NEWork
NEurodiversity at work: Supporting young adults with ASD enter and succeed at the workplace
Adult education
Blended mobility and adult learners
Soft skills autism Functional skills to enter, survive and succeed in labor market
City: Braila/ROMANIA
Dates: 25th of September – 1st October 2022
2020-1-LT01-KA204-078035
SC PSIHOFORWORLD organised C3, which been followed-up 5-day training course in Romania. It included participants (+ 2 accompanying person for each group). Therefore, C3 become a training opportunity for educators because they will directly use the learned approaches, methodology, and materials previously learnt (C1). This training activity facilitated the functional soft skills of the adults with autism to prepare them to enter, survive and succeed in the workplace. The proposed training aimed at equipping young people with autism with tools and resources to start their professional life in an effective manner. The training focused woth Functional skills to enter, survive and succeed in the labor sector. It helped them develop their social and communication with supervisors, co-workers and customers, develop their work behaviour, dress professionally, accept correction, asking for and taking a break, calling in sick or late, or requesting time off, practice-specific work skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork, etc.
The training introduced learners to the current work-placement instruments, disciplines and behaviour.
The mobility was disseminated before it took place with the aim to attract everyone interested in the subject to join the event. Additionally, parts of the training will been
recorded (after taking consent) to be further made available on-line on partners’ own web pages and within social media. News regarding the event been disseminated among all
interested parties (including media) and published online via social media.
Additionally, 2 support workers from each country accompany each group of participants. The support workers worked with adults with autism and/or disabilities.
The project aimed was to improve the knowledge and professional skills of autist people in order to respond in a correct way to the keeping job, problem solving, communication needs and critical thinking. This project raised awareness about the topics by building the capacity of trainers as accompany so that they are able to utilize and popularize it back to their communities but also, we binged impact on adults with ASD so they can have a better future.
The feedback was good and organizers did made efforts to prepare as some participants state in evaluation forms. The event was like a learning by doing and with lots of interactive materials.
Participants had
– Improved skills and professional knowledges:
– knowledge of other working methods acquisition and/or improvement of new professional skills, best practices and theoretical and practical skills
– Improving pedagogical skills
– more confidence in the development of the work
– learning how to communicate efficiently to overcome communication barriers
– recognise different forms of learning and efficiently use non-formal education tools
– identify and apply conflict management techniques.
– Improving cross, linguistic and intercultural skills of the participants:
-development of social, personal and cross skills (such as communication)
– improvement of linguistic skills in English language
– increasing the skills to manage a team work
– developing intercultural skills working in international teams and contacting users in other European countries
– greater knowledge of European values and identity
– greater motivation to continue training on return, with formal and nonformal methods
– exchanging of best practices and innovative ideas at European level.
– development of critical thinking and personal reflection
– development of the skills to discuss and communicate in an international group of work
– development of digital skills.
Participants also had certificate award presentation and participants were happy during the daily reflection went back to analyse what they learned and what skills they developed according to the key competencies of this training. They had a warm and friendly atmosphere for the group, and experienced learning environment that was comfortable.
It was very useful in means of collaboration, project networking, and the exchange of creative ideas. It was really enjoyable in terms of the psychological climate and friendliness. Also participants had all kind of working materials from the beginning until the end of the event from hosts.
The activities were improved by experienced organizers and staff trainers. Some nice ideas were drawn up. Non-formal and informal methods were chosen accurately in order to create balanced fun and learning atmosphere for participants to share, express, get involved, contribute, support each other and develop new competencies. Problem solving team building session was interesting.
Some participants were in need of more detailed agenda with Info-pack that contained telephone numbers of emergency services, the exact address of the mobility venue, all data needed to contact with hosting organization (address, telephone number, e-mail and etc).
Participants were informed by new energizers that were provided more detailed during the sessions. They had new methodology for name games by using some famous techniques and been introduced a trigger for more innovative approach to this issue. Presenting project NEWORK been using brief discussion after each of the segment completed that they found out to be impressive and successful. The session “Marshmallow Challenge” been created from the ground and it was about raising creativity and team building. There been emotional sessions. Participants had interesting Power point, video, discussion presentation. They been introduced to the certificates. Awareness of certificate helped participants better reflect on their learning outcomes on a daily basis. They been informed about the opportunities provided by the certificate. The importance of self-evaluating of gained experience. They also had interactive activities to describe participants in order to distribute the certificates-Certificates award. This was fun. A general and more analytical evaluation also took place at the end of the session.
It was interesting to explore the current situation regarding unemployment and social exclusion and the link between them. To work with the job and employment of people with SEN principles; To learn how the Erasmus+ Programme can support adults with ASD activities; To increase problem solving skills especially social for the ones with ASD adevelopment of economic equity, equality of chances, removing barriers to the labour market and discrimination; To promote participatory process for adults with ASD in the labour market and amend their economic and social condition to better; To raise awareness about the need for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth to the wider public but also problem solving skills and how to get a job skills.
Participants discovered new cultures, not only the country visited like Romania but also from all participating countries; strengthen the values of solidarity and friendship; and the programme of activities was based on non-formal education. The development of competences, especially those related to communication, leadership skills and time management was interesting. Working together in the team with trainer and organizer, participants plan to strengthen collaboration with and exchanged best practices and working methods since they share common visions and interests so they are not different. Some got more informed, got new international connections, effective methodology, networking and practical ideas for the next Erasmus+ projects.
