakeholders.

Expected results

The methodology will be participatory, inclusive and horizontal, based on the cooperation of a plurality of key-actors.

Transition Coaches (TC):

• More effective skills and tools that TC will have for a real change in the Labour Market;
• TC can offer long term coaching at the workplace;
• TC will have better knowledge of the combination of work income/social benefits, relevant legislation that can help integration on the labour market and maintain employment;

Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder YAASD:

• More tools to deal with the transition to Employment and to adapt and overcome all the challenges involved in the transition (as regards their persons of reference, their peer group, in everyday life, etc.);
• Deeper knowledge of the labour market and adequate skills to face this transition;

Companies & Employers:

• Companies will be more open to employ YAA;
• More prepared staff to interact with YAA and open to integrate them into their work group;
• More flexible approach and blended solutions in hiring.

Families & Other stakeholders:

• Families, volunteers’ associations and the community in general are better prepared for the transition and capable to manage in a positive manner the change that it entails for their role.

Expected impacts and long-term benefit

The Online Platform, through its translation software, will be available in multiple languages. The Training Modules will be available on the Platform in 5 languages (English, Dutch, Greek, Italian, Slovenian). Dissemination events of the project results will be held in Greece, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Ireland. This way, both I.O. will be known at European level and could be used internationally, leading to a real improvement in the support to YAASD transition.

In the long term, the project will generate, among other things:

• Enhanced YAA labor inclusion;
• Stronger financial independence of YAA;
• Enhanced social role and inclusion YAA in the community;
• Decreased economic / social cost of YAA support;
• Better quality of life of YAA and their families.

Project Meetings & Events

Launch of the TransitAction Platform

The TRANSITACTION.EU Platform was officially launched online on the 31st March 2021. A great opportunity to discover good practices, innovative tools, e-Learning modules and share inspiring experiences.

SAVE THE DATE: Final Dissemination Event

On 25th October, the project’s Consortium will celebrate the results and impact of their work in TransitAction Project, and will bring together all project partners, speakers and participants from partner organisations including, the European Economic and Social Committee, European Commission (tbc), Inspirational Speakers who are on the autism spectrum, Employers, Autism Europe (tbc), European Network for Independent Living and EPR members, to share good practice and to network.

The project partners will present the project results, evaluation and good practices from their countries in Slovenia, Belgium, Greece and Ireland and transition coaches, having done the training, will share what they have learnt and what could still be improved in supporting young people with autism to transition smoothly into employment.

Info & Registration here.

Project poster

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Contacts

Panita Ball, Project & Events officer at EPR: pball@epr.eu

Benedetta Pesce, Junior Project & Events officer at EPR: bpesce@epr.eu