On February 21, 2025, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels hosted the final conference of the IDEAL Project, an Erasmus+ project dedicated to enhancing lifelong education and training opportunities for autistic people through digital learning. The event brought together around 65 policymakers, educators, autistic individuals, and various representatives from civil society organisations active in the field of equal access to digital learning, to discuss the project’s achievements and explore future steps in promoting inclusive education.
A Call for Greater Inclusion
The conference commenced with opening remarks from Mr. Christophe Lefevre, President of the EESC Permanent Group on Disability Rights, and Aurélie Baranger, Director of Autism-Europe. They emphasized the urgent need to bridge the educational gap for autistic individuals in Europe and highlighted the importance of digital learning as a means of fostering inclusion and accessibility in education.
The IDEAL Project: Objectives and Impact
Miguel Corbi from Universidad de Burgos provided an overview of the IDEAL Project, detailing its mission to break down barriers in vocational education and training (VET) for autistic people. Through the development of an accessible Learning Management System (LMS) and a specialized digital training methodology, the project has empowered autistic learners, their families, and educators with the tools to navigate the digital education landscape effectively.
Sandra Nunes from FPDA – Federação Portuguesa de Autismo elaborated on the methodologies used to ensure that the IDEAL platform addresses the unique needs of autistic learners. She discussed how VET professionals, families, and autistic individuals themselves were involved throughout in shaping the project’s approach to digital education.
Showcasing the IDEAL Platform
Marta Arroyo Balbás of Fundación Miradas presented the open source Online Platform developed through the IDEAL Project. She showcased the platform’s key features, including its user-friendly design, personalised learning pathways, and resources tailored to support autistic learners in vocational education and beyond. The platform is accessible to all for free.
One of the app’s key objectives is to help navigate the overwhelming array of digital tools to recommend the best tools for different areas of life for autistic people based on holistic evaluations, incorporating usability and personal competence metrics.
Insights from Project Partners
A significant highlight of the conference was the session where project partners from various countries shared their experiences. Representatives from Fondacija Hiljadu Zelja (Serbia), Tady to mám rád (Czech Republic), and CATNESS (Spain) reflected on the challenges and successes encountered during the project’s implementation. Martina, a practitioner working with autistic people, emphasized the importance of digital accessibility: “Our autistic clients really like using tablets and apps for their continued education, and we found we were missing a tool to make digital education accessible to them.” She also praised the interactive element of the platform, noting, “It’s a great space to share opinions and to help each other, actually.”
Suncica Petrović summarized the platform’s impact: “In a single sentence, the platform bridges the gap between educators, parents, and autistic individuals, creating a more inclusive and effective learning system.”
Panel Discussion: Promoting Inclusive Lifelong Learning
The conference was concluded with an engaging panel discussion bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the future of inclusive digital education. The session featured contributions from Willem Schoors (Flemish Ministry of Education and EMPOWERED ED project), Veronica Arduino (Life Long Learning Platform), David Mekkaoui (All Digital), Sunčica Petrović (Fondacija Hiljadu Zelja), and Miguel Corbi (Universidad de Burgos). MEP Chiara Gemma also shared her insights as a former education professionals via a video statement.
The panel discussion called for moving from isolated good practices to system-wide inclusion in digital education. Panellists explored key strategies, such as making accessibility a core funding requirement, strengthening teacher training on assistive tools, and co-designing digital platforms with learners to ensure they truly meet their needs. Willem Schoors highlighted the transformative potential of digital tools in shaping inclusive education, emphasizing the positive impact of the IDEAL platform. Veronica Arduino shared insights from the ibox project, which equips educators with the skills to foster equality, diversity, and inclusion in learning environments. David Mekkaoui reinforced the importance of embedding accessibility in education policies, making inclusion a standard rather than an afterthought. As the discussion concluded, panellists called for greater collaboration between policymakers, educators, and digital innovators to ensure that autistic individuals have equal access to lifelong learning.
For more information on the IDEAL Project and its outcomes, visit IDEAL Project Website.
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