The AU.T.O Project. A job training and work placement experience for adults suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders
Chiara Canali, Nadia Badiale
According to the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, about 80 million people living in the EU have a mild to severe disability. The obstacles they face leave them vulnerable to social exclusion. Lower employment and education levels mean the poverty rate for those with disabilities is 70% higher than the average (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). There are currently around 3.3 million people in the European Union who have autism, yet in most European countries there are not enough basic services to meet their needs, and coordination of services at a national level is often poor. According to the partners’ experience and several research reports, the greatest problem afflicting autistic people in relation to accessing and remaining in the labour market, lies in difficulties in communication and relationships and in their behavioural patterns. AU.T.O. of Anffas Onlus Massa Carrara wants to face these challenges: «learning to work», in a European comparative perspective.
Keywords
Adults, autism, job training, work placement, EU Project.