
The Compass project, titled “Navigating the Spectrum: A Comprehensive Advocacy Guide and Online Life Journey Map for Parents of Autistic Individuals”, is a two-year Erasmus+ initiative that focuses on empowering families and support networks of autistic people by providing them with the tools and knowledge to navigate legal frameworks and access critical services to become well-versed advocates.
With an estimated 7 million people on the autism spectrum in Europe, many families struggle to secure appropriate support due to a lack of accessible information. The Compass project is focused on meeting families’ essential needs by equipping them with knowledge, guidance, and legal insights to effectively advocate for their autistic children.
The project will produce an Advocacy Guide outlining the legal framework necessary for advocating on behalf of autistic individuals, along with an Online Life Journey Map to help parents navigate the various stages of their child’s development. Together, these resources will be designed to help parents and autistic people understand their rights in areas such as education, healthcare, housing, and employment.
Compass Goals
Compass’s key open-source outputs and objectives will be:
- A user-friendly Advocacy Guide offering clear, practical advice on how to navigate the legal system and advocate for autistic people’s rights.
- An Online Life Journey Map, which visually outlines the key stages of an autistic person’s life and the services available at each stage.
- An easy-to-read version of these tools to ensure accessibility for a wider audience.
- Dissemination of these resources across multiple languages, tailored to the legal contexts of Hungary, Serbia, Latvia, and Romania.
Compass Partners
The Compass project brings together a diverse group of partners, including:
- Mars Autistákért Alapítvány (Hungary): the coordinator and organisation leading the project
- Autism-Europe Aisbl (Belgium)
- Fondacija Hiljadu zelja (Serbia)
- Latvijas Autisma apvieniba (Latvia)
- Asociatia Pedagogilor Sociali CHEIA (Romania)
Compass is a vital project that hopes to address the practical, legal, and social challenges faced by the autism community. The project will offer tools that promote self-advocacy, inclusion, and a better quality of life. These resources will foster inclusion and active citizenship, helping families and autistic people advocate for and access their rights more effectively. The project will also build a European network of autism associations to share best practices and continue supporting advocacy efforts beyond the project’s lifespan.
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.