ChildIN calls on policy-makers to foster inclusion of autistic children through learning provisions for childminders
Currently available competence frameworks for childminders do not include specific modules dedicated to learning for children with special needs, these aspects are only superficially addressed in general training modules. Some brief ad hoc lifelong learning modules are available for some of the most common disabilities. These are largely inadequate to address the need of skilled caretakers of families who have children on the autism spectrum. In this context, the ChildIN project aims at addressing this gap and providing specific blended training for childminders focusing on autism.
The lack of specific learning on autism for professionals was addressed by the ChildIN pilot training, and childminders who benefited from it reported high satisfaction rates in Poland, Portugal and France.
Key recommendations
Ensure appropriate training, continuing professional development and support for childminders
Support the acquisition of competences related to the care of children on the autism spectrum for effective inclusion
Harmonise and recognise childminding across Europe and strive for a common curriculum
Watch the on-demand webinar “The importance of VET for inclusion”
Following its campaign on access to employment and education “I can LEARN. I can WORK” to mark World Autism Awareness Day (2 April), Autism-Europe hosted the free on-demand webinar: “The importance of quality Vocational Education and Training for inclusion: the success story of the Erasmus+ project ChildIN”. The 2-hour webinar took place on April 21, 2021, and an on demand version is available after until the 19th of May.
Autistic people and their families, professionals, associations, policy-maker and other interested parties are invited to take part on this collaborative event about EU Vocational Education and Training (VET) policies and good practices for fostering inclusion of autistic people. The Erasmus+ project ChildIN, of which Autism-Europe is partner, will be presented in detail as a success story.
In the first part of the event, a selected panel of speakers representing the disability communities and child (rights/care) and family representatives, as well as other relevant policymakers’ stakeholders in the field of VET, from regional, national, and European level will take the floor:
The second part of the event will be exclusively devoted to present the outcomes and the policy recommendations of the Erasmus+ project ChildIN (Training childminders across Europe for inclusion), with partner organisations from France, Portugal, and Poland.
Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová Chair of European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
Quality VET as a driver for inclusion and employment: key EU policies and projects in the field.
Overview of EU policies related to inclusion and VET
Camille Roux Disability, Education, Social exclusion policy and advocacy officer at COFACE Families
Families and disabilities at stake: what solutions can be expected from the European Disability Rights Strategy and the European Pillar of Social Rights?
Zuzsanna Konradova Coordinator of Alternative Childcare policies at Eurochild.
The Child Guarantee as a precedent for the policy framework adopted by the Child Rights initiative: promising results and challenges ahead.
Marie-Béatrice Levaux President of the European Federation for Family Employment and Homecare (EFFE)
Home employment: a tailored answer for families and children’ needs promoting fair working and employment conditions.
Ilana Cicurel Member of the European Parliament
The future of education and VET: the Erasmus+ programme takes its inclusive dimension to a new horizon.
The Erasmus+ project ChildIN, a success story
Nadège Turco Executive Director of IPERIA
Transforming VET policies into professionalisation and social inclusion tools: the origin and the future of ChildIN project.
Gloria Ortiz Project coordinator of IPERIA
The ChildIN project in a nutshell
Alain Lassus President of the French Department of La Nièvre Rui Pena, President of Cooperativa Comenius, Portugal Elsa Vieira, Director of the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism of Coimbra (APPDA Coimbra) Beata Traczewska-Skóra Director of EU funds at Techpal, Poland
The ChildIN experience across countries, impact and way forward.
Aurélie Baranger Director of Autism-Europe
ChildIN Recommendations for policy-makers
Closing statement
Radka Maxová Member of the European Parliament
The inclusive dimension of the European Skills Agenda: leave no-one behind.
Aurélie Baranger Director of Autism-Europe
Concluding remarks
END of the webinar
If you wish to address questions and comments to the panelist, please send us an email via: communication@autismeurope.org
On 21 April, 2021, Autism-Europe will host the final event of the ChildIN project online in the format of a free on-demand webinar. The webinar will focus on EU Vocational Education and Training (VET) policies and good practices for fostering inclusion of autistic people. The project will be presented in detail as a success story.
On-demand webinar | 21 April 2021 | 10-12h CET
In the first part of the event, a selected panel of speakers representing the disability communities and child (rights/care) and family representatives, as well as other relevant policymakers’ stakeholders in the field of VET, from regional, national, and European level will take the floor:
Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová – Chair of European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
Ilana Cicurel – Member of the European Parliament
Marie-Béatrice Levaux – European Federation for Family Employment and Homecare (EFFE)
Camille Roux – COFACE Families Europe
Zuzsanna Konradova – Eurochild
The second part of the event will be exclusively devoted to present the outcomes and the policy recommendations of the Erasmus+ project ChildIN (Training childminders across Europe for inclusion), with partner organisations from France, Portugal, and Poland.
Radka Maxová – Member of the European Parliament
Alain Lassus – President of the French Department of La Nièvre, France
On World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), partners of the CHildIN project participated in the second stage of Autism-Europe’s awareness raising campaign, “I can learn. I can work”. The campaign aims to inform and raise awareness on access to education and employment for people on the autism spectrum, even during the pandemic and its containment measures.
ChildIN partners shared pictures of themselves performing the campaign “holding a tool” gesture as a way of showing the diversity of ability that society can nurture to be more inclusive. In line with the objectives of the ChildIN project, the campaign recognizes the importance of providing training on autism and supporting the effective inclusion of autistic people.
It is estimated that 5 million people are on the autism spectrum in the European Union. Most autistic people experience widespread discrimination in many areas of life including in employment and education. The campaign aims to promote access to inclusive education and employment opportunities for people on the autism spectrum through the EU. During the second stage of the campaign in 2021, specific COVID-19 related topics including distance education, reasonable accommodation, mental health and pandemic related challenges are being addressed too.
The release of the European Disability Strategy for 2021-2030 and the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, as well as the announcement of the Child Guarantee mark the first months of 2021. These developments to support the rights of people with disabilities in the European Union will set the pace for our campaign actions, as access to education and employment for autistic people have a strong presence within these instruments.
Autism-Europe called on people to join the campaign and to help highlight the diversity of ability that society can nurture to be more inclusive. Even though World Autism Awareness Day has passed, you can still support the campaign!
How can I support?
People willing to support the campaign can post pictures of themselves on social media using the hashtag #AutismDay2021. They can either hold a tool that represents one of their skills (it can be linked either with their ability to learn, or their ability to work on a specific field) or hold the campaign visual.
In late March 2021, AE hosted a webinar on the theme “I can LEARN. I can WORK.” The European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli and Members of the European Parliament Katrin Langensiepen and Chiara Gemma provided insight into the rights and needs of people with disabilities across Europe in terms of education and employment. Autistic people and their families, autism organisations, professionals, employers, EU policy-makers and the general population took also part of this collaborative online event.
The webinar is available to watch on demand anytime. Click here for more information on the event.
