BLUE HOUSES is a three-year Erasmus+ initiative focused on developing a comprehensive support framework for professionals who work with autistic parents. The project will produce specialised training resources, an intervention model, and an online learning platform to strengthen the skills of professionals supporting neurodivergent families across Europe.
As awareness of autism in adults continues to grow, more autistic parents are seeking support, yet services and professionals remain largely unprepared to meet their specific needs. BLUE HOUSES aims to fill this gap, addressing the invisibility of autistic parents in research, policy, and practice, and tackling the lack of adapted resources for the professionals who work with them.
BLUE HOUSES Goals
The project’s key open-source outputs and objectives will be:
- A comprehensive intervention model providing professionals with evidence-based strategies and tools for supporting autistic families in their parenting role.
- A 60-hour specialised training course designed for professionals in education, health, and social services working with neurodivergent families.
- A digital training platform hosting the course, practical guides, and interactive content in seven languages (English, Spanish, French, Greek, Finnish, Polish, and Portuguese).
- Practical resources and guides for professionals to use directly in their sessions with autistic parents.
- Awareness campaigns, including audiovisual materials, workshops, talks, and annual activities on International Family Day (15 May), to reduce stigma and increase visibility of neurodivergent families.
- A scientific publication contributing to the academic and professional evidence base on autistic parenting.
BLUE HOUSES Partners
The BLUE HOUSES project brings together a diverse consortium of six organisations:
- Fundación Miradas (Spain): the coordinator, with over a decade of experience supporting autistic people and their families
- Autism-Europe (Belgium): European advocacy and awareness leader representing around 7 million autistic people
- Häme University of Applied Sciences – HAMK (Finland): higher education institution leading course design and quality assessment
- STANDO LTD / STANDOutEdu (Cyprus): research and VET organisation responsible for the digital training platform
- FPDA – Portuguese Autism Federation (Portugal): NGO leading awareness campaigns and resource development
- Fundacja Zrozumiec Autyzm / Understand Autism (Poland): a foundation specialising in training and support for autistic families
BLUE HOUSES represents a meaningful step toward a more inclusive Europe — one where autistic parents are recognised as capable, supported, and empowered. By equipping professionals with the right tools and fostering communities of practice across six countries, the project aims to improve family well-being, reduce social isolation, and create lasting change in how education, health, and social services engage with neurodivergent families. All project results will be made freely available under a Creative Commons licence and will remain accessible for four years after the project concludes.
Visit the project’s website to learn more: bluehouses.eu/
More about the Erasmus+ Programme: Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. The 2021–2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.