KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training
VIRTUS Upscaling Vocational Pathways

Call: KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training

Title: VIRTUS Upscaling Vocational Pathways

Proposed project duration:  March 2022 – February 2024 (24 months)

Applicant organisation:

QBS GEWERKSTATT GGMBH Germany www.qbsgewerkstatt.de

 Partner organisations:

ASTIKI ETAIREIA PSICHOKOINONIKON MELETON Greece www.ploes.org.gr

OMEGA TECHNOLOGIES GREECE www.omegatech.gr

EASPD Belgium BRUXELLES www.easpd.eu

ARCIL Slate Portugal www.pjdc.lt

KYPRIAKI ETAIREIA PISTOPOIISIS LIMITED Cyprus NICOSIA www.cycert.org.cy

PLOES, Gewerksttat and ARCIL provide therapeutic services and support to people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, many of whom have been diagnosed with autism. Thus, the services provided are intended for the development of social, emotional, cognitive and everyday living skills of autistic people, aiming at social inclusion in all areas of everyday life.

This training programme is closely linked to the services already provided to the VET organisations participating in the consortium, taking things a step further, completing vocational training with pre-professional and interpersonal skills required for autism beneficiaries to have access to meaningful employment and by making it interactive and attractive to users by adding VR to the equation.

Unfortunately, although the services provided cover a wide range of skills and the training programmes are designed on an annual basis to meet the needs of the beneficiaries, there is a huge need for an integrated work on vocational training tailored to the needs and challenges of autistic people. Young people affected by autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not actually have equal access to VET and work. Even if they have the ability and intellectual property, they face obstacles on the way to VET and the labour market.

The objective of integration into the European labour market will be supported by the entire partnership project team, which is why this consortium wants to work on this project to develop ways for the needs of autistic people for full access to VET and the labour market.

This project aims to create an educational program that includes vocational training tailored to the needs of autistic people through the integration of in vivo training seminars and virtual reality technology.

The training that will be created will include:

• Training of mental health professionals in the methodology that will combine Virtual Reality and a complete program of social, pre-professional and professional skills.
• Education for beneficiaries with autism who are interested in finding work
• Evaluation and certification in accordance with EU standards

The project aims to fill the gap between schooling and employment for autistic people who do not have access to higher education.

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