The project applied for by the Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) involved 5 other participating countries across the EU – Belgium, Finland, Greece, Northern Ireland and Sweden. This 3 year project started in September 2017 and should have ended in August 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a force majeur situation was in force with the project given an extension of another four months. The project ended in December 2020. The objective of this initiative was to create a set of modules to assist persons with an intellectual disability to engage in independent living. This objective was achieved. The project focused on the current need to enhance communication, literacy and numeracy skills of persons with an intellectual disability so as to have the means to be fully integrated within the social and economic national frameworks and also to be able to realize their inherent rights for independent living.This project created six (6) Modules focusing on improving the communicative, literacy and numeracy skills of persons with an intellectual disability (i) living on their own; (ii) living with immediate or extended families; and (iii) living in residential/communal homes. The developed Modules reflect the different needs of the mentioned categories of this project's target group. The Modules created by this project are the following: Household, Community, Health, Mobility, Work and Leisure. The activities of this project were: 1) The Research 2) The Development of the six Modules 3) The Pilot Activities (testing of the Modules) 4) The Multiplier Event Enhancing our target group's communication and other skills were seen throughout the project in the context of providing this group with the necessary tools for integration within society and for stratification betterment of the individuals in question. The project also segmented the various groupings related to persons with intellectual disabilities in order to fully pinpoint the specific needs of the target groups. Following the completion of the Modules, each participating organisation should have provided training to a specific number of persons with an intellectual disability by using the methodology included in each particular Module. By the end of this project, by means of this system, the participating organisations were to test the Modules and at the same time provide training to a total of 360 individuals with an intellectual impairment.The COVID-19 pandemic came unexpectedly and unfortunately left unexpected negative marks on the project. It came in force during the last year of the project, exactly at the testing stage of the Modules. The Modules created focus on the communication, literacy and numeracy skills of persons with an intellectual impairment and this vulnerable group was badly hit by the pandemic situation. They were isolated, constantly social distanced and kept within the walls of their homes / residences. This situation meant that the testing of the Modules could not happen according to and with the number of participants with an intellectual disability as asked for by the project by the respective partner organisations. Moreover, the multiplier event had to be organized and held virtually.All the project’s information and Modules can be accessed free of charge on the link https://www.mfopd.org/linc-life

Context and background:Statistics show that Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders 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 YAASD. For families and the community in general, facing a complex change in their role and task that they often fail to manage.TransitAction Objectives:To support YAASD in their transition to Employment, the project aims to achieve the following results:1.Transition Coaches have more effective skills and tools to support YAASD in their transition;2.YAASD have more tools to deal with the transition and are actively involved in this process;3.Companies are more open to employ YAASD and the co-workers are more prepared to integrate them.4.Families, volunteers’ associations and the community in general are better prepared for the transition and capable of managing in a positive manner the changes for their role.Activities:•A research on good practices supporting the transition of young adults to employment is implemented;•A needs analysis on Transition Coaches needs is implemented;•A research on existing digital tools supporting the same transition is implemented;•An Online Platform (I.O.1) collecting the content of the previous two activities is developed.•A training course for Transition Coaches is designed and developed adapting the content of the Online Platform;•A training course is delivered to 17 people (12 Transition Coaches and 4 Peers and one evaluation responsible) through mutual learning;•A feedback analysis on trainings is released;•4 pilots (5 months each) are implemented at national level to test the effectiveness of the training content;•A 2nd Training course, complementary to the first one is delivered considering the feedback from the first 4 pilots;•Further 4 pilots are implemented;•A feedback analysis on the pilots is released;•E-learning modules for Transition Coaches supporting Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in their transition to employment is delivered, made available in 5 languages (Dutch, English, Greek, Italian, Slovenian) and uploaded on the Online Platform.Number and profile of participants:TransitAction plans to train 12 Transition Coaches and 4 Peers during the trainings; subsequently, during the field tests, the project expects to involve at least another 18 Transition Coaches and to test the training contents with at least 20 YAASD for each service provider and the school. In total, the project therefore plans to involve at least 24 people, between Transition Coaches and Peers, and at least 80 YAASD.With the aim to support co-production, training participants will also be indirectly involved in other project activitiesMethodology:In the awareness of the complexity of the transition of YAASD to employment, TransitAction has a 360-degree approach. The researches implemented will allow us to gather the best existing practices and tools effecting the context. The field of research will not be limited only to YAASD but to all stakeholders involved in the transition, in compliance with the complexity mentioned above. Specific focus will be given to the search for digital tools as they are now considered more necessary and effective than ever.On this basis, a group of Transition Coaches will be intensively trained. Furthermore 4 pilots will be implemented twice (5+5 months) to allow real and incisive feedback on the final formulation of the training modules. Research, training, testing and feedback will therefore be interrelated and enclosed in a virtuous circle.To ensure that the input of the YAASDs themselves is sufficiently taken into account, Peers are involved throughout the whole project.Results, impacts and long term benefit:The Online Platform, through its translation software, will 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 YAASD labor inclusion;•Stronger financial independence of YAASD;•Enhanced social role and inclusion YAASD in the community;•Decreased economic / social cost of YAASD support;•Better quality of life of YAASD and families.

Context and background:Statistics show that people with disabilities are more exposed than others to unemployment and social exclusion and labour market inclusion has a positive impact on social inclusion. In particular, young people with disabilities (YPWD), 17 to 29 y.o., are at high risk of becoming NEET. In order to support their job placement, the role of Job Coaches has become key, professionals who have the task of accompanying the client in job search and in the subsequent reintegration path.The direct experience of the Jump to Job! partners and the study of previous projects on the same topic show, however, that there is still a lot of room for improvement in Job Coaches intervention with YPWD. Another fundamental person that has proven to be more and more important in supporting job integration is the Peer Mentor, who with her/him experiential contribution can relate to the YPWD in a privileged manner. Their contribution is still undervalued and taken into little consideration.Jump to Job Objectives:Consequently, with the aim of facilitating the job placement of the YPWD, the project aims to achieve the following results:1)YPWD are more self-confident and have more active approach to the job search;2)Job Coaches and YPWD have a stronger, more fruitful relationship, supporting real job inclusion;3)Companies are able to adapt their environment and work process to create a sustainable job for YPWD;4)Job Coaches’ training is more effective and takes into account clients’ input and insight and is co-produced by YPWD;Activities:●A need analysis on Peer Mentors and Job Coaching for people with disability in the countries of the project partners is released;●A first training course will be delivered to 16 people (12 Job Coaches and 4 Peer Mentors);●A first pilot will be implemented at national level (4 countries) to test the effectiveness of the first training content;●A feedback analysis on the first training is released;●A second training course will be delivered to 16 people (12 Job Coaches and 4 Peer Mentors);●A second pilot will be implemented at national level (4 nations) to test the effectiveness of the second training;●A feedback analysis on the second training is released;●A training module for Job Coaches and peers is be delivered - Peer Mentor and Job Coach for young people with disabilities Curriculum.Number and profile of participants:Jump to Job! plans to train 12 Job Coaches and 4 Peer Mentors in their training path; subsequently, during the field tests, the project expects to involve at least 8 other Job Coaches for each participating service provider partner and to use the training contents with at least 25 YPWD for each service provider partner. In total, the project therefore plans to involve at least 32 between Job Coaches and Peer Mentors at least 100 YPWD.Methodology:Training programmes will be given following the principles of the FROG methodology, and will develop around 4 thematic nuclei (Vision, Identity, Communication, Impact) which will provide participants with innovative tools and skills in order to allow them to improve their intervention skills with the YPWD, in line with the objectives of the project. Participants will also be trained in how to successfully support companies in their employment of YPWD.Furthermore, the project includes 2 training and 2 field tests to allow real and incisive feedback on the final formulation of the training module.Research, training, testing and feedback will therefore be interrelated and enclosed in a virtuous circle.Results, impacts and long term benefit:Peer Mentor and Job Coach for young people with disabilities Curriculum and training content will be available online on the project website in 5 languages (English, Dutch, Greek, Spanish, Slovenian) and uploaded on an e-learning platform. Dissemination events of the project results will be held in Greece, Spain, Belgium and Slovenia. In this way the curriculum will be known at European level and could be used by professionals internationally, leading to a real improvement in the job placement and social inclusion of the YPWD.

Through this project the Malta Federation Organisations Persons with Disabilities (MFOPD) will provide a job shadowing experience in the field of supported employment to 11 volunteers. The volunteers will be divided in 3 groups depending on the type of service they provide in the field. Each group will travel to a different country. Group A will involve mentors and will go to Spain; group B will involve job coaches and will go to the Netherlands; and group C will involve volunteers that provide support to the programme of supported employment and will go to Portugal. Volunteers operating in supported employment all fall into one or more of the following 5 main stages: Stage 1 – Engagement Stage 2 – Vocational Profiling Stage 3 - Job Finding Stage 4 - Employer Engagement Stage 5 - On/Off Job Support Mentors are involved in stages 1, 2 and 3; job coaches are involved in stages 3, 4 and 5; and volunteers that provide support to the programme are involved in all stages by taking a generic approach at all stages in order to provide the necessary support. By carrying out this project the MFOPD will have the opportunity to improve the supported employment it currently offers. Although supported employment may be provided to any vulnerable person, this project will only focus on supported employment that is supplied to persons with a disability. The objectives of this project are the below: 1) To develop the skills and knowledge of 11 volunteers in the field of supported employment; 2) To equip 11 volunteers with knowledge on how to lobby with State authorities to introduce such measures that are not yet locally available; and 3) To strengthen the relationship which between the MFOPD and the other 3 partner organisations. The participants of this project are individuals between 25 and 60 years of age and they are volunteers of the MFOPD. The main need of the participants is to acquire further skills on supported employment so that they will improve the service they offer in this regard on behalf of the MFOPD. Each of the 3 mobilities in this project will include these activities: - Delegation introduction to senior management of the partner organisation, including opening workshops with overview of supported employment operations and services in the country in question. - Visits to different supported employment centres in the region in question, with a hands-on practical interaction opportunity on how service providers react and interact with their clients; - Specialised workshops which serve to create a platform for information and practice sharing, dissemination of experiences and a compare and contrast exercise where Maltese practices are compared to practices in the host country; and - Hands-on presence at job and/or community centres giving supported employment services so as to initiate the MFOPD volunteers in the work practices of the regions in question. Additionally, there will be planned and informal social occasion where the participants will mix and mingle with the same employees of the region in question in order to ensure informal networking and good practices encounters in a laid back atmosphere. Each group will also be meeting a number of dignitaries. Despite the activities following the same pattern, each mobility will implement these activities from the point of view of the volunteers' role within the 5 stages of supported employment. The expected impact on the participants shall include (but is not limited to) the following: - They will have access to other models of supported employment in other countries and see how it is implemented in a culture which is different than ours; and - They will note, first hand, different and sometimes perfected tools in supported employment which are not yet available locally. The expected impact on the participating organisations shall include (but is not limited to) the following: - It will enable the MFOPD to continue being the local catalyst for change and implementation of supported employment; and - It will solidify already existing ties with other EU organisations in 3 different countries. The expected impact on the target group shall include (but is not limited to) the following: - They will have a better overall service from the supported employment programme within the MFOPD; and - They will benefit from more experienced case officers dealing directly with their needs. After their experience abroad, the participants will give training (i) to the other volunteers within the MFOPD that operate in supported employment and (ii) to other individuals outside the MFOPD that also work in the same field. This will ensure that the benefits of this initiative are disseminated as much as possible – with the result that supported employment in Malta is improved. The improvement in supported employment in Malta may be regarded as the potential longer benefit of this project.