KAIRO project

In Holland there is great concern for those who drop out of the vocational education system. Currently too many pupils leave school without qualifications or a diploma. At the same time, the main goal of these schools is to be available for all, including pupils with a handicap. In reality, the dropout percentage in this group is over 60% (whereas among the non-handicapped it’s 30%). One of the handicaps which occurs within this group is ASD, especially in some specific education programmes (such as IT). The integration of young people with ASD within the regular education system is hindered by several factors, such as:

		the current system of teaching
		the existing financial system of care services and education
		teachers with insufficient knowledge of autism (ASD)
		the lack of coordination and cooperation between education and care services specific ASD characteristics, such as problems with generalisation and with understanding structures, communication and social disorders, etc.

KAIRO publication: click here

Goal and results of the project

The aim of the KAIRO project is to develop a joint programme of care and education in the vocational training of young people with autism. 30 young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) participate in this education care programme pilot and simultaneously follow a regular vocational education, in such fields as administration, lab work, engineering or ICT. Taking part in this education programme, students with ASD can make optimal use of their capabilities and at the same time learn to understand and accept their disabilities. It will also increase their adaptive skills in terms of educational functioning. Successful completion of this training significantly increases their chances of regular employment. The joint efforts of schoolteachers and professionals working in mental healthcare will make sure these pupils are successful. What’s essential about this project is the bringing together of experience and knowledge of autism from both the care and the education sector.

The other result of the project, beside the Education and Care Programme for the pupils, is the development of several supporting instruments, such as training for parents and teachers about the meaning of ASD, a diagnostic instrument to recognise ASD problems in school at an early stage as well as the “course of life” instrument which monitors individual educational progress in combination with the results of treatment.

This Support Programme of Education and Care will be disseminated to other educational and care organisations in order to increase the chances of pupils with ASD successfully participating in the regular school system.

PUBLICATIONS

	The english translation of the KAIRO publication will be available at the end of January 2008
	Smart Vision Document