Advancing Social inclusion through Technology and EmPowerment (a-STEP)

Social inclusion is an important element of well-being for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual disability (ID). Research has highlighted that social inclusion is facilitated by access to education and employment. However, despite recent technological advances, low rates of AT use by service providers, educators, employers, and policymakers have been observed in Europe. There are several areas of unmet needs, including: high rates of AT abandonment, lack of involvement of people with ASD and/or ID in the research process, lack of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, and poor matching of technology to individuals with ASD and/or ID. The aim of the a-STEP project is to build an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral network across the EU and beyond that will increase the social inclusion and empowerment of individuals with ASD and/or ID. This will be achieved by: -Assessing the development of new AT by ensuring interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration among all stakeholders using a translational approach to develop standardized practice guidelines for the design, development, and implementation of AT. -Creating knowledge by providing a database of current AT technologies and their suitability for employment and educational contexts for users with ASD and/or ID. -Promoting the adoption of evidence-based guidelines regarding the use of AT in all settings and across the entire population.