AUTISM: SPECTRUM OF EMPLOYMENT SKILLS /ASES/
Project duration: 24 months (01.11.2021 - 01.11.2023)
Background
One in every 59 children is born on the autism spectrum.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) revealed that less than 10% of
persons with
autism are employed. Those employed are often in low-wage jobs. Key barriers to their employment are:
- lack of access to vocational training
- communication difficulties
- denial of reasonable accommodation
- prejudices about autism.
During a discussion on employment of
persons with
autism
at the European Parliament in 2019, the Director of Autism-Europe, Aurélie Baranger, emphasized that many strengths are associated with autism and that it is key to build on these individual strengths to foster successful employment. She described the possible types of employment and support methods, giving as good practice job coaching and hiring programmes in the field of new technology. 42% of adults with autism
in employment say they require support, but only 12% receive any.
The ASES project will focus on the development of a training material and tools for SME management to increase workplace inclusion of adults with autism. It will develop VET digital training resources to train employers and HR staff to recruit, mentor and empower staff with
autism
throughout their employment cycle. The training resources will be designed to be used for distance learning and will embed gamification elements to facilitate learning process. Additionally, the training resources and curriculum will be pilot-tested over the course of 6 months, in the third year of project implementation. The pilot test will serve as an opportunity to see the effectiveness of project results and their short and long-term impact on:
2. The performance and well-being of Individuals with autism who will be employed by SMEs in the context of the Pilot test.
PROJECT TARGET GROUPS:
1. SMEs & SME management2. People with autism
3. Business and employment stakeholders
4. Stakeholders for people with disabilities
5. Economy authorities at local, regional, national and European levels
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
1. To furnish management with a recruitment and career development methodology suitable for staff with
autism
2. To offer a distance learning solution for training SME management staff in exploiting the qualities of staff with autism
3. To increase the productivity of employees with autism at the workplace
4. To increase the recruitment and retention rate of staff with autism
5. To reduce employment gap between people with and without disabilities by increasing employment opportunities for people with autism
6. To eliminate exclusion of people with autism in the workplace
7. To enhance the role of VET in the career development of staff with autism
8. To benefit the European economy through increased productivity and employment levels of people with autism
2. To offer a distance learning solution for training SME management staff in exploiting the qualities of staff with autism
3. To increase the productivity of employees with autism at the workplace
4. To increase the recruitment and retention rate of staff with autism
5. To reduce employment gap between people with and without disabilities by increasing employment opportunities for people with autism
6. To eliminate exclusion of people with autism in the workplace
7. To enhance the role of VET in the career development of staff with autism
8. To benefit the European economy through increased productivity and employment levels of people with autism
Results
- The ASES Quality Assurance Handbook
- The ASES Dissemination Strategy Handbook
- Six National Findings Reports with research findings, learning needs data and conclusions
- The ASES project website, social media page and other dissemination material
- 6 Multiplier Events in Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, North Macedonia and Denmark
