NEWS

Final Conference

At the Virtus conference, we delved into the realm of upscaling inclusive vocational training for individuals with autism, leveraging cutting-edge technology to pave the way for a more inclusive workforce. The results of the project were presented and discussed by the speakers and the audience. And together, we explored how vocational training tailored to the needs of individuals with autism can be revolutionized through the power of Virtual Reality.

Piloting activities

The Virtus project has started the crucial piloting phase of its innovative training programme for autistic people. Between September and December, the training modules using Virtual Reality will be piloted by “Ploes” E.Psy.Me. in Greece and by ARCIL in Portugal.

2 good news about the VIRTUS project!

The first excellent news is that Omega, the partner organisation responsible for developing the VR scenarios accompanying the training programme, has successfully finalised its task. Three different scenarios have been developed to support autistic people to acquire the most important skills to be able to work in a specific profession (Barista, office clerk, kitchen assistant).

The second piece of good news is that the meeting in Lousa provided the perfect opportunity for the VIRTUS consortium to visit ARCIL's vocational training center. On that occasion, project partners had the chance to see firsthand the impressive job carried out by the portuguese organisaton in supporting individuals with different types of disabilities in their integration into the mainstream workforce.

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VIRTUS held its first Multiplier Event in Germany!

On 3 March, QBS Gewerkstat, VIRTUS Coordinator, hosted the first multiplier event "Autism in Vocational Education and Training" at its premises in Bochum (Germany), organised as part of the VIRTUS project. The event was a great opportunity to present the Training Kit for Trainers that is currently being developed by the VIRTUS consortium, and to open a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of using digital teaching methods to promote the professional development and integration of autistic people

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On Wednesday, 26.04.2023, a multiplier event took place in Cleopatra Hotel, Nicosia.
People with autism with their care givers participated and tried Virtus VR platform.

Autistic individuals face numerous obstacles when trying to navigate a world designed for neurotypical people. Because of the challenges autistic people face in communication and social interaction, they can often be misunderstood and mislabelled as unsuitable for employment, which can then lead to them being excluded and marginalised from society. To tackle these issues head-on, it is crucial to provide autistic individuals with high-quality vocational education programmes that are specifically tailored to them. Programmes that address social, pre-vocational and vocational skills are particularly in need as such training can prepare them for their transition to the labour market. This is where the VIRTUS project comes in!

On Friday, 03.03.2023, the symposium Autism in Vocational Education and Training took place in the rooms of the QBS Gewerkstatt.
18 people from 12 different organisations took part, including representatives of the Employment Agency, who had already been informed about the VIRTUS project in advance and will continue to be informed about the progress of the project. Unfortunately, not all invited guests were able to attend due to a public transport strike.

Running from March 2022 – April 2023, this Erasmus+ funded project will develop an innovative training programme for autistic individuals to facilitate their access to meaningful employment. The programme will include the use of virtual reality (VR), which has been recognised as a useful training tool for autistic people.

On November 10-11, the 5 partner organisations involved in the VIRTUS project finally met for their second transnational project meeting. During their stay in Athens, the organisations discussed the next steps foreseen by the project, which will include the creation of the VIRTUS curriculum and training programme for autistic individuals to acquire the necessary skills to access meaningful employment.

During the EASPD Conference in Malta, and during the Person-Centered Technology Member Forum on the 13th of October, Project VIRTUS was presented by Angeliki Louloumari from Ploes. The presentation included the results of the research conducted during the first months of the project, as well as the next steps, that entail the development of Virtual Reality scenarios. The presentations sparked a conversation on issues concerning Virtual Reality.