<< Background >>Ploes E.Psy.Me., Gewerksttat and ARCIL provide therapeutic services and support to people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, many of whom are diagnosed with autism. Thus, the provided services are intended for the development of social, emotional, cognitive as well as daily living skills of autistic individuals, aiming for social inclusion in all parts of daily life. This educational program is closely connected to the services already provided in the VET organisations participating in the consortium, taking things one step further, by completing the vocational training with pre-vocational and interpersonal skills required for autistic beneficiaries to have access to meaningful employment and by making it interactive and attractive to users by adding VR to the equation. Unfortunately, even though the services provided cover a wide range of skills and educational programs are designed on a yearly basis to fit the needs of the beneficiaries, there is a vast need for an integrated project that is going to concern vocational training adjusted to the needs and challenges of autistic individuals. Young people who are affected by autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do actually not have equal access to VET and work. Even if they have the capacity and intellectual property, they face barriers on the way to VET and the labour market.The aim of inclusion in Europe needs to support this group. This is why this consortium wants to address this project to develop ways to the needs of autistic people to get full access to VET and the labour market.As mentioned above, the specific project aims to create an educational program that entails vocational training adjusted to the needs of autistic individuals through the integration of in vivo training seminars and Virtual Reality technology.The training created is going to entail:•Training for mental health professionals in the methodology that is going to combine Virtual Reality and a complete interpersonal, pre-vocational and vocational skills program.•Training for autistic beneficiaries interested in finding employment•Assessment and certification according to EU standardsThe project aspires to fill the gap between school education and employment for autistic individuals that do not have access to tertiary education.<< Objectives >>VIRTUS project is addressing the preparation and readiness of ASD individuals on occupational ability, adaptation to professional environments and professional training with Virtual Reality (VR) technology.In the frame of the project, we suggest a paradigm through which we can identify the strengths and shortcomings of the target group. As such we presuppose:-Assessment through methodological tools (workings skills and wellbeing are going to be measured) and procedures will be actualized-Development of VR scenarios-Use of Virtual Reality technology-Hybrid (in vivo & through VR) methodology format-Training of trainers (specialised professionals, specifically: barista, kitchen assistant, office clerk)-Training on interpersonal and pre-vocational skills -Application of the acquired skills-Skills evaluation and certification according to EU standardsIn general, VIRTUS Project aims to:●Raise awareness campaign targeted to relevant stakeholders such as employers, parents and caregivers of autistic individuals, VET organisations, organisations active in the field of autism from the network of contacts of all participating organisations●Enhance the vocational skills of autistic individuals to raise possibilities to secure and maintain meaningful employment and increase their sense of wellbeing●Make the training programs more attractive and interesting for autistic individuals by combining innovative VR technology with in-vivo seminars●Provide high-quality vocational education and training in a range of professions in which autistics could thrive and certify the acquired skills according to EU standardsWe want to create training programmes based on new curricula which help autistic people to get the competencies, social skills and knowledge they need to enter the labour market.Avoidance and prevention of social exclusion and marginalisation is at the core of this attempt<< Implementation >>In the frame of the project, we suggest a paradigm through which we can identify the strengths and shortcomings of the target group. As such we presuppose:-Assessment through methodological tools (workings skills and wellbeing are going to be measured) and procedures will be actualized-Literature research and needs analysis on autism and employment-Training material creation that is going to combine the expertise of mental health professionals with expertise on autism and specialised professionals in the fields selected (barista, kitchen assistant, office clerk)-Development of VR scenarios -Hybrid (in vivo & through VR) methodology format for the pre-vocational and vocational skills part of the training-Training of trainers for mental health professionals and specialised professionals, -Training on interpersonal, pre-vocational and vocational skills addressed to autistic participants -Skills evaluation and certification according to EU standards-VIRTUS Tutor’s guide development-Dissemination plan targeted to relevant stakeholders in the field of employment, autism and vocational education and training providers<< Results >>During the VIRTUS Project’s duration, the following deliverables will be developed:-Literature research and needs analysis on the needs of autistic individuals in search of employment. This report is going to be submitted for publication in academic journals. -VIRTUS Training kit, that is going to include 3 pillars: interpersonal, pre-vocational and vocational skills (on three specific professions: Barista, Kitchen assistant, office clerk)-12-month implementing activities in all participating countries-VIRTUS Tutor’s Guide (translated in all languages of the countries involved and available for free access after the completion of the Project)-Certification Scheme according to European standards intended for training material, trainers, as well as autistic participants.The VIRTUS Project is expected to have a great impact on the mental health professionals and autistic individuals involved as it will provide an attractive and innovative training program, targeted to their specific needs and challenges. The contribution of specialised professionals and autism experts will provide added value to the project, by connecting it with the labour market in an autism-friendly methodology. The utmost purpose of the project is to battle unemployment for underrepresented populations, such as autistic individuals, by providing high quality certified skills and by preparing them for the labour market.

Europe is facing a number of urgent tasks: restoring job creation and economic recovery; achieving sustainable growth; bridging the investment gap; enhancing social cohesion; coordinating a response to the migration flow; giving priority attention to preventing radicalization and violence. At the same time, Europe must address long-term challenges such as ageing, adjusting to the digital era and competing in the global, knowledge-based economy.According to the Education and Training Monitor (a European Commission Staff Working Document that presents a yearly evaluation of education and training systems across Europe), the share of 18 to 28-year-old having attained ISCED level 0-2 and not receiving any formal or non-formal education or training is currently over 11% in EU. The specific target that the European Commission has set for year 2020 is below 10%. For this reason, eQualVET aims to design an educational program with evaluation procedures that are based on CEDEFOP’s guidelines in order to approach National Accreditation Agencies with a fully developed and evaluated educational program that follows the necessary certification procedure the national agencies use while providing recommendations about alterations that should be made to make the exam procedure more accessible and effective for PwID. eQualVET aims to develop an educational program that prepares PwID for the open labour market by firstly, developing their competencies in relations to the needs of the job position for which they were trained and secondly, by preparing them for the accreditations exams by the respective national agency.

The project took place in Central Portugal. It included 1 volunteer hosted in Lousã, Hosting organisation ARCIL for 11 months. It also included 4 volunteers hosted in Figueira da Foz: 2 in the Hosting Organisation APAFF (one volunteer 12 months, another one 6 months), and 2 volunteers in Hosting Organisation: Cavalo Amigo (one volunteer 12 months, another one 5 months). In this project have participated volunteers from: Italy, Austria, France and Germany. The target groups of the host organisation ARCIL are mainly children, youth and young adults with and without disabilities. The organisation has from the beginning a special sensibility for the youth problems and realities. The second organisation APAFF works on awareness of animal rights for the local community. The mission of the hosting organisation Cavalo Amigo is to help improve the lives of people with disabilities and special needs that can benefit from horse riding and other equine related activities. Hosting a young European was a good opportunity to work on awareness and inform the target groups, our team and the local community, especially young people, to the importance of intercultural activities as a way to exchange knowledge, practices and to experience different activities. Hosting European volunteers represented a helpful human resource and motivated our teams. At the same time, we know that these volunteers were considered like “something special” for the town, people and institutions. The volunteers helped the host organisations with organising different activities like leisure time activities with children, youth and adults with and without special needs, helped in adoption campaigns for animals, awareness activities for animal rights, etc. The volunteers were a helping hand in organising special events, like information session on schools and promotion campaigns in fairs. The methodology we used was based on non- formal learning, intercultural learning and learning by doing.The volunteers were a different, creative way for information for the young people of Lousã and Figueira da Foz: in fact, the young people living in isolated areas and small towns sometimes don’t know the possibilities offered by Erasmus Plus and it’s one of the reasons of their no- participation. In February 2008 we received the first European volunteer in ARCIL, and now it has hosted 21 participant. In APAFF it was the 4th participation, hosted 9 volunteers. For Cavalo Amigo it was the second time Hosting project. Each of the projects until so far gave us meaningful results and we are ready to continue the process of continuously hosting volunteers in Lousã and Figueira da Foz. It’s very useful if there are more projects occurred at the same time: for volunteers and for the promoting of the programme Erasmus Plus. It gives us a tool to collaborate together and build a structure in our region. This project had an important impact for the volunteers involved, the organisations and the local community. The volunteers brought a new intercultural dimension in the organisations and the local community. We believe that with this project we have promoted Erasmus Plus with giving the concrete example of something that is possible.

"Buddy2Buddy, at the moment, is not just a project born in Youth in Action programme. After six years of implementation it's becoming something like a ""brand"" that is trying to be better everytime, improving quality of the intervention and raising the quality of wellbeing of participants.Buddy2Buddy NEXT intends to continue this innovative idea systematizing the knowledge to foster sustainability of the project and continuing with the richness of the youngsters that participate to the exchange. For this reason this project consists of two activities: one is the ""usual"" international exchange, with the participation of 32 youngsters, half with disabilities, half with less opportunities, having eight days of activities in Tirrenia, near Pisa, in october 2015. The group will be composed by youngsters coming from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Nederlands and during the exchange youngsters wil be fostered to take care each other (Buddy to buddy), promoting and enhancing cooperation and social inclusion; the other is a ten days of meeting among youth workers with experience in B2B project, to evaluate past youth exchange, to individuate and share good practices and build a manual of B2B project.The main objectives of this project will be: To give opportunities to disadvantaged and disabled youngsters by including them in the overall process of preparing, implementing and evaluating through active participation, to foster mutual understanding, to develop personal and social competences, to broaden horizons and increase open-mindedness, to improve solidarity and cooperation among youngsters, to allow people to participate in an international experience, to increase awareness about personal future through social experiences, and to achieve a better understanding between different cultures.Individuate and share good practices; foster the sustainability of B2B project involving new partners and go in deep with the theory and methodology of B2B developed in all these years.To meet the objectives we have chosen different and creative non formal learning methods and techniques: Group-building, energisers and Ice-breaking games; meeting the environmental context; inter cultural moments; sharing experiences; physical and sportive games; expression and inter cultural communication by theater and music workshops; reflection and sharing moments; follow up preparation and challenges, etc.Results, Impact and the potential long term benefits:The expected impact on the participants will be very big. Nearly everything will be new as the majority of the participants never took part in a multi cultural event. They will learn in a non formal way about other cultures, countries, different approaches and similarities that will broaden the horizons of the participants involved.At internatonal level, the impact will be the sharing of good practices and to write a manual of B2B that can be useful for other partners in Europe."

Persons with intellectual disabilities (PwID) & Persons with mental health conditions (PwMHC), like any other human being, have sexual desires, need affective relationships & freedom to express their sexuality. In this regard, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with disabilities (UNCRPD), ratified by the European Union, states that People with Disabilities have the same human rights as everyone in all areas of life. These rights include rights related to sexuality. However, commonly, people with intellectual disabilities & mental health conditions have lacked an integral sexual education & support to help them in their sexual lives. This context is slowly changing. Policy makers & key stakeholders are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of addressing the sexuality of PwID & PwMHC as an inherent right. However, in spite of the fact that lot of excellent educative material has been produced to raise awareness & train with regards to sexuality it seems to have had a low impact so far with regards to how PwID & PwMHC are actually able to practise sexual activities & express their sexuality in whatever way they choose. The SMARTS Project (Supporting Me About Rights to Sexuality) is devoted to filling this gap, between knowledge learnt & practical implementation. This will be done through 2 perspectives: 1) By promoting Active Supported decision making (SDM) in real life contexts in the field of sexuality & 2) by promoting the Implementation of specific policies & procedures from support service organisations to better address sexuality issues. SMARTS will have a duration of 36 months and be implemented by an international partnership of 5 organizations with complementary expertise from the following countries: Spain (Astres Foundation), Portugal (Associacao para a recuperacao de cidadaos inadaptados da lousa (A.R.C.I.L), Greece (Theotokos Foundation), Belgium (European Association of Service Providers for persons with Disabilities-EASPD) and the UK (Social Care Training ltd). The project will have 2 main target groups: 1. Care providers supporting PwID & PwMHC. 3 profiles: 1) Family members 2) Professionals & staff members 2) Support provider organizations 2. Adults with intellectual disabilities & mental health conditions who wish to exercise more control over decision affecting their daily sexual life. Specific objectives:1.To better identify support needs of PwID & PwMHC in the field of sexuality.2. Develop skills of PwID & PwMHC & care providers to make supported decisions in the field of sexuality3. Capacitate care providers to implement practical support in the field of sexuality. 4.To create user-friendly resources for PwID & PwMHC to better address their rights with regard to sexuality.5. Raise awareness on the need & available means to address SDM in the field of sexuality for PwID & PwMHC6. Advocate at EU & local level on the importance to address sexual support for PwID & PwMHCThe project will produce 6 complementarily outputs: 1.UNCRPD compliant guidelines on SDM on sexuality issues for people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities-Guidelines for professionals and staff members2.UNCRPD compliant guidelines on SDM on sexuality issues for people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities-Guidelines for family carers3.Policy & practice guidance on sexuality for service providers4.Awarenes Toolkit for PwID and PwMHC5.Training course for caregivers6.Policy recommendations3 rounds of LTT activities will be implemented to train users in the SMARTS materials. Project materials will be also tested and reviewed in subsequent pilots implemented at local level by service provider organizations members of the SMARTS partnership.Expected results are: PwID & PwMHC feel more empowered to make decisions with regard to their sexuality and supporters will feel better equipped & skilled to support decision making after using the SMARTS materials, service managers feel better equipped to assess & address procedural changes to better support the sexuality rights within their services.Expected long term impacts of the project are increased general openness & positive attitude to address the ( still often sensitive) topic of sexuality of PwID & PwMHC both by users & supporters, The SDM approach is increasingly accepted by professionals, support organizations & users themselves as the appropriate strategy to address & implement the rights of PwID & PwMHC with regards to their sexual needs, wishes & expression in accordance with the UNCRPD principles, Key organizational procedures proven positive to support sexuality of PwID & PwMHC within a variety of support services are progressively accepted & integrated by organization managers.