
Teenagers: the Road with Autism to Independent Living
2015
The TRAIL project addresses the need for better support for teenagers with ASD transitioning to independent living across Europe. It aims to identify best practices and innovative methods for professionals, improving inclusion and equality of opportunities for young adults with autism.
Nowadays autism affects 3.3 million people in the European Union – about 1 person out of 150 is diagnosed with this handicap in Europe. Although specific efforts have been made by the autism plans with regards to diagnose, specialized education and access toordinary life, the teenager phase leading towards independent life, a particularly critical phase, is very inadequately covered and funded.
Facing these observations, the challenge is was better know the European frames, the will and needs of concerned stakeholders and to be able to offer existing innovative tools and methods to professionals (education, social) to accompany the transition towards mainstream and independent life. Professionals need to access networks and existing practices in terms of training and intervention processes. The TRAIL project addressed many of these professionals in order to help them to better accompany the transition phase, teenagers being indirect beneficiaries.