Prevalence estimates of autism are increasing, with 1% of children being diagnosed with autism in Europe. Non-formal learning activities and leisure activities such as art, yoga, sailing, activities with animals (pet support, equine activities) can support the development of the social skills of autistic teenagers. These activities have proven to be effective in several contexts. The inclusion of autistic teenagers in non-formal learning is even more important as this group is often excluded and their families often feel marginalised.
The NAATE project addresses the priorities of the EU strategy for Education and Training 2020 to be focused on until 2020. The priority “to enhance creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training” is central to the NAATE project and its impact on autistic people, their families, their local community, nationally, at the EU level, and beyond.
The NAATE project is able to support the capacity building of youth workers, allowing them to develop their professional skills in providing non-formal learning activities to autistic teenagers, which will impact their families and local communities also.
NAATE can bring a focus to autistic teenagers, whose educational needs in cognitive and socio-emotional development lack the support from professionals. The latter are not adequately trained in dealing with people with additional support needs, or the necessary knowledge to deal with children on the autistic spectrum.
The NAATE project aims at improving the quality of non-formal education in the partner regions by using innovative practices and experiences from various settings. The project focuses on addressing the needs of autistic people, such as fostering the development of their social competences. It facilitates their integration into the labour market in the longer run. Among professionals and organisations that support autistic people, this project promotes a better knowledge about the situation of young people with autism and efficient inclusion methodologies.
The project delivered a pilot training for six youth workers from two organisations (from Spain to Cyprus and vice-versa), with a summer camp taking place in Spain, who then used their newly acquired competences to enhance their practice in non-formal learning. Over 100 children directly benefited from the technical competences acquired by the youth workers in their training exchanges, as well as more generally families and communities across the EU member states that the NAATE project works in.
Read the Observation report of the Staff Training Event held in Cyprus in May 2019
Read the Observation report of the two Staff Training Events held in Spain in June and July 2019
The NAATE partners come from three EU member states – providing autism-specific services or educational support for learners with additional support needs – and have a wide range of skills. The project coordinator, Asociación Mi Hijo y Yo from Spain will work closely with the other partners: Autism-Europe from Belgium and the Center of Development and Support for Children and Teenagers – AASP (Autism Assessment Support Practice) from Cyprus.
Download the NAATE Newsletter #1 – October 2019